Banovallum Carr

The woodland around Banovallum Carr offers a proper escape if you're staying near Horncastle. It's not a manicured nature reserve with visitor centres and gift shops - this is genuine forest where you can actually walk without bumping into crowds. The carr itself refers to the waterlogged woodland that characterises this corner of Lincolnshire, with alder and willow dominating where the ground stays boggy year-round.

Bring decent boots. The paths can be sodden even days after rain, and a slip here means more than scuffed knees. Spring and early summer are brilliant for spotting water birds and insects, though autumn offers better footing when things have dried out a touch. You're looking at a couple of hours maximum if you're doing a decent circuit - not the sort of place to spend half a day unless you're seriously into woodland ecology.

Families with younger kids might find it a bit underwhelming after the first hour - there's no obvious destination, no viewpoint to aim for, just trees and paths. Walkers and bird enthusiasts, though, will appreciate the genuine wildness of it. It sits well within reach of the glamping and camping options scattered around Woodhall Spa and the surrounding area, making it an easy morning or afternoon addition to a forest holiday.

Access appears to be unrestricted, which is refreshing. No car parks, no facilities, just turn up and go. That's the trade-off for getting somewhere that feels properly remote despite being ten minutes from civilisation.