Pitsford Water Nature Reserve

The water glints from across the fields as you arrive at Pitsford, and you'll quickly understand why birdwatchers have made this reservoir their business. It's a proper working water supply that's somehow managed to become one of the East Midlands' best spots for spotting migrant warblers, wintering wildfowl, and the occasional rarity that sends twitchers driving up the M1 like their lives depend on it.

You can walk the perimeter - it's a solid three to four miles depending on which path you fancy - or just park up and use the hides dotted around the shoreline. The visitor centre gives you the lowdown on what's been seen recently, which saves you standing around waiting for something to happen. Spring and autumn are when things get genuinely exciting, though winter brings decent numbers of diving ducks if you're into that sort of thing.

It's free to visit and there's no faffing about with booking - just turn up. Families with kids who enjoy nature walks will get a decent few hours out of it, though if your children expect constant action, they'll probably be bored stiff within ninety minutes. Serious birders, though, can easily lose a full day here.

If you're camping at Lakeview Caravan Park just down the road, this is practically on your doorstep and well worth an afternoon visit. It's genuinely less crowded than most nature reserves, which means you'll actually have a chance of seeing something interesting without elbowing past a queue of camera lenses.