Walk Summary
Probably the flattest walk you will ever do. Admire the amazing Humber Bridge. Walk along the banks of the Humber with its open expansive views. Watch abundant wildlife along the Humber and the many nature reserves.
Date: 17/09/2021
Length: 15.53 miles
Height Gain: 5 m
Terrain: Flat track
Navigation: Good. The only tricky bit is through the New Holland industrial estate (details on the map)
Start: Water's Edge Car Park, Baton-on-Humer
Route: Barton-on-Humber, New Holldand, Dawson City, Out-And-Back
Map: OS281 Ancholme Valley, OS284 Cleethorpes, Grimsby And Immingham
Weather: Sunny
Walkers: Nun
Gallery
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Humber Bridge
Captain's Log
Humber Bridge
The Humber Bridge is an impressive piece of Civil Engineering. Its 2,22 km single span dominates the foreground and disappears to the horizon. It was built in 1981 and at the time it was the longest single span bridge in the world. It has been relegated to 11th now. It provides a marvellous start to the walk.
It was hard to turn my back on the structure, but today's walk took me eastwards along the bank of the Humber. It is worth wandering around the nature reserve at the Water's Edge Country Park. There are many nature reserves along the south bank and you could plan your walk around these rather than plodding along the estuary.
New Holland
I would almost say that you don't need a map on this walk; you just follow the coastal path. There is just one point that is a bit of a navigation nightmare, although a map may not be much help anyway. This is going through an industrial estate at New Holland. I've put details of traversing the estate in the map. It is a busy area, so watch out for vehicles. I would have welcomed a few more signs for pedestrians so that you don't accidentally stray into an area you shouldn't.
The tide was on its way out exposing mud flats and exposing a smorgasbord for the estuary wildlife. These keep you well entertained on the walk, as well as the boat and ships. You can measure your progress by looking across the Humber at the Siemens Wind Turbine factory on the north bank. The huge towers are stacked on the bank waiting to be sailed out to sea. I could see a ship moored nearby that they use for the windmill installations. It has huge legs at each corner of the ship that it uses to provide a solid base during windmill installation. The ship is actually levered above the sea on these legs.
New Holland Pier
Pun Goldfinsh
Punk Goldfinch
I stopped to take a photo of some Goldfinches on thistles. It was only when I got back that it looked like one of them was sporting an electric yellow mohican haircut. The Humberside Goldfinches are obviously a bit rebellious.
At one point a heron preceded me along the estuary. As soon as I got within photo range, it would take off and fly a couple of hundred metres further on.
Heron Landing
Apart from a few remote farmhouses the south bank of the Humber isn't really populated. My turning point for the day was at Dawson City, as named on the OS map. I have to say there wasn't much of a city there.
Flat Fish
I spotted a large bird out in a field. It didn't fly like a Kestrel or Buzzard and I thought it might be a Marsh Harrier.
Marsh Harrier?
When I got back to the Water's Edge Visitors Centre I spotted a sad looking Flat Fish that had got stranded by the tide. It was struggling for breath in what remained the muddy water. It only had to hold out for another and the tide would save it. I wished it the best.
It had turned out to be an unusual and interesting walk with plenty to keep me entertained.
The Sad Flat Fish