Five kilometres south of Skegness town, at the mouth of the Wash, this 430-hectare reserve is the natural counterweight to the bright lights of the resort. Salt marsh, sand dunes, freshwater lagoons, and an enormous beach combine to make it one of the most important sites on the east coast for migrating birds. In spring and autumn anything can turn up; in winter the hides are full of birdwatchers and the lagoons are full of brent geese.
A modern visitor centre — opened in 2015 to replace one lost to the storm surge of 2013 — has a café, exhibitions, and viewing terrace. Bird hides are spread along marked paths through the dunes. The beach itself is huge and largely empty even at the height of summer because of the wading birds. Allow at least half a day; bring binoculars if you can.