Old Low Lighthouse

You'll spot it before you get close enough to read the plaque - that squat, sturdy brick tower jutting up from the promenade at Cleethorpes, looking like it's been keeping watch over the North Sea for longer than most of us have been alive. The Old Low Lighthouse is exactly what it sounds: a 19th-century beacon that once guided ships safely past the shifting sandbanks, now standing as a proper bit of maritime heritage on the seafront.

It's not a grand affair - you're looking at a relatively modest structure that won't demand hours of your time. But there's something rather satisfying about standing beside it, thinking about all those vessels it's helped steer to safety over the generations. The real appeal is less about wandering inside (information on that front is scarce) and more about what it represents - a tangible link to the days when Cleethorpes was a proper working port before the holiday makers took over.

Walkers and history types will get the most out of this. Kids might find it a bit dull unless they're already interested in lighthouses and maritime history. It's a decent ten-minute stop if you're exploring the seafront, particularly if you're staying at Haven Cleethorpes Beach Holiday Park nearby. Combine it with a walk along the prom, fish and chips, and a poke around the town centre. Worth the detour? Only if you're already in Cleethorpes. Don't drive across the Midlands for it alone.