March

Sitting in the heart of the Fens, this unpretentious Cambridgeshire market town knows exactly what it is. March feels properly lived-in rather than polished for tourists, with its working-class roots still showing through the Victorian terraces and modern housing estates.

The railway remains central to life here - March was built on the junction where lines cross the flat fenland, and Whittlesea station keeps that transport heritage alive. You'll find the real character of the place along the high street on market days, when locals gather for a proper chat and the cafes buzz with conversation.

Water dominates the landscape in every direction. The Fens were drained centuries ago, but you'd never guess it from the abundance of lakes and waterways that dot the countryside. Gildenburgh Water draws anglers from miles around, while Railway Lakes and East Delph Lakes offer peaceful spots for walking. Bundy's Pit and Old Brick Pit tell the story of the area's industrial past through their flooded quarries.

Families make a beeline for Fenland Aqua Park, where the kids can splash about while parents enjoy the fenland views. It's proper good fun on a summer's day, though you'll want to wrap up warm if the wind gets up across these exposed flatlands.

Cambridge lies just 20 miles south, but March feels a world away from the university crowds. The surrounding countryside stretches endlessly in every direction - dead flat but oddly beautiful under those massive East Anglian skies. Lord's Holt provides one of the few patches of woodland for miles, a welcome contrast to the open farmland.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks puts you right in the thick of proper fenland life, where the pace is slower and the horizons seem to go on forever.