The Boardwalks

Wooden pathways wind through wetland at The Boardwalks, a nature reserve just outside Peterborough where you're genuinely close to birds, water and the kind of landscape that makes you remember why you came to Cambridgeshire in the first place. The boardwalks themselves are the main attraction - they're raised wooden trails that let you move through the reserve without trampling the sensitive ground beneath. You'll spot warblers, herons, dragonflies if you time it right, and the whole thing has that quality of spaces where nature's actually allowed to get on with things.

It's best for patient walkers and serious birdwatchers rather than restless kids, though children interested in insects won't get bored. Allow an hour, maybe more if you've got binoculars and actually know what you're looking for. The reserve is free to access, which is decent of them.

If you're based at Ferry Meadows just down the road - arguably the best caravan spot around here - you could easily pop over for a morning or late afternoon session when the light's better for spotting things. It's the sort of place that genuinely complements a park holiday rather than replacing it. Less dramatic than the Nene Valley itself, but valuable precisely because it's quiet and unremarkable in the best possible way. Worth the detour if you're into wildlife; skip it if you need dramatic landscapes.