Shake off those winter blues with these walking and cycling trails around North East Lincolnshire

We all get the post turkey slump after seven rounds of Grandma’s Christmas dinner followed by a large helping of chocolate Yule log.

To help combat this, why not go for a long walk or bike ride and see what the borough has to offer. Whether you’re in Immingham, Grimsby or Cleethorpes, there are plenty of options out there.

Fishermen and Ships – Cycling, Grimsby

Suitability – Adults and older children
Distance – 12 miles (19km)
Ride time – 1hrs 30mins
Terrain – Mostly flat

This ride takes in views across the Humber and the picturesque local villages of Great Coates, Stallingborough and Healing. The start of the ride is at Grimsby Leisure Centre on Cromwell Road. There is free car parking available at the Leisure Centre.

When you join the seawall, do stop for a moment and take in the view. The Humber Estuary in front of you is one of the busiest areas of water in the country with ships from all over Europe and beyond visiting the nearby ports of Grimsby and Immingham.

The river itself drains around 20% of the total land surface of England. The estuary is around 100,000 years old and was formed during the last Ice Age, when it is believed that an ice sheet plugged the mouth of the river causing the build-up of silt and debris behind it. When the ice melted the sea flooded in covering much of the low-lying land creating the estuary as we see it today.

As well as being busy with industry, the river is also home to a host of wildlife. As you ride along you may be lucky enough to see flocks of wading birds feeding on the tiny invertebrates that inhabit the estuary’s mudflats. At high tide, when the area is covered in water, you are likely to see local fishermen looking for a catch.

As the route turns away from the water it passes through the historic village of Stallingborough. Dating back to before the Doomsday Book the ancient village site is still visible in a series of earthworks to the west of the village church. You may wish to stop off at the village shop or nearby pub for some refreshments before heading back to the start of the ride via Healing.

The route:

1. Leave the Leisure centre grounds and turn left onto Cromwell Road
2. To your left is a small cutting through to Great Coates. Please dismount and walk your bike through the cutting, at the end turn right and re-join the road along Station Road
3. At the junction of Woad Lane and Moody Lane go straight ahead along the Public Bridleway towards the sea
4. At the end of this path turn left and cycle along the seawall
5. After approximately 1 ¼ miles turn left off the seawall. At this point you may need to dismount to pass around a barrier
6. Follow the track to the junction of South Marsh Road and Hobson Way, turn right then immediately turn left towards Stallingborough. Head straight along South Marsh Road and Station Road through the village for approximately 2½ miles
7. At the roundabout turn left onto the B1210 towards Healing
8. As you enter Healing you may wish to join the off road cycle path on the lefthand side of the road. You can follow this path all the way to Grimsby
9. At St Michael’s Church turn left onto the path alongside the Freshney passing through a small wooded area
10. Follow the path until you reach a T-junction, turn right here and keep the fence to your left-hand side, at the end of the path turn left onto Yarrow Road
11. At the junction with Yarborough Road turn left and join the off road path, at the next junction turn left onto Sorrell Road
12. Follow this road to the junction with Spark Street where you should turn left.
13. At the junction with Cromwell Road turn left and head back towards the start point at the Leisure Centre

Mayflower Woods – Walking, Immingham

Notes – Accessible by public transport. Suitable for walkers with dogs
Distance – 2.25 miles (3.5 km)
Difficulty – Steady

Discover the countryside in this 2¼-mile wander to the north of Immingham taking in the privately owned Mayflower Woods. The 120 acres of planted woodland is owned by the Humber Refinery of Phillips 66. Humber Refinery of Phillips 66 open via Permissive rights of way.

Immingham has existed as small settlement since the early medieval period. The town was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, recorded as Imungeham. Its Anglo-Saxon name is thought to mean the ‘homestead of the people of Imma’. Up until the 1900s it was a rural hamlet, made up of farms and cottages and was surrounded by marshland. Today, Immingham is the largest port by tonnage the UK.

This walk starts at St Andrew’s church which dates back to the early medieval period with much of the structure dating to the 13th century. Sited on some of the highest ground of the port and town, the 500-year-old tower commands a good view of the town and countryside. See if you can spot the gargoyle on the bell tower who points its naked backside towards Killingholme!

Immingham was the last departure point for the Pilgrim Separatists who fled England in 1608 for Holland. These individuals later boarded the Mayflower ship for the new world and founded one of the first English colonies in America. It was on the shores of Immingham that a group of people gathered to travel to Holland. Across from St Andrew’s church you can also visit the Pilgrim’s Monument.

Once you have walked the length of Mill Lane, the route follows well established local footpaths and goes through Mayflower Woods emerging onto the old golf course and back to the church.

After your walk you can enjoy some refreshments in the town centre and perhaps pop into the museum to learn more about the town’s heritage.

The route:

1. Leave the Church following Church Lane for a short distance then turn down Mill Lane continue along the lane walking past Immingham Parish Cemetery on the right
2. At the sharp bend turn right following the direction of the footpath sign along a stony track which eventually changes
   to a grassy field edge path
3. Cross the bridge and continue straight ahead along the well trodden path
4. At the big drain turn right following the direction of the way markers along the path with the drain on your left side
5. Pass through a kissing gate and continue along the path along the drain side
6. Pass through two more kissing gates close together and continue along the well trodden route through the woodland
7. Cross the bridge and immediately turn left along the drain side
8. Turn right along the edge of the trees across the golf course back to the car park
9. Cross the car park and follow the path around the church back to the start

Cleethorpes Seafront – Walking, Cleethorpes

Suitability – Accessible by public transport. Suitable for walkers with dogs
Distance – 4.5 miles (7 km)
Difficulty – Steady

Enjoy this walk along the seafront in Cleethorpes. The route begins at the Discovery Centre at the Boating Lake and takes you past Pleasure Island and through Humberston Fitties before taking you along the edge of the beach back to the Boating Lake.

There is ample parking in the Thrunscoe Land car park adjacent to the start of the walk and bus services from all around Grimsby & Cleethorpes stop on Kingsway close to the start of the route.

On leaving the Boating Lake you will be heading past the Meridian Arena and Pleasure Island before entering the Humberston Fitties which during the WWI was used to house soldiers stationed at the nearby Haile Sand Fort built in the war to protect the Humber Ports from sea attack. The Fitties are now part of a local nature reserve and home to over 300 holiday chalets.

As you leave the Fitties behind you’ll soon notice a signpost with arms pointing to all parts of the globe. This is the line of zero degrees longitude where east meets west. As well as Cleethorpes the line also passes through France and Spain in Europe as well as Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana in Africa.

At the end of the walk you can either stop off at the Signal Box Inn at the Light Railway or go back to the Discovery Centre for some refreshments. If you’ve still got some energy left why not hire a boat and go for a row or a pedal around the lake?

The route:

1. Leave the Discovery Centre and take the path alongside the Boating Lake
2. Take the right hand fork in the path away from the edge of the Boating Lake
3. At the T junction turn left and follow the path passing the former Jungle Zoo
4. Follow the path which bends to the right passing over a boardwalk to the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway station
5. Pass by the Railway Station and continue along the path crossing Meridian Road Continue straight ahead at the
   roundabout towards Thorpe Park Ignore the road to the right and continue towards Thorpe Park
6. Continue straight ahead at the roundabout
7. Take care crossing the road to follow the footpath indicated by the signpost along the top of the drain bank
8. Cross the bridge and follow the direction of the way markers between the chalets
9. Continue following the way markers and signposts through the caravan park
10. Cross over the bridge and turn left alongside the lake
11. Cross the car park and pass through the sand dunes turning left along a sandy path
12. Continue straight ahead along the tarmac path
13. Just after the small chalets turn left along Meridian Road back towards the Boating Lake

To download these guides and others across the borough, visit Discover North East Lincolnshire | Walking trails – Discover North East Lincolnshire.

However, if you fancy getting in the Christmas spirit sooner, take a look at our Festive Walks page and discover all the different Winter Walks around the borough. To get involved in our other Christmas activities, including the New Year’s 10k run and paddleboarding, visit the Active Xmas page.