East Firsby

Given its size, East Firsby itself has no hotels, guesthouses or inns – it is farmland and a handful of houses rather than a village with any visitor infrastructure. Anyone wanting a proper roof over their head close by should look to Market Rasen, a few miles to the east, which has a small selection of traditional pubs with rooms and modest guesthouses suited to a short stopover on the edge of the Wolds. The Wolds villages further afield, such as Tealby and Walesby, also have a scattering of bed and breakfasts and holiday cottages, often in converted farm buildings, which suit visitors keen to explore the Viking Way and the area's walking routes at a gentle pace.

For a wider choice of hotels, from budget and mid-range chains to smarter boutique options, Lincoln is the obvious base, roughly 25 minutes' drive south of East Firsby. The cathedral city has hotels clustered around its historic uphill area near the Cathedral and Castle, as well as options closer to the railway station and city centre, making it easy to combine a comfortable stay with restaurants, shops and Lincoln's own considerable sightseeing on top of day trips out into the Wolds. Whichever you choose, this is a part of Lincolnshire where accommodation tends to be small-scale and characterful rather than large or corporate, so booking ahead is worthwhile, particularly around racedays at Market Rasen Racecourse or in the busier summer walking season.

There is little to detain visitors in East Firsby itself, but the surrounding Lincolnshire Wolds and nearby Market Rasen offer plenty within a short drive.

• Walesby All Saints' Church (the "Ramblers' Church") – a striking medieval church set alone on a hillside above Walesby village, on the route of the Viking Way, with sweeping views across the Wolds.
• Viking Way – the 147-mile long-distance footpath from the Humber Bridge to Rutland Water passes through this part of the Wolds, and shorter circular sections near Tealby and Walesby make for excellent half-day walks.
• Tealby – often called the prettiest village in the Wolds, with thatched cottages and the Kings Head pub, which dates back to 1367.
• Nettleton Top and Nettleton Mine – a Wolds walking route taking in the highest point of the Lincolnshire Wolds and the entrance to a former ironstone mine that operated from around 1928.
• Willingham Woods – a popular area of forest trails near Market Rasen, good for walking, cycling and picnics, and a regular stopping point for people heading further east to the coast.
• Market Rasen Racecourse – a National Hunt racecourse on the edge of the town, hosting jump racing meetings through the year.
• Market Rasen Heritage Trail – a self-guided walk around the town's historic buildings, taking in the old railway station, which now houses a small heritage centre.

Options right around East Firsby itself are limited, reflecting its size, but Market Rasen has a reasonable spread of pubs, cafes and takeaways for a market town of its size. Further into the Wolds, the Kings Head at Tealby is a well-known thatched 14th-century pub serving classic pub food, and other Wolds villages have their own local pubs worth seeking out. For a wider choice of restaurants, cafes and independent food shops, Lincoln's historic Bailgate and Cathedral Quarter are within easy reach by car.

The Lincolnshire Wolds around East Firsby are gently rolling arable and pasture land rather than dramatic wilderness, which makes for easy, approachable camping country rather than the rugged backcountry pitches you'd find in Scotland or the Lake District. As with everywhere in England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is illegal, so if you fancy pitching a tent in this quiet corner of Lincolnshire you'll need to book into a proper campsite or seek permission directly from a farmer or landowner – never assume open farmland or woodland is fair game just because it looks empty. The good news is that the Wolds and the villages around Market Rasen have a decent scattering of small, family-run campsites and caravan parks, often on working farms, offering simple grass pitches with a few more comfortable options such as glamping pods, static caravans and shepherd's huts for those who want the views without the guy ropes.

Camping here suits people who want peace over spectacle: long views over hedgerowed fields, dark skies away from major towns, and easy access to walking routes like the Viking Way and the circular Wolds walks around Tealby and Nettleton. Facilities tend to be modest rather than resort-style, so it's worth checking directly with any site about showers, electric hook-up and dog policies before booking, especially at smaller farm sites that may only have a handful of pitches. Willingham Woods, a little further along the A631, is a popular spot for walking and cycling near several of the area's campsites, and makes a good day out from a base nearby.

The best months to camp in this part of Lincolnshire are May to September, when the days are long, the surrounding fields are at their most colourful and the ground is reliably dry underfoot – the Wolds' open, exposed terrain can turn cold and boggy outside the summer season. Glamping is a sensible option for anyone put off by the British weather or camping with young children: several sites around Market Rasen and the wider Wolds offer well-equipped pods or bell tents with proper beds and heating, giving you the same rural views and quiet without needing your own kit. Whichever way you choose to stay, booking ahead is wise in peak summer weekends, when the Wolds' understated charm draws a steady stream of walkers and cyclists escaping the busier Lincolnshire coast.