Despite a bright start to the morning, the weather was pretty miserable for the rest of the day, so maybe we didn’t see the coast from Hull to King’s Lynn in its best light. However, as usual we made the most of the day, rain or shine!
Photo of the day
A dragon in its natural habitat on the beach at Cleethorpes.
New Holland
After leaving Hull, we found New Holland on the map just south of the River Humber. Perfect for a quick Dutch photo opportunity at the local (very quiet) station in the middle of the docks.
Thornton Abbey
After a short ten minutes drive through the North Lincolnshire countryside we arrived at the remains of the Augustinian Thornton Abbey. The fortified gatehouse, considered to be one of the finest in England.
Killingholme
Heading down a bumpy lane alongside the River Humber, trying to find the Killingholme Lighthouses, something told us we probably weren’t meant to be down here…Killingholme North Low Lighthouse, looking a little unloved.Its sister, the Killingholme South Low Lighthouse, wedged between a waterworks, coal docks and the Humber.And finally its big brother, Killingholme High Lighthouse in the middle of the waterworks. As we really weren’t sure if we should be here, we took some quick photos, then got back on the road to Grimsby.
Grimsby
The view back to Grimsby from the north end of the promenade at Cleethorpes. Not the most inviting view. Grimsby once had the largest fishing fleet in the world, but lost that crown in the Iceland cod wars. However, it still has the UK’s largest fish market.
Cleethorpes
The view from our car as we sat eating our lunchtime sandwiches.Cleethorpes Pier, now the largest fish & chip shop in the country!
Saltfeetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes
We only stopped briefly at the dunes and mudflats, as the sign put us off a little….
Mablethorpe
A very quiet day for the lifeguard at Mablethorpe, as we arrived he was already packing up for the day.Things that go bump in the night at Mablethorpe…Checking out the local delicacy…
Chapel St Leonards
Stripey beach huts at Chapel Point Beach, quite a contrast to the Second World War defences that they had replaced.
Skegness
We entered Skegness from the north via Fantasy Island…. which was a kind of a surreal place. Roller-coasters towering above static caravans as far as the eye could see. We’re big roller-coaster fans, but not today…Driving through Skegness we reached Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve to the south, and its sleek new information centre overlooking the dunes and marshes. The area couldn’t have felt more different than the more commercial parts of Skegness. Variety… that’s the great British seaside for you! 😉Boats moored along the very muddy (and slippery) Steeping River.
Wainfleet All Saints
Stopping briefly at the early Victorian Barkham Street in Wainfleet All Saints. A street you would expect to see in London, and probably not in a small Lincolnshire town.
Boston
As we drove to King’s Lynn for the evening we decide to make our final stop of the day at Boston. As we approached through the flat fens we were drawn towards the huge 83m high St Botolph’s Church tower (AKA Boston Stump) sticking out on the horizon. Considered to be the largest parish church in England (actually we assumed it was a cathedral).A lovely cozy market town feel to the cobbled lanes around the church.
