RSPB Morecambe Bay

The vast expanse of Morecambe Bay opens up before you, all mudflats and water and sky - it's the kind of place that makes you feel properly small. The RSPB reserve here manages a chunk of this sprawling estuary, and if you're into birds, it's genuinely worth the trip from Carnforth.

What you're doing is straightforward: watching. There are viewing points and hides dotted around where you can spot waders, wildfowl, and if you time it right, the odd rarer visitor. Winter's the peak season when migratory birds arrive in their thousands - the bay becomes a proper spectacle. Spring and autumn bring their own crowds of birds, though in summer things quieten down considerably.

Bring binoculars. Bring a scope if you've got one. Wear waterproofs because this is Lancashire - the weather turns on a sixpence and the wind comes straight off the water. The walks are flat and accessible, but allow a good couple of hours to make the most of it. You won't see much in twenty minutes.

Family groups with patient children will get something out of it, but the restless toddler brigade might find it thin on excitement. Serious birdwatchers and photographers absolutely should make the effort. If you're staying at one of the parks nearby - Holgates or Bay View are closest - adding this into your itinerary makes sense. It's free, it fills a morning nicely, and on a clear day the whole bay stretches out like something from another world.