RSPB Medmerry Car Park

Pull into the car park at Medmerry and you're immediately at the threshold of one of Sussex's most rewarding birdwatching spots. The RSPB reserve sprawls across reclaimed marshland near Chichester, created when sea walls were deliberately breached to let the water back in. It's a proper working wetland - the kind of place where you might spot avocets, bitterns, or marsh harriers without leaving the footpaths.

The walking here is straightforward. You can do a short circuit in under an hour or take longer routes if you've got the time and energy. Binoculars are essential, though even without them the landscape itself is worth the visit - all big skies and open water, weirdly peaceful given you're only a few miles from Chichester town centre.

This works brilliantly if you're based at somewhere like Stubcroft Farm Campsite just down the road, or staying at any of the nearby holiday parks. Come early morning in spring for the best birdlife, though autumn migration can be equally excellent. It's genuinely free to visit and there's a proper car park with facilities.

Who'll love it? Serious birders will spend hours here. Families with young walkers find it manageable and the water keeps kids engaged. If you're expecting dramatic coastal cliffs or rugged scenery, you'll be disappointed - this is subtle, understated, and all the better for it. Not the kind of place to rush.