Sutton Bridge Memorial Park

The River Nene winds through this corner of Cambridgeshire like it's got nowhere particular to be, and Sutton Bridge Memorial Park sits right where the water bends near Wisbech. It's a nature reserve rather than a manicured tourist spot, which means you get actual wildlife - birds mostly, given the wetland setting - without the gift shop and the crowds.

Walkers will find it absorbs a couple of hours easily, particularly if you're into birdwatching or just want a proper flat walk along the river. The memorial aspect gives it a touch of local significance, though the focus here is genuinely on habitat and nature rather than interpretation boards and visitor facilities. Bring binoculars if you've got them; leave the expectations of grand vistas at home.

It's free to access, and the beauty of being based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Parklands Holidays is closest at three miles - is that you can slip over here without fanfare. Delph Bank or The Lawns work equally well if you're after a base for exploring this less-trampled bit of the Fens. Go early morning when the light's soft and the birds are actually about, not midday when the sun bleaches everything flat.

For families, this isn't high-octane entertainment. Kids need to be genuinely interested in nature rather than looking for playground thrills. But for a quiet morning's walk during a caravan holiday in the area, it does the job properly. Don't expect signage or facilities beyond a car park - this is working conservation land, not a packaged experience.