St Chad's Nature Reserve

The wetland at St Chad's sits just outside Nottingham, a proper working nature reserve that doesn't pretend to be anything fancier than it is. You're walking round pools and reed beds looking for birds, dragonflies, whatever's about that day - it's genuine naturalist territory rather than a manicured visitor attraction.

What makes it tick is the variety. Spring brings migrating warblers, summer's thick with dragonflies and damselflies, autumn sees visiting geese and ducks. The walking's gentle, mostly flat paths around the water, so it suits families with younger kids and anyone after a peaceful hour or two rather than a full day out. Birdwatchers will get the most from it, especially if you bring binoculars and a field guide.

Allow an hour to ninety minutes depending on how much you stop to look. There's no charge to visit and no visitor centre nonsense. Go early morning for the best wildlife watching - you'll have the place nearly to yourself and the light's better.

If you're camping at Field of Dreams Glamping or Hill Farm just down the road, St Chad's works well as a morning or late afternoon stop before heading back. It's close enough not to eat into your holiday time, but far enough out that you feel like you've actually been somewhere. Not a showpiece, but honest and rewarding if you're into wildlife or just fancy a quiet walk.