Cleethorpes Things to Do

Cleethorpes is just about the southern end of the Humber Estuary. This massive natural feature is not exactly the most impressive natural feature in terms of beauty, but it does drain over 28% of England's water - filling the North Sea with the detritus from the Midlands.

The Estuary is very important for wildlife and although I've not been there personally the Discovery centre in Cleethorpes seems to be worth a visit (see website listing)

I just enjoyed the bracing view from the end of the road that heads north out out Cleethorpes - with a good stiff breeze, the sea and the heavy cargo ship heading for Hull...plus the fact it means you avoid looking at Cleethorpes itself.

Ross castle was built by the The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company in 1883-1885 and named after the company’s secretary Mr Edward Ross.It marks the highest original position of the cliffs.

It is a British tradition for donkeys to give children rides on our beaches. The donkeys always look sad but I know from when I lived in Redcar that donkeys are usually well looked after and cared for.

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If you've travelled to Cleethorpes from the North the chances are you will have crossed this bridge anyway. If not it's well worth a shrt trip to take a look. One of the largest suspension bridges in Europe, it crosses the River Humber. Drive across in a few minutes or take a couple of hours to walk across, it's a memorable experience, especially if it's a windy day.

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Minature steam railway running along the coast, as the name suggests.
Had intended to ride on it but a collection of black clouds arriving and only uncovered seats left when we arrived. A good decision the heavens opened, shortly after, it would have meant a good soaking for us.
A couple of nice photos follow.

You would think that this is a tip about somewhere exotic - like Istanbul perhaps ?

But no this is about Cleethorpes and a metal plaque and a signpost that can be found on the costal path near the boating lake.

The Meridian line itself runs right through Cleethorpes - and the signpost list the distance from here to other (other surely not ?) points in the world -

North Pole - 2517 miles
New York - 3481 miles
South Pole - 9919 miles
London - 143 miles
Sydney - 10483 miles
Moscow - 1495 miles

It must be the only time that you can feel at the centre of civilization in Cleethorpes.

To the north of Cleethorpes and Grimsby lies a marvel of engineering. It was for 18 years the longest single span suspension bridge in the world - the Humber Bridge.

In transport terms it was supposed to part of a new motorway to the North, but the M11 only got as far as Cambridge. It replaced a 20-minute ferry that had been operating since Roman times.

The motivation for building the bridge was actually more political than anything else, as it was supposed to link the two halves of the county of "Humberside". Humberside still exists as a designation on VT, but the county itself has been consigned to history.

I must also recommend the writing of fellow VT member Johnny Spangles on his homepage, who describes a day out to the Humber Bridge. It is very, very funny.

and stroll alon the prom...diddly om pom pom.

Cleethorpes beach is certainly made of sand, although the North Sea looks particularly uninviting. The murky brown colour is due to the outflow from the Humber Estuary, and although it does not have a blue flag award the quality of the water has seen a very marked improvement in recent years.

A few years back you would have to be mad to allow kids into a water infested with sewage, heavy metals and God knows what, but time change and despite the fears of some it is considered safe by the various authorities.

One thing, of course, hasn't changed - being the North Sea it's still bloody freezing. No thank-you.

I must admit (much to the annoyance of my wife) that as agrown man, there is always a little bit of boyhood that breaks through -and a minature steam railway is just a joy to behold.

Cleethorpes mile-long 15inch gague minature railway winds it's way around the boating lake on the front at Cleethorpes, and is gaining quite a following after it's reburbishment and running of two authentic steam engines.

You can even learn to drive a train for a day for One hundred and fifty pound.

If you have little boys (or even some overgrown ones) don't miss this opportunity to be entranced by the smell of steam and fascination for these oversized toys.

Cleethorpes treies to sell itself as a 'traditional' seaside town, with candy floss, kiss-me-quick hats, donkey rides, chips, a prom and miles of sand.

All very well, but one element in this mix has to be a pier. Cleethorpes pier stood on the hottest day of the year so far with it's rusting gates firmly padlocked.

I presumed it was unsafe, but I later found it can only be accessed when the nightclub (called "pier 39") is open in the evenings.

A crying shame maybe, although it is only a shadow of it's former self as it was 'sectioned' during WW2 to stop and German invading army using it. It has never recovered since.