Moulton Windmill

You'll spot the windmill long before you reach it - that distinctive red-brick tower rising from the flat Lincolnshire landscape near Spalding like something out of a Dutch postcard. Moulton Windmill is the real deal: a Grade II listed structure that's been grinding grain since 1822, and it still works. The whole thing feels frozen in time, which is precisely why it matters.

Walking round the outside is free and takes about twenty minutes if you're the type to read every information board. Going inside (there's a small charge, though exact pricing escapes me) gets you properly acquainted with the machinery - all those cogs and pulleys and the stories of the millers who kept the thing running. It's genuinely fascinating if you care about how things actually functioned before motors took over. Families with kids aged eight upwards will get something from it; younger ones might find the climb tedious.

Timing-wise, allow an hour to absorb the place properly without feeling rushed. The surrounding fenland is flat and open, so weather can be a factor - a crisp autumn morning beats a drizzly afternoon. If you're staying at The Lawns or Laurel Park nearby, this makes an excellent morning's work before heading into Spalding for lunch. It's not a major attraction that'll consume your day, but it's the sort of local landmark that gives real character to a caravan holiday in the Fens. Worth the detour if you're already in the area.