North Lincolnshire

A first trip to North Lincolnshire usually starts with getting settled somewhere quiet, then working out where to eat, and this is an area that does both well. Most visitors head for a self-catering base rather than a hotel, and the choice here leans towards lodges and cottages set apart from the bustle - a good starting point for exploring the flat, open countryside and waterways that define this part of the county.

For a first-timer, staying at James Ville Marina is a straightforward way in. The site has a run of individually named lodges - Hazel, Heather, Ivy, Jasmine, Laurel, Lavender - each self-contained, so you can come and go without any fuss and cook your own meals if you fancy a night in after a day out. If you'd rather be further into the countryside, Brook Lodge Country Cottage and Cozy Lodge offer a more rural, tucked-away alternative, good for those wanting quiet evenings and easy access to the surrounding farmland and villages.

Once you're settled, North Lincolnshire rewards slow exploration. The Peatland Railway at Crowle is a distinctive local attraction worth building a day around, and there's a cafe on site - Moorside Cafe - so you can make a proper stop of it rather than just passing through. Fishing is another local pastime, with Messingham Sands Fishery doubling as both a fishery and a lounge, meaning non-anglers in your group have somewhere to sit and eat while others cast a line.

Altogether, North Lincolnshire suits visitors who want a self-catering base with genuine character - whether that's a marina lodge or a country cottage - paired with an eating-out scene that goes well beyond what the area's quiet reputation might suggest. It's an easy county to settle into on a first visit, with enough variety in both accommodation and food to fill a long weekend without needing to travel far.