
Ideas for days out in Lincolnshire
If cabin fever has set in and you’re craving the chance to get out and about, our suggestions for unusual or enjoyable activities should fit this bill… this month we invite you to ‘do something different!’
Hopefully cabin fever hasn’t set in too much over winter, and you’re still enjoying the cosiness of an open fire, and the chance to read a good book or perhaps to flick through Lincolnshire’s finest county magazine.
However, on the off-chance that you’re staring wistfully out of the window and wondering when you’ll be able to go out again, we’ve a few ideas for how to spend time learning new skills or enjoying new experiences right here in Lincolnshire.
From craft courses to food experiences to bucket list adventures like a hot air balloon flight, we’ve 10 ideas for how to spend time with some unique ideas and quirky activities…
Make a Bespoke Perfume
A unique experience that will keep giving you joy for years to come… create your very own bespoke scent on a fragrance experience course, with the ability to keep reordering your personal scent for years to come.
The Perfume Studio is based near Nottingham and offers classes in the city for individuals, couple or small groups.
For parties of 10 people or more (friends, mothers and daughters, hen parties or workmates for example) you can choose anywhere in Lincolnshire and your very own perfumer will visit you at a venue of your choice.
Depending on where you meet, you can combine the experience with afternoon tea and a glass of fizz, and there are vouchers for experiences from £49/person, including an atomiser of your own personal scent.
All courses include an education on the science of perfume, and how to blend base, middle, and top notes, for example.
Call 03300 889 636 or see www.theperfumestudio.com.
Learn to Cook like a Professional
Fiona Lucas has 35 years of experience in catering, and founded her cookery school in a dedicated studio just north of Lincoln in 2021. Small groups of up to 10 people can take advantage of a number of classes to take their cooking to the next level.
Examples of classes include both basic and artisan bread workshops, baking, fish-based workshops, game workshops, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free workshops, courses on pasta, proper pies and pastry, tapas, macarons and sushi as well as workshops focusing on Indian, Asian and Greek cuisine.
Classes are friendly and informal with plenty of time with Fiona, and there are classes,
too, designed for adults and children to learn to cook together. Typical classes run from 10am-2pm, and cost £100 including ingredients and equipment.
Timetables for classes and vouchers online at www.lincolnshirecookeryschool.com.
Take a Balloon Flight above Lincolnshire
You might remember that somebody once remarked how it’s better to travel than to arrive, well a Virgin Balloon flight will conclusively prove that to be the case. See Lincolnshire from 1,000ft as the giant balloon, which is about 100ft tall and filled with up to 400,000m3 air, gently drifts over the countryside.
Balloon experiences with Virgin cost between £144 and £184 depending on time of day, or whether it’s a twilight flight. Purchase a voucher and you’ve 18 months to book, and in our area there are flights from Bourne’s Grimsthorpe Castle, Grantham’s Belton Woods, or Stoke Rochford Hall, Newark’s Kelham Hall or from Rutland Water.
Experiences last around four hours and include safety briefings, the opportunity to join in inflating and deflating the balloon, and a Prosecco toast after landing. Having experienced a balloon flight ourselves it’s eerily quiet, gentle and there’s a good opportunity to enjoy 360° views all around the basket plus plenty of opportunities for photographs… highly recommended!
See www.virginballoonflights.co.uk.
Bengal Tiger Experience
How about this for a roar-some experience? Lincolnshire Wildlife Park houses its family of Bengal tigers and offers family experiences for up to four people from £550. Enter the enclosure, hand feed the animals and have a photo taken with these beautiful animals. Includes entrance to the wildlife park and lunch in the restaurant.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, Friskney, call 0871 3841130 or see lincswildlife.com.
Art Classes with Kate
Artist Kate Westcott runs weekly classes at Oxcombe Pottery near Horncastle, usually between 9.30am and noon, or from 1pm and 4pm on a Thursday for 5-7 weeks.
No experience is necessary and attendees have the choice to pursue whichever media – painting, drawing, print or mixed-media – they wish, with bespoke support.
Pre-booking essential, call 01507 534238 or see www.oxcombepottery.co.uk.
Go Potty for Ceramics
Kate’s art classes (above) are based at Oxcombe Pottery, founded by Susanna Gorst in 2014. The studio offers great facilities for experienced ceramicists but is equally keen to introduce novices to slab-building, or throwing on a potter’s wheel. A £60 taster session will see participants make two pieces with materials, refreshments and lots of fun included!
01507 534238 or see oxcombepottery.co.uk.
Wellness Retreat
Wellness experts Glenn Roberts and Diana Nash are hosting a three-day wellness retreat at Market Deeping’s Molecey Mill from 21st-23rd February for those seeking to realign their mind, body and soul.
The 16th century Grade II* listed watermill on the Welland near Market Deeping will be a backdrop for Flow 3D movement classes, sound healing experiences, meditation, self connection through reflection tools and journalling, as well as mindfulness and bespoke fitness insight.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, as are workshops and activities, with additional treatments from Reiki to massage also available. The event has been organised by Glenn Roberts and colleague Diana Nash. “We want people to join us on a journey to energise and recharge mind, body and soul. We have designed a weekend retreat filled with movement, moments of stillness and nourishing menus all with the opulent backdrop of Mr Moelcey’s Mill.”
Call 07855 242356 or see www.diananash.co.uk.
Alpaca Trekking
Meet a fuzzy friend at Dry Doddington near Lincoln with alpaca trekking and meet ‘n’ greet experiences. J&J Alpacas is a working farm offering 20-minute sessions including the chance to feed a few the farm’s 90 alpacas. You can also embark on a trek (£25/person) around the farm’s woodland and ponds, and the experiences are suitable for accompanied children, too.
Call 01636 626 990 or see visitalpacas.co.uk.
Easter Wreaths and Candle Making
Enjoy spring crafts at Carlton House by Luke, located in Bardney. Luke Howard-Pask launched his workshops in 2021 and offers fused glass and soap making courses. But two of his spring 2025 courses are his Mother’s Day Candle Making (30th March), and Tea Cup Candle Making (30th March) courses and Easter Wreath Making (12th, 13th April). Prices from £25-£50.
Call 07525 197004 carltonhousebyluke.co.uk
Food & Drink Ideas
Stokes Tea & Coffee offers World of Coffee, Best of Brewing and Coffee Tasting experiences from £30-£50/person, with experiences anything from one to four hours in length. From bean to cup, learn about your favourite morning pick-me-up. 01522 523 548, www.stokescoffee.com.
Batemans Brewery offers behind-the-scenes tours of Wainfleet’s Salem Bridge brewery so you explore 150 years and five generations of good honest ales, £14.95 including tasting session. 01754 882030, batemansbrewery.co.uk.
Louth Distillery also offers experiences if gin, rather than real ale, if your preferred tipple. Tour & Taste is £25/person, and lasts around an hour, but the distillery’s Gin School experience at £95/person lasts three hours and invites you to make your very own bespoke gin, taking home your own personalised 70cl bottle. 01507 307560, www.louthdistillery.co.uk.
Cogglesford Mill in Sleaford, meanwhile, invites budding breadmakers to produce their very own white or wholemeal flour with a milling experience that’ll see you apprenticed for the afternoon at the area’s only functional watermill, £120/session. 01529 413671, www.heartoflincs.com.
Duffy’s Chocolate based in North East Lincolnshire, meanwhile, hosts chocolate classes and parties to learn about, decorating and of course tasting a range of different chocolate! The company sells its own range of luxury chocolate and roasts its own cocoa beans. £21/person. 07721 926706, duffyschocolate.co.uk.
For more What’s On ideas, read our February magazine at https://issuu.com/pridemagazines/docs/lincolnshire_pride_february_2025