coastal birdwatching trail
Cleethorpes Seafront Birding Trail
Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes seafront's location and variety of habitats make it attractive to numerous species, especially migrating and over-wintering shorebirds. Habitats include intertidal mudflats, beach, sea, dunes, saltmarsh, scrub, copse and freshwater - all in close proximity.
getting here
The railway station is located at North Promenade on the seafront and is the end of the line for Northern services from Barton-upon-Humber and First Transpennine services from Manchester via Sheffield, Doncaster, Scunthorpe and Grimsby. The main approach roads to Cleethorpes are the A180 and the A16. Ticket machine parking sites are available on the promenade or at nearby car parks, but these tend to fill quickly during bank holidays and between July and September.
dog access
Dogs are banned on the beach between Good Friday and September 30. To reduce the chance of disturbance to feeding and roosting shorebirds, it is recommended that they are kept on leads outside this period.
Winter species
Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Knot, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Purple Sandpiper, Little Egret, Snipe, Peregrine, Shelduck Pochard, Kingfisher, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Snow Bunting, Stonechat.
Spring species
Wheatear, Whimbrel (calling overhead), Migrating Warblers including Lesser Whitethroat.
Summer species
Skylark, Linnet, Greenfinch, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler.
Autumn species
Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Yellow Wagtail, migrating Swallows, Martins and Swifts.
plan your visit to cleethorpes seafront
useful hints and tips
Ross Castle provides an expansive view over the Humber Estuary towards Spurn Point, but a 'scope is advisable for best views of birds on beach or water.
At high tide, the whale's tail rock armour sea defence at the northern end of North Promenade is a good place to see resting/roosting herring/ black backed gulls and various shorebirds, particularly turnstone but also occasionally purple sandpiper.
The saltmarsh fringes provide all-year habitat for skylarks and pipits and hosts winter populations of curlew, redshank, snipe, yellowhammer and reed bunting plus occasional visits from kingfisher. Because of the deep mud and steep gulleys, it is unwise to try to walk across the centre of the marsh, but there are readily-negotiable paths along its edges.
The adjoining sand dunes, with their marram grass and buckthorn scrub attract migrants such as wheatear and whinchat plus, in winter, parties of snow buntings.
Managed by the council, the foreshore nature reserve between the leisure centre and Buck Beck outfall plantation, is alive with the sound of songbirds, including various warblers, in late spring and summer.
Also managed by the council, the adjacent boating lake has its own 100-strong flock of non-migratory barnacle geese and similar numbers of domestic greylag geese and mallard (many of them hybrids). In late winter, visitors include pochard, tufted duck and the occasional goosander or goldeneye. There is also a healthy breeding population of moorhens and often a visiting heron.
Along Central Promenade between the lifeboat station and the pier are various green spaces whose range of mature trees and shrubs are home to garden-type species such as robin, dunnock, wren, goldfinch and blackbird, plus pied wagtail and the occasional warbler on passage.
facilities
Cleethorpes currently has no tourist information centre though maps and some other visitor literature are usually available from the library (closed on Friday and Sunday) on Central Promenade. Other facilities are of the range to be expected in a seaside holiday town including WCs, cafes, pubs and shops.
explore the other locations along the coastal trail
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places to stay nearby
Make a trip of it! Enjoy a coastal getaway with a selection of places to stay close by.
Beach Cottage
Beach Cottage sits on the sand dunes overlooking the beach at Anderby Creek (an hour away from Thorganby Hall)....
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Butlins Skegness
Visit Butlins, Skegness for unlimited access to traditional fairground rides, live daytime shows and a range of other family-friendly daytime activities, including the...
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The Burlington Hotel
The Burlington has created an innovative affordable luxury approach to its hotel in Cleethorpes. We are situated close to the beach, pier and central promenade. With...
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Ashbourne Hotel
Set in the charming rural village of North Killingholme, The Ashbourne Hotel offers peaceful, idyllic surroundings, whilst still providing all of the technology and...
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Eastfields Touring Park
Visit the established touring park situated within the quiet and peaceful surroundings of Chapel Point, only 200 yards from the sea and sandy beaches of the east coast...
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Hampton by Hilton Humberside Airport
Right off the A18, the Hampton by Hilton Humberside Airport is a short walk from Humberside International Airport. The Touchdown Bar & Grill serves a range of classic...
Humberside international Airport
Healing Manor Hotel
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Holiday Inn Express Grimsby
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Grimsby
Lakeside Fishing Lodges
Private Fishing Lake with beautiful log cabins set in 16 acres of rural Lincolnshire scenery. The lake was established in 2002 and is...
Boston
Millfields Hotel
Located in the leafy victorian surroundings of Peoples Park in Grimsby, but only a short stroll from the centre of our historic town and docks, Millfields is the perfect...
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Oaklands Hall Hotel
Built in 1877, the stunning Victorian Country House, Oaklands Hall Hotel, with 46 well appointed bedrooms, is found nestling within 5 acres of landscaped parkland at the...
Laceby, Grimsby
Premier Inn Cleethorpes
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Richmond Holiday Park
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St James Hotel
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Tanyard Cottages
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The Dovedale Hotel
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Woodthorpe Leisure Park
Woodthorpe Leisure Park is situated alongside 43 acres of woodland, nestled in the heart of the Lincolnshire countryside with the coast just a short drive...
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Helsey House Cottages
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Palm Court Skegness
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Travelodge Lincolnshire
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enjoy a bite to eat
The View Cafe Bar
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Papa’s Fish & Chips
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The Pig & Whistle
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Bateman’s Brewery
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Hussey’s Fish and Chips
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Ocean Fish Bar
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Steel’s Fish and Chips
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Trawlers Catch
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things to do in the area
Anderby Creek
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Chapel Point
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Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve
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Gunby Hall
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Humber to The Wash Cycle Route
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Mumby to Hogsthorpe – Coastal Country Park Walks
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North Sea Observatory
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Tattershall Castle
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The View Cafe Bar
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Skegness
Beach Cottage
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Anderby Creek
Butlins Skegness
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Castle to Coast Cycle Route
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Central Prom & Beach
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Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway
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Meridian Showground
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Natureland Seal Sanctuary
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Orchard Farm Equestrian Centre
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Papa’s Fish & Chips
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Pretty Little Acorns Jewellery
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Sandilands Beach
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Skegness Aquarium
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Skegness Beach
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Sutton on Sea
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The Burlington Hotel
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The Embassy Theatre Skegness
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The Jungle Zoo
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The Pig & Whistle
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Ashbourne Hotel
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Bateman’s Brewery
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Chapel Marsh Pit
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Donna Nook National Nature Reserve Birding Trail
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Eastfields Touring Park
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Hampton by Hilton Humberside Airport
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Hardys Animal Farm
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Healing Manor Hotel
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Holiday Inn Express Grimsby
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Humber Bridge
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Hussey’s Fish and Chips
Discover Hussey's Fish & Chips for a family run seaside restaurant located just a stones through away from famous The Clock Tower in Skegness's centre. Take away, or...
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Huttoft Bank Pit Nature Reserve
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Lakeside Fishing Lodges
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Boston
Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park Birding Trail
The Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park is a stretch of 5 miles of coastline running from Sandilands to Chapel St Leonards, and inland to Hogsthorpe, Mumby, Anderby and...
Sandilands to Chapel St Leonards, and inland to Hogsthorpe, Mumby, Anderby and Huttoft.
Millfields Hotel
Located in the leafy victorian surroundings of Peoples Park in Grimsby, but only a short stroll from the centre of our historic town and docks, Millfields is the perfect...
Grimsby
Oaklands Hall Hotel
Built in 1877, the stunning Victorian Country House, Oaklands Hall Hotel, with 46 well appointed bedrooms, is found nestling within 5 acres of landscaped parkland at the...
Laceby, Grimsby
Ocean Fish Bar
Established for over 14 years, Ocean Fish Bar is a family-run, award winning fish and chip restaurant based in Cleethorpes. The successful fish restaurant was originally...
Cleethorpes
Premier Inn Cleethorpes
Enjoy a stroll along the lovely long beach at Cleethorpes, take a trip on the Cleethorpes Light Railway or visit the Fishing Heritage Museum - just some of the things on...
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Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary
Adopting a donkey is a fantastic way to help us help them! Helping to ensure care for these beautiful and often mistreated...
Skegness
Richmond Holiday Park
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Sandilands Pit Nature Reserve
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Spirt of Skegness Gin
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Skegness Pier
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Skegness Seasiders
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St James Hotel
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Steel’s Fish and Chips
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Tanyard Cottages
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The Dovedale Hotel
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Trawlers Catch
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Woodthorpe Leisure Park
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Helsey House Cottages
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Palm Court Skegness
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Travelodge Lincolnshire
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