Cleethorpes 19th April 2026

Cycling UK Louth’s Sunday Ride to Cleethorpes 19th April 2026

Today’s weather forecast confirmed that we could expect a chilly northeast breeze with a below average 10 Degrees Celsius on the beach; in stark contrast to the 30's in Thailand and mid- 20’s in northern Portugal. It was someone’s first day of the classic North to South ride in Portugal starting in Chavez, traversing the country's mountainous northern regions, central forests, and the Alentejo plains, before finishing at the Algarve coast. Good Luck! 

For those still in Lincolnshire it would instead be a ride to Darracotte’s Ice Cream Parlour in Cleethorpes.

A few riders down today which would leave Steve Croton, Paul Linder, Derek Croal, Tim Newbery and Ty Harness to depart the Meridian Leisure Centre on schedule at 09.30 am, expecting to return about 1.30 pm.

A brisk headiwind made for a steady ride northbound, meeting up with several groups of cyclists all heading for Louth, or at least southbound. The sun was at least shining down in between patches of cloud and it wasn’t long before were passing through Tetney and on the main road to Humberston. Bentley’s Coffee Shop is closed on a Sunday so as planned we continued to the Kings Road and northbound to Kings Parade. Great to see the RNLI Lifeboat Station finally completed following a long delay. The first RNLI lifeboat was stationed in Cleethorpes in 1868, a few years before the pier was built.

Finally, now to the North Promenade and a welcome break at Darracotte’s where a table was secured by the windows overlooking the beach. Looking fine in the sunshine, the town was remarkable busy for a chilly mid-April weekend. Derek did the honours and ordered an ice cream.

The North Promenade has been a hub of entertainment and leisure attractions since the very early days of the resort. The pier itself was completed in 1873, part funded by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (later LNER). Originally a truly grand length of 1200 feet with the pier head never out of the water, even at low tide. Following fires and sections blown out and demolished in WWII (wooden struts and girders were incorporated in stands at Leister City Football ground) it’s now of a very modest length. 

Near Darracotte’s there was also a renowned revolving observatory tower, the ‘Warwick Tower’. Opening in 1902, it stood at 150 feet tall. Up to 200 passengers were carried up in a lift as it revolved around a central pole to an observation platform giving spectacular views across the Humber Estuary or towards the Lincolnshire Wolds. Nearby too was a switchback railway (an early rollercoaster) and a now long forgotten ‘Bicycle Railway’. This attraction existed from about 1902 to 1911 and proved very popular with Edwardians. The bicycle ‘contraptions’ were placed astride a central wooden monorail. These were all replaced by the construction of Wonderland by the end of 1911. 

Departing in sunshine, we were now aided by the nor’easter and rapid progress was made back to Tetney where we deviated from the outbound route to head to Tetney Lock, an area Derek knew well. The Crown and Anchor (Commercial Inn) dates back to when the canal was operating, serving thirsty mariners, workers and traders. Although open today we decided to pass on by to continue on to Grainthorpe. Derek enquired as to the origin of the village name and in transpires that it was originally known as Germund-torp (a “settlement” founded by a Dane named Germund).

A true backwind now and it was an easy-ish ride all the way back over the Louth Navigation at Fen Bridge, through Yarburgh and Brackenborough, arriving into Louth at about 1.30 pm having completed 40 miles. Thanks to all for the company.

Tims’ ‘Relive’ video: https://www.relive.com/view/vYvrzjP5QLv