Camping in East Kirkby

East Kirkby sits in classic Lincolnshire farming country at the foot of the Wolds, and this is not an area with formal campsites on every corner, but what exists tends to have real character. The Red Lion in the village itself runs a small campsite alongside its pub and holiday lets, meaning campers can pitch up within sight of the old RAF East Kirkby control tower and be back at the bar within a two-minute walk, a rare combination of convenience and genuine wartime atmosphere. Further afield, the Lincolnshire Wolds and the coast around Skegness and Chapel St Leonards offer a broader spread of campsites and caravan parks, many aimed at families making the most of the nearby beaches.

As everywhere in England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is not legal, and the flat, intensively farmed arable land around East Kirkby offers few discreet spots even for those who might be tempted; a proper site, however small, is the sensible and legal way to stay in this landscape. The terrain here is gentle rather than dramatic: flat fen and fenland-edge fields around the village itself, rising into the low chalk hills of the Wolds a short drive north and west, so this is easy walking and cycling country rather than a challenge for serious hikers, and campsites tend to reflect that relaxed character.

Spring through early autumn is the best season to camp here, both for weather and because it coincides with the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre's taxi-run season, when the Lancaster "Just Jane" is at her most active. Summer evenings on the Wolds can be strikingly quiet, with wide skies well suited to stargazing away from any significant light pollution. For those who prefer a roof over their heads without giving up the outdoor feel, a handful of glamping options, from shepherd's huts to safari tents, have appeared across Lincolnshire in recent years, offering a softer way to experience this quiet corner of the county without needing a tent of one's own.