RSPB Campfield Marsh

The marshland spreads out flat and endless, water glinting between reed beds and scrubby vegetation - this is RSPB Campfield Marsh, a working wetland reserve just outside Wigton that punches well above its weight for bird spotting. You won't find towering cliffs or dramatic vistas here. What you get instead is proper birdwatching territory: waders, wildfowl, and if you're lucky, rarer visitors that draw twitchers from across the region.

The reserve operates on a casual basis - no barriers, no turnstiles, just access to the paths that wind through the marshland. Bring binoculars and patience. Spring and autumn migrations are the peak seasons, though winter brings its own interest if you fancy scanning for overwintering species. Allow two to three hours to do it justice, longer if you're serious about your lists.

This works brilliantly as a morning or afternoon excursion if you're based at one of the nearby parks. Queensberry Bay Holiday Park, four miles away with solid reviews, makes a decent hub, or the slightly closer Glendale if you're after something more low-key. The walk itself is easy enough - no scrambling, no elevation gain - which means families can manage it without groaning, though younger kids might lose interest once they realise nothing's going to jump out of the reeds.

It's a quiet spot that rewards the people who actually want to be quiet. If marshland and binoculars sound tedious, skip it. If you've got even a passing interest in birds, it's worth the drive from Wigton.