Tannen lands

The wetland at Tannen lands, just outside Kingsbridge, is one of those places that rewards you for looking properly. Shallow pools fringed with reed beds and boggy grassland - nothing dramatic, but genuinely good for wildlife watching. You'll spot wading birds here, dragonflies in summer, and if you're lucky, the occasional heron working the margins.

It's a reserve that suits walkers and birders far more than casual visitors. There are paths through the site, though they can get muddy after rain - proper wellies job. Allow an hour or so, maybe longer if you've brought binoculars. The views aren't wide-open moorland stuff; it's intimate, close-quarters nature. Families with older kids who can move quietly will do fine. Young children might lose interest fairly quickly unless they spot something exciting.

The reserve works brilliantly as a morning activity if you're based at Start Bay Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just down the road - it's only 3.2 miles away. Use it as a warm-up before tackling the South West Coast Path or heading into Kingsbridge proper for lunch. Spring and early summer are the best times - migratory birds pass through and the whole place feels properly alive.

Free to access, which is always welcome. No facilities on site though, so come prepared. It's the kind of spot that separates the nature enthusiasts from the folk wanting easy wins - and there's nothing wrong with knowing which camp you're in.