Boston

Windswept Lincolnshire fenland stretches endlessly here, where drainage ditches carve geometric patterns through some of England's flattest countryside. Boston sits where the River Witham meets the Wash, its towering St. Botolph's Church - known locally as 'The Stump' - visible for miles across the pancake-flat terrain.

The town itself is proper market territory. Wednesdays and Saturdays see the Market Place come alive with traders flogging everything from fresh produce to household bits. St. Botolph's Church dominates the skyline at 272 feet - climb the tower on a clear day and you'll see the Lincolnshire Wolds rolling away to the northeast.

Nature lovers should head straight to RSPB Freiston Shore. This coastal reserve offers some of the best birdwatching in the county, with thousands of waders and wildfowl using the mudflats as a pit stop. The lagoons here are artificially created, but they've become magnets for wildlife - and photographers with proper long lenses.

Getting here is straightforward enough. The A52 cuts right through town, connecting Boston to the A1 and beyond. It's about 30 miles southeast of Lincoln, though the journey feels longer across the flat fens. The railway still runs to Boston, with connections to Nottingham and beyond, though services aren't frequent.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense for exploring this corner of Lincolnshire. You're well-placed for day trips to the coast - Skegness is half an hour east - while the historic market towns of Spalding and Sleaford are easily reachable. The fenland cycling is excellent too, with dead-flat roads and big skies that go on forever.