RSPB Exminster and Powderham Marshes

The marshes here stretch out flat and wide, with nothing between you and the sky but reeds and the odd heron standing stock-still in the shallows. This is RSPB Exminster and Powderham Marshes, a 500-acre wetland reserve just outside Exeter where the Exe estuary widens into something genuinely wild. You get proper birdwatching territory - waders, wildfowl, the occasional rarity that brings twitchers out in force.

What makes it worth the drive from Exeter is that it's not fussed or manicured. There are walking trails through the marsh, hides positioned where you actually stand a chance of seeing something, and the light changes constantly depending on the time of day. Winter and spring bring the biggest crowds of birds; autumn's decent too. You could spend two hours here or half a day, depending on whether you're just after a quick stomp or serious optics work.

It suits walkers and bird enthusiasts far more than families with small kids - there's not much to occupy a bored eight-year-old beyond "look, a duck." The terrain is flat, which is a blessing if you're not keen on scrambling, though it can get muddy. Entry's free, which helps when you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Devon Heaven Hideaways or Cofton Holidays and fancying a morning out without spending more money.

Combine it with the coastal parks at Dawlish Sands or Lady's Mile if you want beach and birds in one week. But come alone or with someone who actually cares about wildlife.