Springwatch country: stay at The Firs and explore the Suffolk coast's wildlife

If you've ever watched BBC Springwatch and wished you could see that wildlife for yourself, The Firs puts you right in the heart of the country where it was filmed. Our countryside retreat is a short drive from RSPB Minsmere, the celebrated Suffolk coast reserve that hosted Springwatch for three series around the show's 10th anniversary. We're 2 hours from London and 45 minutes from Norwich.

Presenter Chris Packham once called Minsmere "a Disneyland for birders" — and it's easy to see why. Across more than a thousand hectares of reedbed, heath, woodland and coastal lagoon, the reserve is home to over 5,600 species: bitterns booming in spring, marsh harriers wheeling overhead, avocets on the scrape, otters and badgers along the margins. The hides that once held Springwatch's cameras are open to visitors, and the trails suit all ages and abilities.

A stay at The Firs lets you build a whole nature-watching break around it. Pair Minsmere with Dunwich Heath for nightjars and Dartford warblers, the marshes at Walberswick for migrants and waders, and the Broads to the north for kingfishers and grebes. Spring and early summer — Springwatch season — are magical, but each season brings its own cast.

Then come home to the calm. The Firs' four acres of gardens, the moat and the silver birches are alive with their own birdsong, best enjoyed at dawn with a coffee or at dusk from a wood-fired hot tub. It's the perfect, peaceful base for a wildlife-led stay.

For nature-lover UK stays in genuine Springwatch country, this countryside retreat is a wonderful place to begin. Bring the binoculars and see the Suffolk coast's wildlife the way the cameras did.

Planning a wildlife break? Check availability and book direct.

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Reserve details and sightings: RSPB.