The Mid Marsh Churches

The churches dotting the Mid Marsh landscape near Louth are a proper pilgrimage for anyone who enjoys medieval architecture without the crowds. We're talking about St Mary in Tetney, St Peter in North Somercotes, and their companions - solid brick and stone buildings that have stood for centuries in this flat, wind-swept corner of Lincolnshire.

What strikes you first is how isolated they feel. These aren't showpiece cathedrals in market towns. They're scattered across marshland that's been carefully managed since Anglo-Saxon times, each one a testament to how seriously communities took their faith, even out here away from everything. The interiors reward a proper look - medieval screens, Tudor fixtures, the occasional brass or carved detail that rewards slow inspection.

This is absolutely for church crawlers and history types, less so for kids unless they're the self-entertaining sort. You'll need a car to do the circuit properly; none are within reasonable walking distance of each other. Allow a full morning or afternoon to see three or four properly. Spring and autumn are best - summer brings midges to the marshland, and winter can be bleak.

Stay at Parkdean Resorts Sunnydale, just five miles away, and you've got a good base for exploring not just the churches but the wider fenland. The park itself is decent enough for a family break, but honestly, the real draw is what's around it - these churches, the coastal walks towards Mablethorpe, and the genuine sense of having discovered somewhere most holiday-makers miss entirely.