Wicker Well

The water at Wicker Well sits eerily still most days, ringed by reeds and the kind of Norfolk flatness that makes you realize how much sky there actually is. It's a proper little lake, really - the sort of place that rewards a quiet walk rather than demanding your full afternoon. Birdwatchers tend to get the most from it; the reed beds pull in all manner of waders and wildfowl depending on the season, and you'll spot the serious types with their binoculars already planted at dawn.

The walk around the perimeter isn't strenuous, which suits families with younger kids fine, though there's not much in the way of facilities or entertainment once you've done the circuit. It's very much a Norfolk thing - subtle rather than spectacular. Come in spring or autumn when migration's on and the bird life's properly active, and you'll understand why locals bother. Summer can feel a bit flat, to be honest.

Staying at one of the holiday parks nearby - Broadland Sands, Haven Hopton, or Azure Seas are all within a few miles - gives you easy access without making it your main event. It works best as a morning walk before heading into Great Yarmouth or combining it with other nature spots in the area. Free to visit and no time limit, which is the way these things should be. Don't expect the Lake District; expect something quieter and distinctly Broadland.