Wolsty Banks Nature Reserve

The Solway Firth stretches out before you at Wolsty Banks, a modest nature reserve that punches well above its weight if you know what you're looking for. This is proper birdwatching country - the kind of place where you'll spot curlews, oystercatchers and the occasional golden plover if you time it right. The reserve sits just outside Wigton, making it an easy detour from any of the nearby holiday parks without eating into a full day.

Walking the banks themselves is straightforward, nothing technical, and takes about an hour if you're not stopping to peer through binoculars every five minutes. The landscape is flat and open - there's little shelter, so wind can be a factor, but that's rather the point. You're here for the birds and the expansive views across the firth towards Scotland. Admission appears to be free, which is refreshing.

Families with young children might find it a bit sparse unless they're keen birdwatchers already. It's the sort of place that rewards patience and a decent pair of binoculars rather than instant gratification. That said, if you're staying at Stanwix Park or North Lakes Country Park nearby, it's well worth an afternoon walk, especially during spring and autumn migration periods when visiting species change the whole character of the reserve. Go early in the day when the light is better and the birds less spooked by footfall.