Gonerby Dog Park

Just outside Grantham, Gonerby Dog Park is exactly what it sounds like - a proper space for dogs to run about without a lead while their owners stand around chatting or checking their phones. It's a fenced area with decent grass, the sort of place locals clearly know well because you'll spot the same faces and their mutts most days.

This is squarely for dog owners, obviously. If your pooch has been cooped up in the car during your Lincolnshire break, this sorts them out in about twenty minutes. It's free and straightforward - no faff, no facilities to speak of, just room for your dog to burn energy. Go early morning or late afternoon if you want breathing space from other dogs; weekends get busy.

What makes it useful rather than spectacular is its proximity to Wagtail Country Park just down the road - stay there and you've got a handy off-lead option for the morning before heading out to explore Grantham's market square or the surrounding countryside. It's not a destination in itself, but it slots nicely into a family holiday where at least one person is desperate to let their terrier loose.

The walk to the park from town is straightforward enough, though you'll want to plan your route carefully on the main roads. Worth knowing about if you're touring the area with a dog in tow, but anyone without four-legged company can skip it entirely.