Wolla Bank Pit

The flat Lincolnshire landscape doesn't prepare you for Wolla Bank Pit. What you're looking at is a genuine flooded gravel extraction site that's transformed itself into something rather special - a proper nature reserve where the water sits like a mirror reflecting sky and birch trees. It's the sort of place that reveals itself slowly. Walk the perimeter and you'll spot reed warblers, maybe a kingfisher if you're lucky, and on a quiet day the whole thing feels almost meditative.

Birders and wildlife photographers will absolutely love this. Families with young kids might find it a bit quiet - there's no visitor centre, no cafe, no obvious entertainment beyond looking and listening. But that's rather the point. You're here to spot birds and butterflies, not ride a rollercoaster.

It's free to visit, which is brilliant. Allow an hour for a proper wander, longer if you've brought binoculars and patience. Spring and autumn migration periods are peak times when you might see something properly unusual.

From Skegness, it's barely ten minutes away, making it an excellent addition to a caravan holiday at Creekside Family Camping just down the road in Anderby. The nearby parks - Cherry Tree Springs and the Sutton-on-Sea Caravan site are solid bases too. After a morning sat by the water here, you've earned a chippy lunch in Skegness proper. The reserve works best when you're not expecting too much and you've got a full day to potter about.