Whether you're a night owl or up with the larks, East Anglia is recognised as having fantastic nature reserves and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty that play home to some of Britain's most-loved birds.
Make sure to pack your binoculars when staying with us and head out to explore these spots:
RSPB Titchwell Marsh Nature Reserve
Near The Lifeboat Inn, Thornham
Owned and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Titchwell Marsh Nature Reserve guarantees sightings of wading birds with its salt marsh and freshwater lagoons. Also, "Remnants of a prehistoric age and a time when the Norfolk coast formed part of Britain's sea defences can be seen sporadically across the reserve".
Want to make a day of it this summer? The Lifeboat is a short half an hour walk away, so pop by for a pint in the Sail Bar afterwards.
Pensthorpe Park
Near The Feathers, Holt
Ideal for all the family, Pensthorpe Park is not only teeming with flora and forna, it also has four gardens to explore as well as indoor and outdoor adventure play for children. There are seven family-friendly hides where you can experience sightings of Sedge Warblers to Cuckoos, Avocets to Chiffchaffs.
Please note that unlike some of the other nature reserves, you do need to pay for admission here.
Cley & Salthouse Marshes
Near The Wiveton Bell
Set amongst huge marshes and even bigger skies, this sanctuary for birds is in an idyllic spot on the Norfolk coast. Expect to see cattle grazing around the site, visit events and exhibitions in the Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre, and, of the many birds found their, the Spoonbill with its long spatula-like bill, is one of the most popular sightings.
To find out more, click here.
Dunwich Heath and Beach
Near The Ship, Dunwich
Dunwich Heath is an area of lowland just south of The Ship, in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. While a number of birds migrate here for the summer, there's also a number of protected resident species, such as the Dartford Warbler, alongside the now red-listed Skylark.
Alongside birdwatching, we'd recommend looking to the ground in winter months for deer spotting! 'Rut' happens between stags in the colder months and makes for brilliant displays - especially if you have a good camera on you.
Holkham National Nature Reserve
Near The Globe Inn, Wells-next-The-Sea
Covering a staggering 3700 hectares, from Burnham Norton to Blakeney, Holkham National Nature Reserve is made up of various habitats - from sandy beaches to pine woodland - and is one of England's largest nature reserves.
Park along Lady Anne's Drive and walk the boardwalk towards the beach and discover the Belted Galloways grazing on the marshes, while up in the big Norfolk skies there are plenty of rare bird sightings.
The Brecks
Near The Weeping Willow, Barrow
Stretching from Swaffham to the north of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, there are "over 12,500 species living in the area, 30% of which are nationally classified as rare."
The RSPB have been working on a project to increase the population of Stone Curlew, doubling it between 1991 and 2006, but they're not the only bird you'll find. Expect to see Green Woodpecker and Golden Oriole in the mornings and Jays and Barn Owls later in the day.
RSPB Minsmere
Near The Westleton Crown
Head two miles down the road from The Westleton Crown to RSPB Minsmere and spend a sunny afternoon out on the reedbeds or in a hide. From May, hear the sounds of Nighingales in the woods and see the Sand Martin colony in the old car park, but if you're really lucky, keep your eyes on the water and you may spot a family of Otters.
Feeling peckish after a few hours on the marshes or in The Brecks? Take a look at our Summer Food & Drinks offers here to join us from breakfast to dinner and everything in-between.
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