English Heritage - Sibsey Trader Windmill

Six sails still turn against the Lincolnshire sky at Sibsey, a working windmill that actually grinds flour rather than sitting about as a museum piece. Built in 1877, it's the last six-sailed mill left standing in England - a proper rarity. You can climb up through the wooden innards, past the grinding stones and the intricate machinery that's been doing the same job for nearly 150 years. The views from the top sweep across the flat Fens toward Boston, which puts things in perspective about how windmills once commanded the landscape here.

It's a short visit, realistically an hour if you're thorough. Kids either find the climb and the working machinery fascinating or get bored by step three, so gauge your bunch accordingly. History types and anyone interested in agricultural heritage will get genuine value from it. The mill sits just outside Sibsey, a few miles from Boston, making it an easy detour if you're exploring the area.

Admission is nominal and well worth it if you're camping at one of the nearby parks - Long Acres, Waites Farm or Wood Farm are all within striking distance. Call ahead to confirm opening hours before you head out. On a clear day when the sails are turning, it's worth timing your visit to catch them in action. The surrounding Fen country is dead flat and rather lovely in its own spare way.