Sandilands Pit Nature Reserve

This former sand and gravel extraction pit near Sutton on Sea has been left to nature, and it's genuinely worth a wander if you're staying at any of the nearby caravan parks. The reserve comprises open water, reed beds, and grassland - habitats that have attracted a decent variety of birds and insects over the years. You'll find yourself among anglers and birdwatchers more often than families with pushchairs, which keeps it quiet.

The walking isn't strenuous. A circuit round the water takes maybe forty minutes at a leisurely pace, though you could spend longer if you've binoculars and patience. Spring and autumn migrations bring decent numbers of visiting species, while summer's solid for dragonflies if you're into that sort of thing. Winter can feel a bit bleak and exposed, so pick your weather.

It's the sort of place that appeals to anyone with even a passing interest in wildlife or a need to escape the caravan site for a couple of hours. Walkers will find it undemanding; serious birdwatchers might make a proper morning of it. There's no visitor centre, cafe, or facilities to speak of - it's just open land, so bring water and dress for the wind off the coast.

If you're based at Cherry Tree Springs or Sutton-on-Sea Caravan Club, this reserve sits practically on your doorstep. It won't dominate your holiday plans, but combined with the beach at Sutton on Sea itself and nearby Mablethorpe, it rounds out a decent day out without any faffing about.