Louth

Grey seals hauling themselves onto the sand at Donna Nook provides one of Lincolnshire's most spectacular wildlife displays. Every November and December, hundreds of these magnificent creatures arrive to pup on the beach, turning this stretch of coast into Britain's most accessible seal colony.

Louth itself is a proper Lincolnshire market town with a working Wednesday market that's been running for centuries. The town's medieval church spire reaches skyward like a finger pointing to heaven, while narrow streets wind between Georgian buildings that house independent shops and cafes. It's refreshingly uncommercial compared to some coastal resorts.

Venturing east towards the coast reveals a landscape that feels almost Dutch - dead flat fields broken by drainage dykes and the occasional church spire. Saltfleetby and the Somercotes villages dot the route to the sea, each with their own medieval churches like St Peters at Saltfleetby and St Mary's at North Somercotes. The Trinity Methodist Church back in Louth shows the town's nonconformist heritage.

Coastal walks stretch for miles along largely empty beaches, with Sand Haile Flats offering birdwatching opportunities year-round. RAF Donna Nook operates nearby, adding the occasional roar of military aircraft to the soundtrack of waves and wind. For a cultural break, Frank Lomax Art Collections provides a surprisingly good selection of local and regional artists.

Staying at one of the holiday parks around Mablethorpe puts you within easy striking distance of both Louth's market town charm and the raw beauty of this underrated coastline. The drive from nearby towns like Grimsby takes about 45 minutes, while Lincoln is roughly an hour away. It's a landscape that grows on you - all big skies and endless horizons.