Camping in Old Leake

Camping in and around Old Leake means embracing proper Fenland scenery: flat, open farmland criss-crossed by drainage dykes, huge skies, and a coastline at the Wash that feels genuinely remote. As with the rest of England, wild camping is not permitted here without the landowner's explicit permission — this is intensively farmed arable land and the Wash reserves are protected nature sites, so campers should stick to established campsites and caravan parks in the area rather than pitching informally on farmland, sea banks or nature reserves.

The terrain is famously flat and low-lying, reclaimed from the East Fen through centuries of drainage, which makes it excellent for easy cycling and dog walking around a pitch, though it also means little natural shelter from wind coming off the North Sea. Sites around Boston, Wrangle and the Wash coast tend to be a mix of touring caravan parks and small rural campsites, often on working farms, with some also offering glamping options such as static caravans, pods or shepherd's huts for those who want the Fenland views without bringing a tent.

Late spring through to early autumn is the most comfortable window for camping here, when the Fens are at their greenest and the Wash reserves at Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore are busy with breeding and passage birds. Serious birdwatchers may still prefer a winter visit despite the cold, as the coastal marshes fill with wintering geese and wading birds in huge numbers. Whatever the season, pack for wind — this landscape offers little in the way of trees or hills to break it — and take advantage of the quiet, dark skies that make stargazing a real bonus of camping out in this part of rural Lincolnshire.