Filsham Reedbeds Nature Reserve, Sussex Wildlife Trust

The walk in from Saint Leonards-on-Sea takes you through salt marshes and reed beds that feel genuinely wild - nothing like a manicured nature reserve. Filsham is one of those places where you understand why Sussex Wildlife Trust bothers to protect it. The birdwatching here is serious business, especially in winter when you'll spot redshank, dunlin, and if you're lucky, the occasional bittern booming from deep in the reeds.

It's a wetland reserve, essentially, with viewing platforms dotted through the site so you don't have to wade through mud. The paths are manageable but can get boggy after rain - wellies aren't optional in January. Allow two to three hours if you're actually watching birds; less if you just fancy a quick circuit.

History buffs will find it interesting that this was once worked as fishponds centuries back. These days it's all about habitat restoration and letting nature do its thing, which means it looks properly untidy in places. That's rather the point. Families with young kids might struggle with the long, quiet walks and lack of facilities, but keen birdwatchers and walkers looking for something genuine will find it worth the trip from Beech Estate Campsite, just six miles away. Free to access and no timetable means you can turn up whenever. Go early morning for the best light and quietest conditions.