Walled gardens of baumer

You'll find these Victorian walled gardens tucked away near Woodhall Spa, a proper slice of 19th-century horticulture that most visitors to Lincolnshire completely miss. The high brick walls enclose what was once a working kitchen garden - the sort of place where head gardeners grew peaches, grapes and early vegetables for a grand estate. Walking through the gates feels like stepping backwards, especially on a quiet morning when you might have the whole place to yourself.

What makes it worthwhile is how genuine it all feels. The trained fruit trees are still there, the layout hasn't been mucked about with too much, and you can actually imagine the glasshouses and labour that kept this operation running. History types will spend a good hour here; casual visitors might manage 30 minutes before wandering back toward the tea room or car park.

It's free or very cheap to visit - exact details are a bit fuzzy, so ring ahead to Woodhall Spa visitor information before you go. Spring and early summer are the obvious times, when the walls are covered in blossom and the formal plantings look their best. Winter's a bit bleak, truth be told.

If you're camped at Three Horseshoes, Longwool or Treetop Hideaways nearby, this makes an easy half-day outing. It's not going to grab children for hours, but older kids who like that period drama stuff might find it interesting. Combine it with a walk around Woodhall Spa itself and you've got a decent morning sorted.