Beach campsites in Lincolnshire with hiking

Northeast of Lincoln, the rippling hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds are the county’s prized attraction and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Discover miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails, following deserted country tracks and gurgling streams, then leading the way to traditional market towns and charming hamlets. Perhaps the best route is the long-distance Lindsey Loop, which runs for 96 miles around some of the Wolds highlights. If you don’t fancy doing the whole thing, follow it for short stints to get from place to place. Consider Louth, the gateway to the Wolds and a foodie hotspot.

The industrial towns of the north provide little interest for travellers, so make your way to the northeast instead. The port town of Grimsby is the starting point for several coastal hikes, as well as a great place to tuck into some fish and chips (this is Lincolnshire’s main fishing port, after all), while nearby Cleethorpes has sandy beaches and family-friendly campsites.

With more than 50 miles of North Sea coastline, Lincolnshire is the seaside destination of choice for locals throughout the summer months. Seafront campgrounds and holiday parks fill up from April through September, and the main resort towns of Mablethorpe, Skegness, and Sutton on Sea provide plenty of beachside fun. Skeggy (as the locals call it) has all the fun of the fair, from traditional donkey rides to crazy golf, rollercoasters, and Blue Flag beaches. A few miles up the coast, the village of Ingoldmells is home to Fantasy Island, a huge amusement park, with an indoor market next door. Don’t miss the grey seal colonies at Donna Nook Nature Reserve

The pancake-flat marshlands and lush waterways of the Lincolnshire Fens blanket the county’s southeastern corner, providing plenty of opportunities for wildlife-watching, canoeing, and easy nature walks. Further west, lavish country estates dot the countryside around Grantham and Stamford, and you’ll find several country parks with campsites.

Kid-friendly camping in Lincolnshire is pretty easy to find. For youngsters (and, we would argue, us adults too) most campsites are full of adventure. The TV is off, the mobile phones are (hopefully) left behind, and you can just relax with the kids. Play board games in the tent, kick a ball about outside, explore the woods and streams, then go bug hunting, tree climbing, or den building. This is what camping means to us.

Plus, Lincolnshire has some great family-friendly days out. The most obvious is the seaside. Choose a sandy beach like Mablethorpe, where you can picnic, paddle, and build sandcastles, or hit the ice cream kiosks and funfair rides of bigger resorts like Skegness. Other family-friendly activities include farm parks, outdoor swimming pools, and rides on steam trains. There’s likely to be something to satisfy kids of all ages—if you can drag them away from their new-found friends on the campsite.

Check out our list of the county’s highlights—a few things you won’t want to miss while camping in Lincolnshire.

1. Explore The Wolds in Tennyson Country

Immerse yourself in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where the well-loved poet Alfred Tennyson lived, as you enjoy walks and picnics among rolling chalk hills and flower-filled meadows.

2. Visit Mablethorpe Beach

Get out the bucket and spade, then head for the golden sands of Mablethorpe. One of the Lincolnshire coast’s best-loved beaches, Mablethorpe offers traditional attractions your kids will love.

3. Ride the merry-go-rounds at Skegness Pleasure Beach

A visit to one of the original English seaside resorts is a must. Skegness has been welcoming campers to its holiday parks for generations and has the entertainment to prove it!

4. Take a stroll on the pier at Cleethorpes

Another family-friendly beach with lots of facilities, Cleethorpes is a great place for traditional fun. It’s also renowned as a bit of a kite-surfing mecca so if you prefer activities with a bit more action, consider camping near Cleethorpes.

5. Explore Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve

When you’ve had enough thrills and spills at the seaside amusements, this nature reserve is a great place to experience the wild side of Lincolnshire’s coast. Start at the visitor centre, then follow the trail around the dunes, grassland, and marshland to spot birds and other wildlife.

6. Look out for seals at Donna Nook Nature Reserve

If you’re brave enough for a winter camping trip, this protected stretch of coastline hosts grey seal births between October and December. Lincolnshire’s grey seal colony spends most of the year on distant sandbanks, but winter is the time to see this spectacle.

7. Visit Lincoln Cathedral

It’s pretty hard to miss the colossal Lincoln Cathedral, once the tallest building in the world. Climb its Gothic tower for amazing views of the city and beyond.

8. Admire the Georgian splendour of Stamford

You may feel like you’ve stepped back in time with a visit to Stamford, full of independent shops and genteel tearooms where you can tuck into a slice of the Lincolnshire speciality: plum bread.

9. Take a tour of Burghley House

Billed as England’s greatest Elizabethan house, Burghley is certainly impressive with vast gardens and parkland. Forget the school-trip feel of yesteryear though—your kids will be enthralled by the summertime Horrible Histories-style tours.

10. Chuck a Lincolnshire sausage on the BBQ

Camping was made for cooking on the barbecue or over a campfire and eating al fresco.