RSPB Berney Marshes

The marshes stretch out flat and endless, the kind of landscape that makes you feel properly small. RSPB Berney Marshes, just outside Great Yarmouth, is a working wetland reserve where the main attraction is what you see through binoculars rather than what you can touch. This isn't a manicured visitor centre with gift shops. It's real habitat - reed beds, open water, and the birds that depend on them.

You'll spot warblers in spring, wintering geese and wigeon through autumn and winter, and if you're lucky, the occasional bittern booming across the reeds at dusk. The walking trails let you move quietly through the landscape, and there's genuine satisfaction in spotting something rare. Summer can feel quiet, but late autumn and winter bring serious birdwatchers who know exactly what they're after.

Families with patient kids will enjoy it; families expecting instant entertainment might find forty minutes is enough. It's free, which helps, though donations are welcomed. Allow two to three hours if you're serious, less if you're just having a look about.

For anyone staying at Wild Duck Holiday Park barely a mile away, or any of the other Haven parks dotted around the coast, this works as a morning's activity before heading to the beach. It's the sort of place that's better on a grey, blustery day when the light's sharp and the birds are active. Sunny weekends draw the crowds. Go early or late in the day for a quieter experience.