Crowtree Wigwams

Call us old-fashioned, but we reckon that there aren't many things to beat sitting nursing a cup of tea on your own verandah while gazing out across an endless vista of cow-dotted fields as a good way to unwind. Located on the banks of the river Welland in the heart of rural Lincolnshire, this wonderful farm-based glamping site a few miles north of the market town of Spalding makes an ideal place to do just that – under a vast and atmospheric Fenland sky to boot.

Let's get one thing straight – these are not actually wigwams, but well-constructed, heated cabins with all the facilities you would expect from a well-equipped holiday cottage. They're dead cosy, with space for four people in two double beds and equipped with en-suite toilet and shower, hob, microwave and fridge and all the cooking utensils and crockery you could possibly need. You can either bring your own towels and bedding or use theirs for a small extra cost. The site has just added wood-fired hot tubs and you can also hire a firepit for barbecues. Plus there's a tennis court, croquet and a games room with table tennis and snooker for rainy days.

Owners Patrick and Anne are friendly hosts and full of advice on things to do in the surrounding area, but perhaps the biggest plus about Crowtree is that you're bang in the middle of some gloriously unspoilt countryside, with a ton of walks on hand in the south Lincolnshire region they call South Holland. And did we say you could bring your dog along too? Further afield there is The Wash and the former lighthouse of the naturalist Peter Scott at Sutton Bridge, from where you can do the windy but very evocative Peter Scott Walk to King's Lynn in Norfolk. In the opposite direction, there's pleasantly workaday Spalding nearby and the elegant town of Stamford beyond, both of which make for appealing metropolitan diversions. All in all a perfect option for a spontaneous weekend escape from the city.