Cleethorpes 21st June 2026

Cycling UK Louth’s Summer Solstice Ride to Cleethorpes 21st June 2026.

Waking up at 4 am in anticipation of watching the sun rise on this longest day of the year, Tim was disappointed to open the curtains to a blanket of thick fog. Sunrise was scheduled at 4.32 am so congratulations to those who witnessed this spectacle.

Waiting at Louth’s Leisure Centre at a more respectable time of 09.30 am were: Tim Newbery, Rob Cook, Paul Linder, John Rickett and a welcome return of Sven Livesey for today’s ride to the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway at Ludborough for brunch and then onto Cleethorpes Pier for lunch. ETA back into Louth 2.30 pm.

Skies were forecast to be largely cloudy with a top temperature of 19-22 Degrees Celsius (heatwave conditions being forecast next week with highs of about 32 degrees!). A moderate easterly breeze would at least mean a fine tailwind on return from the coast.

With Tim at the front (for the time being) the group weaved their way through the bends of the lanes through Brackenborough and then onto Fulstow, meeting several solo riders and larger groups all enjoying the pleasant riding conditions. With surprisingly bright conditions we arrived at the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway at about 10.15 am, giving ample time to purchase refreshments at the Steaming Kettle Bufet before the first train was due off at 10.30 am. Today’s workhorse would be the ‘Lion’, a 1914 Peckett E-Class 0-4-0ST steam locomotive originally pulling gun sleds and ammunition wagons on the Royal Arsenal’s extensive internal railway system. Splendidly restored.

Time for mugs of tea and coffee and a chat with the station staff who were already making preparations for the ‘Fish and Chip Special’ due to depart this afternoon. We were informed that this service was fully booked. Maybe another time.

Having already cycled in from Alford, Paul would make his way back home from here (luncheon to be taken at Louth’s Garden Centre) to leave the remaining four to continue northbound through Tetney and Humberston and then a slight change in the planned route to avoid the promenade at the Brew Stop in light of reports of sandy conditions and the prospect of a large number of pedestrians and dog walkers. Missing out on viewing the Meridan Line Marker (“The World Revolves Around Cleethorpes”) we never the less enjoyed great views of the increasingly packed beach by the time we’d reached the new RNLI station and watched the launch of one of their craft.

Darracotte's Coffee Shop & Ice Cream Parlour would be today’s lunch venue with a choice of outdoor seating in the shelter of the breeze, indoors and the rooftop terrace. Much to the amazement of the assembled members, Tim enjoyed a "knickerbocker glory". This extravagant and luxurious sweet treat was named after the pink-and-cream-colored Knickerbocker Hotel in New York. 

Always great views of the Pier from Darracotte's, although today under cloudy and rather misty conditions. The Cleethorpes Promenade Pier Order was approved in 1867 and planning began on developing the town’s sea front. At the time, the pier cost of £10,000 opening on August 4th 1873. Just on the first day alone, nearly 3,000 people paid to walk along the 1,200 ft long structure. Surviving fires, strategic wartime demolition, and several major renovations, it remains a major attraction.

We retraced our route back to Tetney, skies brightening again and turning quite warm. Passing by the oil storage tanks (connected by a subsea pipeline to a single-point mooring buoy at Spurn Point) it wasn’t long before we had a choice of an early route back to Louth at Grainthorpe or opt for a three pit stop strategy with more ice creams at Conisholme Ice Cream Parlour. Ice Creams won and just as well as when we arrived, we found Alan Hockham already seated and waiting for us. Good to meet up with him again.

A backwind now and with John and Rob at the front we would eventually arrive aback at the Leisure Centre a little after 2.30 pm. 46 miles covered by the Louth contingent. Many thanks go to Rob for providing one final cup of coffee for all.

Tim’s ‘Relive’ video: https://www.relive.com/view/v8qkKR8Z93q