Thorpness

The wind hits you first at Thorpness - a proper battering off the North Sea that makes you understand why this stretch of Suffolk coast feels so exposed and wild. It's a nature reserve, though calling it that makes it sound more manicured than it actually is. You get shingle beaches, rough grassland, and a jumble of pools and ditches where waders and wildfowl congregate, especially in winter when the migratory birds pile in.

Walkers get the most from Thorpness. There's no theme park atmosphere here, no visitor centre with a café selling flapjacks. You turn up, you walk the trails, you watch the birds or you don't. Binoculars are essential if you're serious about spotting anything beyond the obvious gulls. Families with restless kids might find it bit thin on entertainment - it's not a place where you can just point and say "look, an otter" every five minutes. But if you've got teenagers or anyone with a genuine interest in coastal ecology, it's worth the drive from Leiston.

Allow a good two to three hours to do it properly. The light's often dramatic here, especially in autumn and winter when the sky seems enormous. It's free to access, which helps. If you're staying at Beach View Holiday Park just down the road, this makes a solid morning walk before heading back for lunch. The reserve won't blow your mind, but it's exactly what Suffolk's coast ought to be - unglamorous, working, and genuinely alive.