Hubberts Bridge

Hubberts Bridge is a small hamlet in the Lincolnshire Fens, a few miles west of Boston in the flat, fertile farmland of the Parts of Holland. It takes its name from the brick bridge that carries the road over the South Forty-Foot Drain, a huge straight drainage channel dug in the 17th century to turn this once-waterlogged marsh into some of the most productive arable land in England. There isn't much more to Hubberts Bridge than a scatter of farmhouses, a pub and a request-stop railway station, but that is precisely its appeal: this is deep fen country, where the land runs dead flat to the horizon and the sky does all the work.

The hamlet sits within the civil parish of Frampton and is hemmed in by drains, dykes and arable fields growing wheat, potatoes and vegetables that make Lincolnshire the country's breadbasket. It is a working landscape rather than a tourist one, and visitors tend to come for the peace, the birdlife and the cycling and walking routes that follow the old drove roads and drain banks, rather than for attractions in the village itself. Boston, with its market, shops and the famous "Stump" church tower, is a short drive or train ride away, making Hubberts Bridge a quiet, low-cost base for exploring the wider Fens and the Wash coast.

Top things to do in Hubberts Bridge

Hubberts Bridge itself is tiny, so most days out involve heading a short distance along the drain or into Boston and the surrounding villages. That said, there is enough on the doorstep to fill a relaxed break.

• South Forty-Foot Drain walk — A flat, well-used path runs along the bank of the South Forty-Foot Drain (also known as the Black Sluice Navigation) between Hubberts Bridge and Wyberton, popular with walkers, cyclists and anglers, with a pub roughly halfway along the route.
• Hubberts Bridge railway station — This unstaffed request stop on the Poacher Line between Sleaford and Skegness has served the hamlet since 1859 and still offers a slow, scenic way to reach Boston or head on towards the coast.
• RSPB Frampton Marsh — A short drive away on the edge of the Wash, this coastal wetland reserve of reedbed, saltmarsh and freshwater scrapes is one of Lincolnshire's best birdwatching sites, with avocets and redshanks in summer and huge flocks of wildfowl in winter.
• Boston Stump (St Botolph's Church) — The vast medieval tower of St Botolph's, visible for miles across the flat fen, dominates the market town of Boston and can be climbed for sweeping views over the Fens to the Wash.
• Boston Market — Boston's town centre hosts a busy market on Wednesdays and Saturdays around the historic Market Place, along with independent shops and cafes.
• The Wheatsheaf Inn — Hubberts Bridge's own village pub, a traditional stop for a drink after a walk along the drain.
• Frampton village and church — The neighbouring village of Frampton has a handsome parish church and quiet lanes typical of the surrounding fen parishes, good for a gentle cycle ride.

Getting to Hubberts Bridge

Hubberts Bridge lies just off the A1121 (formerly the A52) between Boston and Sleaford, around 3 miles west of Boston town centre. By car, it is easily reached from the A17 and A52, with Lincoln, Sleaford and Spalding all within about 30 to 40 minutes' drive. Hubberts Bridge railway station, on the Poacher Line, offers a request-stop service between Sleaford, Boston and Skegness, though services are limited, so travellers should check timetables in advance. Boston itself has more frequent rail connections and bus links across Lincolnshire, and the town is the more practical arrival point for anyone travelling without a car.

Best time to visit Hubberts Bridge

Spring and summer suit the Fens best, when the arable fields are green or in flower and the long evenings make the most of the wide-open skies along the drain banks. Early summer brings breeding waders and wildfowl to nearby Frampton Marsh, while autumn and winter turn the reserve into a spectacle of migrating ducks, geese and swans, drawing birdwatchers from further afield. The flat terrain and exposed fenland mean winds can be bracing whatever the season, so it's worth packing for the weather rather than relying on the calendar.

Where to stay in Hubberts Bridge

Hubberts Bridge has no hotels of its own, reflecting its size, so most visitors base themselves in nearby Boston, which has a range of pubs with rooms, guesthouses and budget hotel options within easy reach of the hamlet. Self-catering cottages and farm-based accommodation can also be found scattered around the surrounding fen villages, offering a quieter, more rural alternative close to the drain and the birdwatching reserves.

Food and drink in Hubberts Bridge

The Wheatsheaf Inn is the hamlet's own pub, serving as the local for walkers off the South Forty-Foot Drain path as well as residents of the surrounding farms. Beyond that, options are limited in Hubberts Bridge itself, and most visitors head into Boston for its wider choice of pubs, cafes and restaurants around the Market Place and along the River Witham, or stop at the RSPB Frampton Marsh visitor centre for a hot drink and light refreshments during a birdwatching trip.