Ashing Lane Nature Reserve, Monks Wood, Co-op Woods

Three woodland reserves strung across Lincolnshire's countryside - Ashing Lane, Monks Wood, and Co-op Woods - offer proper respite if you're camped nearby and the weather's turned a bit grey. They're the kind of places where you actually see something: spotted woodpeckers, muntjac deer, occasional adders if you're lucky and observant. Walking trails wind through ancient woodland, nothing too demanding, though the paths can get boggy after rain so decent boots are non-negotiable.

Monks Wood is the largest and most visited of the three. It's genuinely old - medieval in parts - and the tree coverage is thick enough that even on busy weekends you'll find quiet corners. Ashing Lane is smaller, better for a quick 45-minute wander if you're based at Langdale Lakes just down the road. Co-op Woods sits between them geographically and temperamentally - not as dramatic as Monks Wood but less cramped than Ashing Lane.

This isn't somewhere you'd travel hours to reach, but if you're staying at one of the caravan sites within a few miles of Lincoln, it's absolutely worth an afternoon. Serious birdwatchers and woodland walkers will get genuine value. Children might find an hour sufficient unless they're the type to hunt for insects and turn over logs. Admission appears to be free, though facilities are minimal - there's nowhere to buy a coffee, so plan accordingly. Spring and early summer are cracking times to visit when migrant birds are about.