The Dell

The Dell is one of Norfolk's proper woodland treasures, a dense forest just outside Great Yarmouth that feels worlds away from the seaside sprawl. You're walking through mature broadleaf woodland here - oak, ash, beech - with the kind of dappled light filtering through the canopy that makes you remember why forests matter. Paths wind through the trees, some well-trodden and straightforward, others narrower and more adventurous depending on your mood.

It's the sort of place that rewards a slow wander rather than a quick tick-off. Kids enjoy spotting wildlife - expect deer if you're lucky, definitely birds - and there's enough space to let them burn off energy without the anxiety of them bolting into traffic. Walkers will find it satisfying for a couple of hours, though it's not vast, so don't expect a full-day expedition. The woodland floor is soft underfoot for most of the year, though winter can get properly muddy.

Free to visit, no entrance fees or facilities that I'm aware of - just park responsibly and head in. Best visited outside school holidays if you value some peace, and autumn is genuinely special here when the leaf colour is turning. If you're staying at Haven Wild Duck or one of the other holiday parks dotted nearby, this makes an excellent morning or afternoon outing to break up the beach days. It's the kind of place that restores something, especially after Great Yarmouth's intensity.