Watersedge Park

The water levels shift with the seasons at Watersedge Park, and that's rather the point. This nature reserve just outside Driffield is a working wetland where you come to watch what thrives when humans step back - reed warblers in spring, overwintering wildfowl come autumn, and if you're patient, the occasional flash of a kingfisher. The main draw is a decent walking circuit around the water meadows with a few viewing points scattered along the way.

It's the sort of place that rewards binoculars and a bird book more than it rewards idle strolling. Families with young kids might find twenty minutes enough; serious twitchers could camp here for hours. The paths are flat and manageable, though proper shoes matter after rain - the ground gets boggy in places.

Watersedge works well as a morning stop during a caravan holiday in the area. Dacre Lakeside Park sits barely half a mile away, making it an easy walk if you're staying there. Ditto Kingfisher Lakes if you've bagged one of their glamping spots - the irony of the name won't be lost if you actually spot one. Allow two hours maximum unless you're genuinely into bird watching, in which case bring a packed lunch.

The reserve is free and open to the public, though facilities are minimal. No café, no loos that I spotted. Go on a clear morning when light's good and birds are active. Late afternoon in winter can feel a bit bleak.