National Park focus: The Broads Size 125 miles of inland waterways View Larger Map Insider guide By Andrea Kelly Job role: Senior ecologist Best view I couldn't choose just one; I love the views when out walking along the river banks admiring that expanse of marshes. Each view changes with the light and the seasons. Some of the best views are being immersed in the Halvergate marshes, particularly around the RSPB reserve at Berney Marshes. Apart from all the big skies we get in the Broads, I can't get enough of the magic of being within the middle of a whispering reedbed that towers over my head in the summer or a still wet woodland filled with the sounds of small birds searching for a meal. Favourite part of the park The Broads has so many wonderful places, but my best days are out around the Upper Thurne area. It's got wonderful beaches, with hundreds of grey seal pups in the dunes in the winter and lots of other rare wildlife around Hickling and Horsey. These wildlife treats include the UKs largest butterfly which is unmissable in June. Anything you don't like about the park The water quality in the rivers and lakes used to be better than it is today. That is why I spend a lot of my days working with landowners and water companies to improve the water environment. We also encourage people who visit to bring phosphate free detergents when they hire boats. Every bit helps and our waterways are getting healthier all the time. Natural highlights The Broads is famous for its broads (shallow lakes) and 122 miles of rivers surrounded by wildlife rich wetlands and grass marshes. In summary: Wetland places The golden colour of the reed and fen sedges against the blue sky, with the light bouncing off the seed heads is breathtaking. Marsh harriers soaring overhead can always be seen and with a bit of time and luck a barn owl, bittern or perhaps the small bearded tit, swallowtail butterfly or Norfolk hawker dragonfly. Three quarters of the country's remaining fen is found in the Broads. Rivers, broads estuary and coast There are 63 broads which range from small, isolated lakes to huge expanses of water. Formed in medieval times when peat was dug to use as fuel, they became flooded as water levels rose over the centuries and are now home to all sorts of wildlife. Five main rivers flow out to the sea via the Breydon estuary. This estuary supports wintering wading birds with over 100,000 birds feeding at peak times over its 2.5-mile kilometer length. The dunes at Winterton-on-Sea are home to natterjack toads which breed in the shallow pools. Wonderful wet woodlands The wet woodlands feel prehistoric - they are peaceful places with fallen trees and tussock sedges, ferns, mosses. In all this luxuriant greenness you can hear calls of nesting herons alongside flocks of redpolls passing through. Marvellous marshes Marshes make up a large area of the Broads and in the summer the cattle graze up to the edges of the ditches, which are filled with water plants and also provide a stronghold for water voles. Many drainage mills can be seen from the marshes. If you only see one thing, make sure you see One of the drainage mills. Horsey Mill is a really good example and you can climb to the top and look out over Horsey Mere. There are over 75 drainage mills remaining in the Broads, a legacy of hundreds of years of managing the wetland. Favourite time of year It's got to be early summer; everything is happening so fast there is always something to see - birds are breeding, plants are flowering. But when the majority of visitors have gone after the summer holidays the peace on the rivers is well worth waiting for. Favourite fact about the park The Broads supports two thirds of the UKs rare species. Best leisurely walks There are loads of ideas of days out in the Broads, many of which can be found here. A walk in Strumpshaw on the Yare valley is lovely at any time of year. Or perhaps a walk around Ranworth with pub, floating visitor center and views from the top of the church tower. There are around 200 miles of footpaths through some of the area's most attractive landscapes, including nature trails, circular walks and long distance footpaths suitable for anything from a gentle stroll to a strenuous hike. The map in the link here shows some fantastic walks. Best for hardcore trekkers There are a number of long distance route such as the Wherrymans Way and Weavers way. The Weavers way alongside the south side of Hickling Broad is a superb walk, completely away from it all, as is the Angles Way which goes along the banks of the River Waveney. Best for families Whitlingham Country Park is one the best days out for family especially is you book a trip on the solar powered boat Ra. Other activities Canoeing and cycling are lovely things to do in the Broads. With maps to be downloaded and bikes and canoes to be hired it makes it really easy to get active. Read more: Nicholas Roe on canoeing the Norfolk Broads Can you stay there? There are plenty of camping opportunities, b & b's and guest houses. The website (see below) lists them all. Andrea Kelly, senior ecologist at the Broads More information The Broads web site Edited at Telegraph.co.uk by Jolyon Attwooll