Yoxwood

The woodland at Yoxwood is proper East Anglian - flat, quiet, and the sort of place you stumble into rather than plan for. It's a nature reserve that rewards a slow walk rather than a quick tick-off, with paths threading through mixed woodland where you'll spot woodland birds and, if you're lucky, deer moving through the quieter sections. The reserve sits just east of Saxmundham, making it an easy detour if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks like Birds and Bees Campsite or The Croft.

What makes Yoxwood work is the lack of fuss. There are no visitor centres, no gift shops, no overcrowding. You arrive, park, and walk. The paths are accessible enough for families without being dumbed down, though it's not a destination for very young children unless you fancy carrying them when the novelty wears off after twenty minutes. Autumn is particularly good here - the light filters through differently, and the walk feels purposeful rather than just pleasant.

Allow a couple of hours if you're thorough, an hour if you're just stretching your legs between campsites. It's free to access, which is rare for managed reserves these days. This isn't the kind of place you'll photograph for Instagram. It's the kind of place you'll think about on a grey Tuesday morning back home, wondering why you didn't stay longer. If you're already staying nearby at Carlton Meres or Cliff House, absolutely worth the short drive.