Scarning Fen

The Fen stretches out flat and open, a proper Norfolk wetland where the land seems to merge with sky. Scarning Fen is a nature reserve that rewards patient observers rather than casual strollers - you come here to spot birds, not for a quick loop around a car park.

It's boggy in places, so decent boots matter. The reserve lies just east of Bylaugh, and what strikes you first is the sheer quietness. No visitor centre, no tea shop, just water, reeds, and the occasional flash of a marsh harrier overhead. Birdwatchers will have a field day - winter brings whooper swans, summer brings warblers. If you're into flora, the fen orchids alone justify the trip.

Allow a couple of hours minimum if you're serious about it. An hour feels rushed. Entry is free, which is decent given what's on offer, though facilities are minimal - bring water and a packed lunch. Photographers wanting authentic Norfolk landscape get genuine material here, not the prettified version.

It works well alongside a stay at Bylaugh Country Park Caravan and Campsite, just five miles away. That's your base sorted for comfort, then you slip out to the fen for the real Norfolk experience. Not a destination for families wanting activity and facilities, but for anyone wanting to see what East Anglia actually is - wild, watery, and properly atmospheric - it delivers.