RSPB Tetney Marshes

The moment you step onto the viewing platform at Tetney Marshes, you're staring out at one of the Lincolnshire coast's best-kept secrets. This RSPB reserve, just under a mile from Cleethorpes, is a sprawling wetland that genuinely delivers for birdwatchers - whether you're a twitcher with a notebook or someone who just quite fancies seeing a few avocets.

What you get here is space. Proper space. The reserve covers nearly 1,500 acres of saltmarsh and freshwater habitat, threaded with viewing platforms and hides that let you watch without spooking the residents. Winter brings in huge flocks of wildfowl - wigeon, pintail, the lot - while spring and autumn are prime migration seasons when rarities turn up if you're lucky. Breeding season sees waders everywhere. Even in summer when numbers drop, there's usually something worth photographing.

For a family staying at Haven Cleethorpes Beach just down the road, this makes an easy morning or afternoon break from the beach. Kids get a genuine kick out of scanning for movement through binoculars, spotting avocets with their upturned beaks, and listening for the odd marsh harrier. It's free to wander the outer paths, though the hides and full reserve access typically cost a few quid if you're not an RSPB member.

Allow two to three hours minimum if you're serious about it. Go early for the best light and quieter conditions. The paths are flat and wheelchair-accessible on the main circuit, though it can get muddy and exposed when the wind picks up off the North Sea. Brilliant for walkers and nature buffs; younger kids might need keeping entertained on duller days.