Louth

The spire of St James's church rises 295 feet above the Lincolnshire Wolds, a landmark that's guided travellers to this Georgian market town for centuries. Louth sits perfectly in a fold of the hills, its red-brick streets climbing gently from the River Lud towards the chalk downs that roll away eastward to the coast.

Wander the Wednesday market and you'll find proper local produce alongside the usual suspects. The town's Georgian architecture gives it a refined air - not chocolate box pretty, but handsome in that understated English way. Most visitors rush through on their way to the coast, which is their loss.

From here, the Lincolnshire Wolds spread out like a green carpet. Hubbard's Hill offers cracking views across the valley, while Haugham Wood provides decent walking when the town gets busy. The countryside feels genuinely unspoiled - none of the manicured perfection you get in the Cotswolds, just honest farming country with ancient churches like St Edith dotting the landscape.

Louth Golf Club sprawls across the hillside if you fancy a round, though the wind can be brutal up there. For something completely different, Rushmoor Country Park houses exotic animals in what feels like an unlikely setting for the Wolds.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the A16 runs right past, connecting you to Lincoln in 40 minutes or Grimsby in 20. Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're close enough to explore Louth's shops and cafes, yet positioned ideally for day trips to the coast or deeper into the Wolds. The beaches at Mablethorpe are barely 15 minutes away, while Lincoln Cathedral is an easy morning drive.