The Garden of Rest

The Garden of Rest sits just outside March, a sprawling nature reserve where the Cambridgeshire fens open up into something genuinely peaceful. It's the sort of place that catches you off guard - you arrive expecting the usual municipal gardens, then realise you're wandering through proper wetland habitat with viewing areas dotted about so you can actually watch what's happening in the reeds without scaring everything away.

Walkers and birdwatchers will spend a good couple of hours here without running out of things to look at. The trails meander through different sections, and even on a middling day you'll spot herons, dragonflies, and whatever waterfowl happens to be breeding that season. If you're coming with kids, they'll get an hour or so out of it before the novelty of "looking at birds" wears thin - bring binoculars if you want to hold their attention longer.

The reserve works particularly well as a half-day stop if you're based at Knightsbridge Caravan and Marina Park nearby. It's close enough for a morning visit without eating into your holiday properly, and you can head back to the park for lunch without any faffing about. The fens can be bleak and windy, so go when the weather's playing ball - spring and early summer are best when the water's clear and the breeding birds are around.

Free to access, no facilities to speak of, so bring water and sensible shoes. The paths vary in condition, so nothing's paved if that matters to you.