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.
Another day of varied coastlines as we drove south from Scarborough to Hull on day thirty-two. As always, some nice little surprises along the way.
Photo of the day
Freshly painted beach huts along the promenade at Scarborough’s north bay. A nice bright start to the day 🙂
Scarborough
The Grand Hotel sitting proud above Scarborough’s south bay promenade and beach.The lighthouse along the pier with the Lunar Park funfair in the background.
Hunmanby Gap
Wide open sands at Hunmanby Gap.Juicy berries on the bushes surrounding the fields above Hunmanby Gap.
Bempton Cliffs
Great views of Bempton Cliffs at the nature reserve managed by the RSPB.Hundreds of Gannetts clinging to the cliffs.Learning about Gannetts.Magnificent cliff views.
Flamborough Head
The current lighthouse, built in 1806.The view over Selwicks Bay at Flamborough Head.The Old Lighthouse at Flamborough Head, constructed from chalk in 1673, considered to be the oldest building of its type in England.
Bridlington
The view down to Bridlington from Sewerby, and again the now familiar sight of wind turbines along the coast.OK OK, not a real lighthouse, but they made an attempt on the grass banks of Bridlington Harbour.
Hornsea
Hornsea Beach, not a huge amount to see on this grey afternoon. So we just had a quick coffee pick-me-up… and got on our way.
Tunstall
Trying to navigate our way to the coast at Tunstall, we got as far as the All Saints Parish Church.
Withernsea
Withernsea Castle (if you can call it that), previously the entrance to the pier before it got washed away.Withernsea Lighthouse curiously sitting inland in the middle of a row of houses.
Spurn Point
The Holderness coastline is the fastest eroding in Europe, at 2.1m each year! The beach at Kilnsea was littered with bits of road and buildings that had collapsed into the sea.Another high tide warning, so we decided not to proceed along the road to the tip of Spurn Point….… instead we viewed the Lighthouse from a safe distance.
Hull
A quick walk around Hull before dinner, and Jarno got very excited about spotting a cream coloured phone box.The grand Hull City Hall in Queen Victoria Square. From the little we saw of Hull we were surprisingly impressed. We’ll have to come back when we have more time.
