RSPB Burton Mere

The RSPB reserve at Burton Mere sits just over the Welsh border near Chester, and it's a proper birdwatcher's playground. You're looking at wetland and reedbeds that attract everything from overwintering wildfowl to summer warblers - the kind of place where you'll actually see something rather than just hear rustling in the bushes. There are viewing hides dotted around the reserve, some basic wooden affairs that get you close to the water without spooking the birds.

Walkers and serious twitchers will get the most from this. Kids can manage it fine if they're patient types, but don't expect anything flashy - no visitor centre, no café, just you and the birds and the binoculars. Most visits run two to three hours depending on how many hides you work through. Early morning or late afternoon tends to be most productive for spotting.

It's free to visit, which makes it a cracking addition to a caravan holiday around the area. Oakwood Farm Touring Park sits just 3.3 miles away, so you could easily pop over for a morning session before heading elsewhere. Fir Trees Caravan and Lodge Park, five miles out, also puts you well within range. The location works nicely as a break between Chester itself and the wider North Wales coast - you get the nature fix without the tourist crowds. Winter's when the reserve really sings, with visiting ducks and geese, but spring migration can be just as rewarding if you're lucky.