The Boston Woods Trust

The Boston Woods Trust manages a proper slice of Lincolnshire woodland that feels worlds away from the flat agricultural landscape surrounding it. These are real woods - the kind with proper trees, walking paths that actually go somewhere, and enough undergrowth to make you feel like you've stepped out of the Fens entirely. It's free to wander about, which helps, and you can easily kill an afternoon here if the weather's half decent.

Walkers get the most from it. The paths wind through different woodland habitats, so you're not just trudging through the same terrain for hours on end. Birdwatchers and wildlife spotters will find it worthwhile too - you might catch sight of woodpeckers, nuthatches, or if you're lucky, some of the smaller mammals that live here. Kids will either love it or get bored after forty minutes depending on whether they're the type to look at things or just want a playground.

Based near Boston, it makes a solid addition to a holiday park stay - Orchard Holiday Park and Appletree Holiday Park are both within striking distance if you want to combine it with easier outdoor time. Don't expect dramatic scenery or anything that'll blow your mind; this is a proper working nature reserve, not a tourist attraction. But that's precisely why it works. Come on a weekday morning if you can, avoid weekends when it gets busier, and bring decent shoes because it can get muddy underfoot.