Travel notes

miss the chance to check out the Magna Carta – which lives in 11th-century Lincoln Castle, just a stone’s throw away.

Dating back to 1215, it’s one of just four surviving copies of the document – a founding charter of democracy and the rule of law, which coronavirus protesters recently tried to invoke to put a stop to another lockdown.

After all that history, there’s the quaint collectable boutiques, fancy food shops and artisanal fudge-makers of Steep Hill to enjoy, a thoroughfare which, as my calves can testify, very much lives up (and down) to its name.

Lincoln has a good range of modern shops, eateries and galleries to check out too. The Redhill Farm Shop reminds you that this is one of England’s great agricultural counties – we picked up haslet, sausages, pork pies and more.

Beyond Lincoln, there are several other

Bainland is currently in English Tier 3, so check for further updates and booking information.

interesting towns in the vicinity. Alford is famous for its local arts and crafts market, Horncastle has an excellent fish and chip restaurant, while Woodhall Spa – just up the road from Bainland – offers a lovely long picturesque parade of quaint stores including ‘the world’s smallest shoe shop’.

Other local highlights include the delightfully retro Kinema in the Woods. Dating back to 1922, it’s one of the UK’s oldest cinemas, and still plays the original organ during intermissions.

Also here, you’ve got The Petwood Hotel, once home to the Dambusters, where you can walk in beautifully landscaped gardens and stop for a drink in a bar largely unchanged from the officers’ mess it became in those war years.

But for me, my wife and three children, the highlight of our trip had to be the visit to Donna Nook.

HERE, seals come every year to give birth in their thousands, and from the nearby path, you can literally watch – as we did – a pup slipping out into the world.

Beyond the seal grounds, the rest of the beachy marshland actually belongs to the RAF and is used for bombing practice.

The seals, perennial visitors from the North Sea, are habituated to the bangs and roars, though for humans, the sight of these giant marine mammals going into labour and giving birth against a backdrop of fighter jets and targeted explosions can be quite surreal.

On the drive back to Bainland from Donna Nook, we took in the rolling fields, big skies and rich ploughed soil of Tennyson’s county, where you feel the sea is always just over the next gently rolling hill, before shutting the door on reality once more and heading for the pool.

ONE of the biggest concerns motorists have about buying an electric vehicle is whether it has enough battery capacity for long distance driving. To alleviate some of these worries, public charging infrastructure is increasing. This works similarly to a petrol station, with charge points posted in locations that allow you to top up your batteries on the go.

These are usually fast charging points, too. So while your home charger will be pretty slow, these can recharge a good chunk of your batteries in half an hour or so.

But how do they work? Thankfully, it’s generally pretty simple. Here’s a quick guide...

FIND A CHARGER

The first thing to do is find somewhere to charge. Most EVs will have charge points built into the satnav, so you can simply navigate to one when you’re low.

However, if you’re planning ahead of a trip, you can use websites such as Zap Map (zap-map.com) to find charge points along your route.

CHECK YOUR CAR IS COMPATIBLE

There are a few different connectors on the market, so the first thing to check is whether the connector at the location you want to charge will fit your vehicle. Your owner’s manual will tell you what charger you have, while websites like Zap Map can tell you what connectors are at each destination.

SIGN IN OR REGISTER

One of the most annoying aspects of public charge points is that there is a huge variety of providers. The process has been simplified in recent years, but when you arrive, read the instructions on the charger’s screen because you might have to open an account and use a mobile phone app to pay.

Once you have an account with the company that runs the charger you’re using, you can usually hold your phone close to the screen to unlock it if you download their app, or if you’ve been sent a card you can use that too. Simply scan the card and the machine will allow you to start charging.

The latest devices can also be used with contactless credit cards – simply hold the card in the correct place and you’re good to go. Watch out for costs, though, as this can be a pricey way to do it – some devices cost more to use via contactless.

PLUG THE CAR IN

Once you know you have the right connector and you’ve activated the charger, simply lift the plug and put it into your car.

Then check on the charger’s screen that a charge is being delivered and check that your car is indicating a charge is being received and you’re good to go. If you’re leaving your vehicle, remember to lock it so the charger is locked in place too.

FINISHING YOUR CHARGE

Once you’re happy you’ve received enough charge, it’s simply a case of reversing the process above. Follow the instructions on the screen to end the charge and find out how much it has cost. Then remove the plug from your car and put it back on the charge point. Then you’re good to go!

DARREN CASSEY