Skerne Wetlands

The Skerne Wetlands sit just outside Driffield, a proper working landscape where water, reeds and wildlife take centre stage. This isn't a manicured visitor attraction with a car park and a gift shop - it's a genuine wetland reserve where you'll spot lapwing, redshank and if you're lucky, marsh harriers cutting across the water. The walking is straightforward, mostly flat paths that loop through the reserve, though a decent pair of wellies matters if there's been rain.

Birdwatchers will get the most from it, particularly in spring and autumn when migrant species pass through. Families with young kids might find an hour enough before restlessness sets in, unless you've got proper nature enthusiasts in tow. There's something quietly rewarding about standing still and actually watching the landscape work - the calls, the movement in the reeds, the way the light sits on the water at dusk.

If you're based at Kingfisher Lakes Glamping or Dacre Lakeside Park nearby, it's a decent morning outing before heading elsewhere. The wetland sits within reach of the broader East Riding landscape, though honestly, come here for the birds and the silence rather than as a ticked-off stop on a grand tour. Free access, no set hours that I'm aware of - the kind of place you simply turn up to when the light's good or the migrant season kicks in.