Winterton Beach

The shingle beach at Winterton stretches for miles, backed by a proper nature reserve that's genuinely worth a detour if you're staying anywhere near Great Yarmouth. It's not the prettiest bit of Norfolk coastline - there's no golden sand here, just stones and sparse vegetation - but that's exactly why it works. The reserve protects breeding terns and plovers, so you'll see roped-off nesting areas spring through early summer. Bring binoculars if you're into birdwatching; the migrant species in autumn are impressive.

Walking the beach itself is the main draw. You can stroll for hours with barely another soul around, which feels increasingly rare on the Norfolk coast. The dunes behind the shingle have proper character - low scrub, marram grass, that windswept East Anglia feeling. It's popular with dog walkers and the seriously committed ramblers, less so with families after an ice cream and paddling pool.

Parking's straightforward, access is free, and there's no visitor centre faffing about - you just turn up and walk. Allow two to three hours to get a proper feel for it. If you're based at Richardson's Hemsby Beach just down the road, or any of the bigger parks like California Cliffs or Haven Caister, Winterton makes a cracking morning or afternoon break from the holiday park routine. It's the sort of place that resets you after too much of the fairground atmosphere Great Yarmouth can't help itself.