Roller Coaster, Fantasy Island, Ingoldmells

Well Flickr is a great resource for pictures of popular places. I found this one by “Chapmanmania” who seems to have captured the height of the Millenium Rollercoaster, part of the Fantasy Island complex in Ingoldmells.

Find Caravan Holidays in Ingoldmells ?

Blue Flag Status for Skegness Beach

GOOD NEWS for SKEGNESS… Tourism groups in Skegness were given a huge boost earlier this week when the town’s beach was awarded Blue Flag status for the year – one of just four such sites in the county.

The internationally recognised accreditation is only awarded to beaches which offer great facilities and achieve the highest standard of cleanliness.

Mablethorpe Stunning Sunset!

Now and again I like to browse through Panoramio ( an online Picture Gallery) as generally there are some brilliant photographs of the Skegness area. These Photographers seem to make anything beautiful with their skill and eye for colour and angle.

This one by “Cat P” caught my eye… it’s a sunset in Mablethorpe that makes the old beach huts look like a technicolour dream !! Have a look at her other work – it’s fab!

Mablethorpe’s Seal Sanctuary

The Seal Sanctuary have a new website for 2011 – check it out :

Seal and Animal Sanctuary

A visit to Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary offers a unique nature experience. Walk through two acres of sand dunes – only fifty metres from the sea – and gain first hand experience of some of the county’s most stunning wildlife.

The Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary has rescued hundreds of injured and orphaned seals since it opened in 1974. The seals are looked after until they can be released back into the wild. For those unable to return, The Seal Sanctuary offers a permanent home, doing all it can to give these wonderful creatures a contented existence.

BBC shows 75 years of Butlins

There’s some absolutely fab pictures on the BBC page about 75 years of  Butlins … http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-13038615.

I like the red-coats one and the B&W of the mono-rail.

Picture copyright BBC/GETTY

Careful with Inflatables by the Seaside

Last year a total of 67 people were rescued on the Lincolnshire coast and just under 250 people were aided by lifeguards.

The beach and seaside can be a dangerous place which is why the LIFEBOAT staff have warned beach-goers to take care when using inflatables on the Lincolnshire coast.

“The main danger at Skegness is inflatables being blown out to sea. We have launched major campaigns with local shops to make sure they tell their customers t3o tie their inflatables to a tether. With a strong breeze, you could easily be blown miles out to sea.”.

SO Festival in Skegness Needs 500

BBC Lincolnshire Reports: Organisers of the SO Festival in Skegness are looking for 500 volunteers to help with this year’s event.

The festival, which runs from 22-24 July, is a cultural event including arts, dance, street theatre, music and comedy.

They said people who get involved with the SO Festival will get to “experience an exciting range of duties”. The SO Festival is about bringing unique, exciting and different cultural activities to the coast.

There are all sorts of things volunteers can do. Dance, costume-making, everything from the creative side through to helping people find where they need to be and providing visitor information.

Butlins… nostalgia for the good times!

“For seven days you were transported from your normal day to day routine to a world of endless entertainment, fun and madcap tomfoolery.”

Butlins holiday camp lives on in the hearts of millions of seaside holiday makers and of course former Redcoats alike. Now a new book, packed with photos and Redcoats’ own memories, takes readers back to the heyday of the much-loved getaway.

The book, co-authored by Frank McGroarty called “Here Come the Redcoats”, explains… “If there was a phrase that best described holidays at Butlins in those days, it was probably British escapism at its best! Butlins venues, at the time had a lot of selling points that made them such a special place, particularly for families.”

Frank, who was a Redcoat in Ayr from 1982 to 1984, had a life-changing time there… as well as the priceless life experience and the heaps of fun he had, Frank also met his future wife and the couple are still married.

Frank remembers that at Butlins in Ayr, in keeping with the Scottish flavour, Billy Butlin had the Redcoats dressed in kilts during those early seasons.

This very amusing book goes on to recollect all manner of madcap memories from real Redcoars, holiday makers and is beautifully shown in old photographs… a real trip down  memory lane.

“Here Come the Redcoats” by Frank McGroarty and Rocky Mason is available from Amazon priced at £14.99

£1000 Prize for Skegness Beach Race

With the first ever Skegness beach race hailed a great success, the second one is most fully firmed up and entries are being taken!

Beach racing guru Rob Meek along with Rich Rose will yet again be designing a tough yet enjoyable track with some challenging sections. With extra beach being used, the lap time is looking to be increased also , providing even more entertainment for both the rider and the spectators. Spectating is still completely free of charge, so don’t miss out!

The event is scheduled for 12^th /13th November and kids, youth and quads and sidecars running on Saturday, and an adult solo class running for 3 hours on the Sunday. The quad race is being extended to 2hours due to so many of the riders enjoying last years session.

Entry fee’s start from just £65 in the kids and youth class, and £80 in the quads and adult solo – but be quick, this early bird booking offer is only available until the 30^th April. Entry fee’s include hard standing car parks and free camping, all within seconds of the beach and main Skeggy nightlife….

Read more at Motorcross racing >

Skegness in Pictures

Tony Quinlin recorded his Skegness Holiday and kindly posted his digital pictures on line. You can see them here : We particularly like this one of the iconic Skegness Clock Tower.

Natureland Seal Sanctuary in Skegness

Things to do in Skegness

Natureland is well known for rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned and injured seal pups that are stranded on Lincolnshire beaches. Our visitors can see the seals and lots of other wonderful animals including penguins, tropical birds/butterflies, pets corner, aquarium, tropical house, koi carp pool, animal brass rubbing, gift shop and refreshments available.
Attraction Type: Nature/ Wildlife Areas | Distance  0.5 miles from Skegness Town centre

WEBSITE: Skegness Seal Sanctuary

£21m Skegness rail upgrade

Network Rail began work on the second stage of its £21million investment to renew the old track between Boston and Skegness and improve Skegness station.

Chairman of Skegness, East Coast and Wolds Hospitality Association Nigel Tett said: “Previously holiday makers visiting by train have been treated like cattle, hopefully this will make for a more prompt and efficient service and will allow them to put more carriages on the line.

“First encounters count and when people come to Skegness the railway station is like the town’s shop window which at the moment is not a very attractive one.” … as reported by PeterboroughToday.co.uk