Snowhill Creek

The creek runs through a proper Sussex nature reserve just outside Chichester, where the water cuts through reed beds and scrubby woodland. It's a quiet spot - the kind of place you'll forget exists when you're driving past on the main road, but once you're in amongst the reeds and willows, the landscape opens up. You get good birdwatching here, especially if you time it right in spring or autumn when migrants pass through. The walking is easy and flat, mostly following the creek itself, so it won't exhaust you.

Birders will love this. Serious twitchers come for the rare sightings, but even casual walkers spot enough to keep binoculars interesting - warblers, herons, the occasional egret. The reserve isn't managed as a visitor showstopper, which is partly its charm. There are no visitor centres or gift shops, just access to the water and space to wander.

Allow an hour or two depending on how keen you are. It's not a full day out on its own, but it works brilliantly as part of a longer walk around the Chichester area. West Sands Holidays sits only five miles away, making this an ideal half-morning venture from a caravan base. Bring decent binoculars and a bird book if you're serious. In winter, it can get muddy, so proper boots matter. The reserve is free to access, which keeps it refreshingly unmercenary.