RSPB Ouse Fen Nature Reserve

The RSPB Ouse Fen sits just outside Cambridge, a sprawling wetland reserve where serious birdwatchers come to tick boxes and casual visitors come to remember why they like being outdoors. It's genuinely flat - the kind of landscape that makes you notice every reed bed and every shift in the sky.

You're here for the birds, obviously. Lapwings, redshanks, bitterns if you time it right, and in winter the place fills with visiting wildfowl. There are viewing screens and hides dotted around, so you can stand still and watch without spooking anything. The walking is easy enough - good paths, no hills to speak of - but bring binoculars or hire them. Without decent optics you'll spend a lot of time squinting at distant lumps and wondering if they're interesting or just reeds.

Bring proper waterproofs. The fens are wet by definition, and the whole reserve gets boggy depending on the season. Spring and autumn tend to be the best bets for both variety and conditions that won't wreck your shoes.

This works well alongside the other parks nearby - Cuckoo Fen Campsite is practically on the doorstep if you want a proper base. It's the sort of place where you'll either spend three hours transfixed by a single corner of the reserve or forty minutes realising it's not for you. Families with patient kids will enjoy it. Twitchers will love it. If you expect entertainment you'll leave disappointed.