Skegness

Continuing the trail of English seaside resorts, I leave the south coast and head east---Skegness in Lincolnshire. Its miles of sands became popular before package tours to the Mediterranean and it seems even more English than some other resorts I know. And with an East Midlands flavour. But the old line "Skegness is so bracing" doesn't lie; there's a brisk force 5 breeze coming all the way from Greenland!

There's just the one railway line to and from Skegness and I take a day visit to Boston. Not as famous as the city after which it's named, it boasts a superb landmark, the largest parish church in England. It's known as Boston Stump because the upper part of the tower is an afterthought, competed 200 years after the 14th century main fabric of the church. The reason for its size is that Boston claims once to have been the second largest port in England. But the town has become a quiet backwater as is most of Lincolnshire, perhaps because it's not on the way to anywhere else.

On other days, some outlying villages can be reached by local transport. People may complain about country buses but provided one doesn't stay out too late, they are reliable and punctual. When you've got time in hand, what does it matter if they run only once an hour?---at least they arrive when the timetable says they will. Hidden away from the theme parks and caravan sites some nice little churches can be found. Burgh le Marsh and Addlethorpe are just two of them. And then there's Mablethorpe, a dozen miles up the coast from Skeggy and a smaller version of it. Miles of sand and by the end of the week, the wind has started to ease off.Read more