Sherbourne Park

A proper slice of Warwickshire wetland sits just outside Warwick town centre - Sherbourne Park is the sort of place you'll either love immediately or walk straight past without noticing. It's a nature reserve, which means you're here for the wildlife and the walking, not for facilities or fanfare. The park centres on marshy ground and water, which attracts birds in decent numbers depending on the season. Bring binoculars if you're serious about birdwatching; without them you'll spend half your time squinting at distant shapes in the reeds.

Walkers will find the trails manageable rather than spectacular - nothing particularly challenging, more a gentle circuit or two through the reserve. It's the sort of place where you might see a kingfisher if you're lucky and quiet, or spend an hour watching nothing happen while the wind moves through the rushes. Families with young kids can manage the paths fine, though there's not much to keep under-fives entertained beyond "look, a duck".

If you're based at Coplow Woodland Retreat or Avon Riverside Glamping nearby, this makes a straightforward morning visit or a quiet afternoon break from your caravan. It's free to access and works well combined with a walk into Warwick itself - the castle and town centre are walkable from here. Don't expect anything polished or signposted to death. This is a working nature reserve where people come to actually watch things, not to take Instagram photos. Go when you're after a bit of peace rather than entertainment.