Ancaster Camp

The earthworks at Ancaster are what's left of a Roman settlement that once mattered quite a lot - you can still make out the defensive ditches and banks if you know what you're looking at, though honestly, it takes a bit of imagination. The site sits just outside Grantham, accessible via quiet lanes, and it's free to wander round whenever you fancy.

This isn't going to blow your mind with reconstructions or visitor facilities. What you get is the raw archaeology - lumpy ground that tells a story if you're willing to read it. Romano-British settlement types will find it worthwhile; historians love the chance to stand where actual Roman soldiers once stood. Families with older kids who can cope with "just fields" might enjoy it as part of a bigger Lincolnshire history hunt, but younger ones will probably get restless within twenty minutes.

Allow an hour if you're genuinely interested in poking around and reading up on what happened here. Bring decent footwear - the ground can be soft depending on weather. There's no café or facilities, so plan accordingly.

If you're staying at Wagtail Country Park nearby, it's a decent morning outing to break up the holiday routine. Not a destination in itself, but paired with Grantham's other attractions and the Lincolnshire countryside, it slots in nicely. Best visited in dry weather when the earthworks show up clearly rather than looking like waterlogged bumps.