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Header image: (R Wardle)
The Lincolnshire coast is a renowned tourist destination, particularly the resorts of Skegness, Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes during the summer months. These days, the undeveloped coast and the grazing marshes behind have been largely ignored as holiday destinations.
This wasn't always the case. One of the earliest establishments catering for coastal visitors was the 17th Century Old Inn at Saltfleet, renowned by 1673 for its fish meals. The building became the New Inn, advertising sea-bathing by 1791. At North Somercotes, a bathing machine was introduced in 1788. Bathing at Mablethorpe is recorded from the early 19th century, when it was described as a 'fashionable Watering Place'.
And yet, the potential is there to encourage visitors attracted by the charms of the countryside. The sand dunes and salt marshes of the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Lincolnshire. Gibraltar Point attracts nearly 200,000 visitors a year, and not just in the peak holiday season.
The Coastal Grazing Marshes project aims to provide better access, interpretation and facilities to encourage local people and visitors to move inland from the coast, stay longer, explore the grazing marshes and buy high quality local products and services. |
