Roydon Common

The heathland at Roydon Common stretches out in waves of gorse and heather, and it's genuinely one of those Norfolk spaces where you feel properly away from things despite being less than five miles from Sandringham. This is a working nature reserve run by Norfolk Wildlife Trust, not a manicured walk-around spot - it feels like actual countryside, which some people love and others find a touch underwhelming on first glance.

You're here for the birds, really. Woodlarks nest on the open heath in spring and summer, and if you know what you're listening for, it's extraordinary. Adders sun themselves on the sandy paths if you're lucky, though they're shy. The walking is straightforward - various trails loop through the heather and past the old gravel pits, which have turned into ponds. It's free to access and you can spend anything from forty minutes to two hours depending on how much poking about appeals.

Families with young kids might find it a bit samey after the first mile - there's no visitor centre, no facilities, just heathland. But if you've got walkers in the group or anyone keen on wildlife spotting, it slots perfectly alongside a park-based holiday. Kings Lynn Caravan and Camping Park is close enough for a morning visit, and Norfolk Woods Resort offers something more upmarket if that's your style. Best visited May through July when the heathland's actually interesting, and when the birds are most active.