Days Out - Holkham Nature Reserve, Norfolk

If you're looking for endless beach and big skies, the beach on the Holkham Nature Reserve which is part of the Holkham Estate is just the ticket.

Marshes, dunes, beach and wooded areas, what more could you really ask for, totally unspolit.

Wellies might be useful so you don't have to worry about dodging all the riverlets that run down the beach.   

And twitchers won't be disappointed as the area is great for birdwatching. 

If you keep walking towards Wells-next-the-sea you'll be welcomed by the sight of a row of beautifully painted beach huts.  

Wells itself is small, with about twenty shops that will cater for most of your needs, especially that all important crab line.

Book Worm - BIrdsong (RSPB)

    

 Nightingale                                                     Robin

I've often wondered which bird I'm listening to in my back garden and now I can find out.

As well as access to the internet making it easier to find the answer, this book is great as you can listen to the amazing variety of birdsong that bring the outdoors to life.

                                          Blackbird                                                     Wren

Simply open the book and listen to the familiar sounds of garden birds such as the robin and wren to wonderful migrants such as the cuckoo and swift.

And you can hear some bird songs here ....

 

Days Out - Hengistbury Head, Dorset

© www.quarrart.com 

As wonderful as the Jurassic Coast is, my favourite beach in Dorset has always been Hengistbury Head, near Bournemouth.  Less popular with sunbathers, probably due to the pebble beach, it's loved by dogwalkers and anyone wanting to breathe in the sea air.

© www.geograph.org.uk 

We like to walk along the beach towards the Isle of Wight and skirt round the Head to Mudeford Spit, with its pretty beach huts.  Rarely up for sale, they can exchange hands for silly sums of money, but with lovely views of Christchurch harbour it's easy to see why they are so popular.

© www.redbubble.com

Continuing the circular walk along side the Site of Special Scientific Interest twitchers may be rewarded with sightings of some of over 300 species of bird.  I've also seen adder, natterjack toads and the land's diversity within such a small area is quite amazing - woodland, heathland, coast, saltmarsh, scrub, ponds and watermeadows.

© www.paulhaynesphotography.co.uk

As I've been visiting since childhood, I remember when the Beach House Bistro was just a cafe and though many will probably love it's more contemporary design, I now prefer to wait until the end of the walk when I return to the car park and reward myself with coffee or bit to eat at the Hiker Cafe.