Holiday on Lincolnshire Coast

child359

Hi there Money savers!

I need help,
I have managed to find an excellent deal for my son and I and sister and her children in a caravan just outside Sutton-on-Sea, near Sandilands(close to Mablethorpe & Skegness)

This will be the first holiday/break I have had in six years since becoming seperated from husband and debt and inevitably not having any cash as a single Mum

I am really excited at the prospect of a break but need to seriously be careful with the cash whilst we are away because as usual I don't have any:rolleyes:

Any ideas for money saving entertainment for wet and dry days around that area? We have 2 4 yr olds and a 3 yr old with us. I am not averse to spending a day on the beach!! We are there for 4 days

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

Here's hoping:j

Nenen

Hi child359... sounds like you will have fun!

I've found a couple of websites to whet your appetite but much depends upon what sort of things you like to do and whether or not you have a car or rely on public transport. Mind you, there is an open top bus ride you can take (good even if you have a car)... my children loved these when they were 4 or 5...sitting at the top a real treat! There are a couple of little steam railways nearby too although these can work out expensive i think, so do check first.

Crab fishing is always very popular... lines are fairly cheap to buy and you can use cheap liver from the butchers as bait! Not sure where the best place nearest to Sutton is but Cromer pier is excellent for crab fishing.


http://www.visitlincolnshire.com/exec/104152/1100
gives an overview of the area and then you can click on the 'search' link to give lots more details.

http://www.enjoyengland.com/Attraction//Beach/489691/Sutton-on-Sea-Central-Beach.htm
tourist board website... lots of links with ideas

http://www.suttononsea.info/index.html is the local website... it does have some info for holidaymakers but seems more aimed at locals.

Seal Sanctuary in Mablethorpe: http://www.mablethorpe.info/entertainment/seal/seal.htm
There is also a hedgehog sanctuary fairly near and a farm park... another popular thing for my own children at that age.

If you can get to Skegness and like Butlins activities you can buy a day pass for the family for around £28. :
http://www.butlinsonline.co.uk/index.cfm?page=2482

Don't forget that even if it is raining children still love the beach... some of our greatest times were having a whole beach to ourselves in the rain... kids togged up and wellies full of sea water!

Have a lovely time!

si1965

Sutton on Sea is very nice, its not quite as commercialised as Mablethorpe or Skegness.

Having relatives that live in Mablethorpe and Skegness we spend a fair amount of time along that stretch of coast. The beach is always a good bet (weather permitting). One place we've found where kids can spend cash like its going out of fashion is Fantasy Island at Ingoldmells so we tend to avoid there (I recall it being £4 each for the rollercoaster there, and that was about 3 years ago).

child359

Thanks for those tips.
We have a car hopefully but love the sound of the open top bus idea!

I too had heard that fantasy island took the cash so I will avoid it like the plague.

I am sooo excited already and did my money saving bit getting a towel/poncho for £3 and 2 pairs of flip flops for £2 yesterday. Also got 3 t-shirts reduced to £2.20 from Asda too!!

I am taking some food with me as I have done my weekly shop anyway. Is this the most economical way when using a caravan. We are hiring a static one. I thought taking snacks for the kids would reduce the amount of pleas for the expensive extra's. Or am I completely fooling myself :0

socks_uk

My dad and his wife has just moved to permenantly live in a static caravan in Mablethorpe (Grange Leisure Park) and we have visited them a couple of times recently. I live only about 40 mins drive from there and we used to go in the summer when we were kids.

Mablethorpe is a fairly quiet seaside town and the only 'supermarkets' I have noticed is Co-Op and Lidl although someone might correct me if there are others.

Just some Cheap alternatives from the beach.

You don't say when you are going but if it happens to be around the Bank Holiday Weekend there is a great craft market in Alford, only about 15 minutes from Mablethorpe. When my daughter was younger she loved to watch the Morris Dancers and the Punch & Judy Show. We loved it when she had a nap in the pushchair and we went to watch all the (free) live acts.

Just a little further inland is the market town of Louth. Wednesday is market day but again there isn't a major supermarket chain to keep food costs down so maybe bring favourite things with you.

Only about 10 minutes from Mablethorpe if a fantastic Garden Centre (Woodthorpe Hall Garden Centre)which has a maze and goats that you can feed. Last time I went there (quite a while ago) was also some trampolines but not sure if they're suitable for your age of children or if there's a charge to play on them.

Hope you all have fun!

child359

Thanks Socks:A

We actually go on this Sunday until next Wednesday. I will be quite happy crabbing and playing on the beach and searching for shells.

Does anyone know how to make simple shell necklaces and what string to use to put the shells on? Clearly I fancy this idea not the children:j They will be made to enjoy it though:0

Weather forecast so far is rain for Sunday but sunshine and cloud for the other days so I am happy with that!! Taking wet weather gear too.

You are all really helping me so thanks for that:j