St John The Baptist Church : Scampton

The church sits quietly on the edge of Scampton, a few miles north of Lincoln, and it's worth a detour if you're passing through the area. St John the Baptist is a proper medieval building - the sort of place that makes you realise how much England's landscape has changed around these stone walls. The interior has that particular smell of old churches: brass polish, age, and something vaguely damp that no amount of heating can shift.

What strikes you first is the sense of continuity. People have worshipped here for centuries, and you can see it in the worn flagstones and the accumulated clutter of centuries - plaques, memorials, the occasional moth-eaten hassock. The architecture is genuinely interesting if you care about that sort of thing, with decent medieval detailing that repays a closer look.

You'll get the most from a visit if you're into church architecture or local history. It's not a showstopper that'll keep kids entertained for long, but it's a solid half-hour stop if you're exploring the Lincoln area. Free to visit, as far as these things go.

If you're staying at Lincolnshire Lanes Camp, Glamp and Log Cabin Site nearby, this makes an easy morning ramble before heading into Lincoln proper. The drive from the site takes barely ten minutes, so it's convenient without being unmissable.