As countryside campsites go, few encompass
everything it means to be rural better than Cottage Waters. On the edge of a
small village, down a road banked by lush grass and tall cow parsley, these two
grassy meadows are as peaceful as they come. Hedgerows dotted with tall, ageing trees
line the site, joining at the far end where a ¾-acre lake ripples
in the breeze. Fish momentarily break the surface, teased out by hapless pond
skaters, and ducks waddle across the two islands, preparing for their morning bath. Amongst
it all a caravan is dotted here or there and a tent is pitched in the corner.
Other than that, however, there is very little to discern the place as a
popular Lincolnshire campsite. No playgrounds, no concrete sanitary blocks, no
gravelly hardstanding pitches. Just simple, understated camping in a quite
corner of this bustling world. In other words; pure camping bliss.
If you like your campsites small and quiet then
you’ll get along well with Jon and Michelle (the welcoming owners), who
first moved here for the peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere. Now aided by their two
teenage sons, the couple
share the meadows beyond with up to 15 adult-only pitches and their adjacent home allows for an attentive, friendly service. A small shed also shows the
spoils of all their hard work, selling vegetables from the garden (when in
season), along with homemade preserves, fresh milk and eggs from the chickens
that cluck their way around the campsite. Accompanied by ducks and rare breed
waterfowl, the chickens reflect the rich wildlife-friendly surroundings that also sees rabbits nibbling tentatively on the edges of the site and birds flitting
through the tall trees.
For many, however, it is the enticing
waters of the fishing lake that offer the main attraction. Stocked with a wide
variety of breeds, including unique Golden Tench, Roach, Koi Carp and Rudd, it
is a beautiful place to kick back in the sun and wait patiently for your catch.
What's more, if you want to take your angling up a notch, a drive five miles
to the coast gives you the chance to join deep sea fishing trips, as well as
the opportunity to simply lounge on the nearby blue flag beaches. Other offsite
attractions include charming inland market towns, best reached by hoping on the
local cycle trail, which conveniently passes right outside the site.
Such simple rural camping does come with a
caveat. Fresh water is available along with a chemical disposal point. Toilets and showers may be available for 2021. The basic facilities are all
part and parcel of the charm that this tiny site exudes, however, and those looking for seclusion will find this place a gem. Simple but effective, is the name of the game, and it's working wonders with the regulars who come back year after year.
