Royal Green

Royal Green sits just inland from Lowestoft, a proper working nature reserve rather than a polished visitor attraction. You're walking through reed beds and grazing marshes here - the kind of place where birdwatchers actually get excited and everyone else suddenly understands why.

The reserve protects a slice of Suffolk's disappearing wetland habitat. In spring and autumn the migrant warblers arrive in force, and winter brings in the harder-weather birds. Even in summer when the big names have moved on, you'll spot marsh harriers quartering the reeds and the occasional bittern if you're lucky and patient. Paths wind through the site, though they can get muddy - this is genuine conservation land, not a theme park.

It's best suited to patient walkers and birders rather than families after a quick outing. Plan two to three hours if you want to actually see anything worth seeing, and bring binoculars that aren't terrible. Go early morning for the best bird activity, and avoid midday when everything sensible hides from the heat.

Free access makes it excellent value. The three nearby holiday parks - Pakefield at 1.7 miles away, The Hollies a touch further, and Parkdean Resorts Kessingland Beach at 4.3 miles - all work well for a base. Royal Green slots nicely into a broader Lowestoft trip alongside the seafront, without demanding a huge chunk of your day. Just don't expect manicured gardens or visitor facilities. You're getting the real thing here.