Pakefield Park

The cliffs at Pakefield drop away sharply to a shingle beach, and on a clear day you can see right along the Suffolk coast from here. It's a proper working nature reserve rather than a manicured attraction - rough grassland, gorse thickets, and the constant background noise of gulls makes it feel genuinely wild for somewhere so close to Lowestoft.

You're here for two things really: the views, and the chance to spot nesting birds if you time it right. Birdwatchers get properly excited about this stretch, especially spring and autumn when migrants pass through. The walking itself is straightforward - paths run along the cliff edge and you can drop down to the beach if the tide's out and the mood takes you. It's the sort of place where you can spend an hour or spend an afternoon depending on whether you're just after the vista or you've brought binoculars and a bird book.

Not everyone's cup of tea if you're after facilities or a visitor centre - there's essentially none of that. It's free to wander, and there's limited parking nearby. If you're staying at Parkdean Kessingland Beach or Henstead Fields, this makes a solid morning out without needing the car - close enough to pop over between other plans. Bring layers; the wind whips across those cliffs something fierce, even when it's sunny. Families with young kids might find it a bit exposed and bleak unless they're properly keen on nature, but anyone who enjoys a bit of coastal rambling will find it worthwhile.