Some trips are packed with famous landmarks and busy attractions. Others are about discovering the character of places that don't always make the guidebooks. Our latest adventure through Lincolnshire turned out to be exactly that, with market towns, hidden valleys, picturesque villages and one particularly enthusiastic street-cleaning vehicle.
Our journey began in Market Rasen, a town perhaps best known for its racecourse. We arrived looking forward to exploring, only to discover that quite a lot seemed to be closed. While it wasn't quite the bustling market town we had expected, it still had a pleasant atmosphere and provided a good starting point for our Lincolnshire wanderings.
From Market Rasen, we headed towards Louth, often described as the capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds. As soon as we arrived, it was easy to see why so many people speak fondly of the town. Louth has a wonderful mixture of independent shops, historic buildings and traditional market-town charm.
Towering above the town is St James' Church, whose magnificent spire dominates the skyline. At nearly 300 feet tall, it is one of the tallest parish church spires in the country and can be seen for miles across the surrounding countryside.
One of the highlights of our visit was exploring Hubbard's Hills, a beautiful park hidden just outside the town centre. Despite its name, the area feels more like a miniature valley than a hill. Winding footpaths follow a small stream between steep wooded banks, creating a peaceful oasis that feels completely removed from everyday life.
We spent a wonderful few hours walking through the valley, crossing little bridges and enjoying the tranquillity. It is one of those places that feels almost magical, particularly when the sunlight filters through the trees onto the water below.
From Louth, we continued to Tealby, often described as one of the prettiest villages in Lincolnshire.
The village certainly lived up to its reputation.
Nestled on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, Tealby is full of character, with stone cottages, winding lanes and beautifully maintained gardens. Running through the centre of the village is a charming ford, where the water gently flows across the road before continuing on its journey through the countryside.
The ford has become one of Tealby's most photographed features and perfectly captures the peaceful rural character of the village.
We also stopped at the village pub, which looked exactly as a village pub should—welcoming, traditional and full of local character. Sitting outside and watching village life unfold around us felt like stepping back to a slower pace of life.
As evening approached, Peggy carried us north towards Cleethorpes for our overnight stop.
Cleethorpes has been welcoming holidaymakers since Victorian times and remains one of Lincolnshire's best-loved seaside resorts. After an evening stroll along the seafront and a relaxing night parked up, we settled in for what we hoped would be a peaceful sleep.
Unfortunately, somebody else had different plans.
At what felt like the crack of dawn, we were abruptly awakened by the unmistakable sounds of a road sweeper carrying out its duties with impressive enthusiasm. Backwards. Forwards. Beeping. Sweeping. Reversing. Repeat.
There was no snooze button.
There was no escape.
Only the relentless determination of a machine apparently committed to ensuring every last grain of sand was removed before most of the town had even opened its curtains.
While it wasn't quite the peaceful wake-up call we had imagined, it certainly gave us something to laugh about later.
Looking back, this adventure reminded us why we enjoy travelling in Peggy so much. It wasn't about ticking off famous landmarks or rushing from one attraction to the next. Instead, it was about discovering hidden places like Hubbard's Hills, enjoying the beauty of Tealby's ford, wandering through historic market towns and finding character in unexpected corners of Lincolnshire.
And although the scenery was beautiful, the villages charming and the countryside stunning, there is a strong possibility that the road sweeper of Cleethorpes will remain the most memorable character from the entire trip.
Until the next adventure,
Peggy and Crew
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