East Coast Bombing Ranges

                                      Donna Nook

Location:Between Grimsby and Skegness almost in the mouth of the river Humber. This range is stuck a little out of the way of most people, its not somewhere to visit while travelling to some other location so a trip here is usually a planned one. Open all year round although there is a quite period from late November until the back end of january when the seals come ashore to give birth and look after the young ones until they are old enough to take to the open water. So certain elements might not operate on given days which are all depending on the seals positions. Donna Nook is also a very popular nature reserve which is why a nice sized car park exists on site. The range is open Monday to Friday from 0900hrs with night time slots being used on certain dates. For further info check out Fighter control , you will have to join but its free and very useful with daily logs for the range. Daily activities can involve Tornado gr4,Jaguar,F15 and Helicopters firing their canons.

Location pictures

Map of the 3 east coast range locations

Tornado F3 

Picture;   R Blencowe

RAF Tornado gr4 9 sqn  On a straffing run    R Blencowe

A RAF Harrier gr7 Makes a pass at target 3   

Directions:From the south from Mabblethorpe Donna is 3 miles up the A1031,head for the village of North Somercotes.In the centre of the village near the church is a right turn sign posted for RAF Donna,Nook follow this road . After a quick right and left turn you will see a long straight road which is 2 miles long, follow this ignoring the sign on the right half way down for the control tower. At the very end you will come to the large carpark which is currently free. In front of you there is a big sand bank, if you take any of the exists from the carpark through the bank you will be on the beach. When you get to the beach you need to be turning right (south),walk for ten minutes and you will come across the control tower and a scattering of dummy or disused bombs from here is the prime location. You may climb the dunes to gain slightly higher view but observe the warning notices on where you shouldn't go and what you should not touch. If you go across to the tower sometimes they will tell you the planned slots for that day, remember that various factors can cause slots to be missed or cancelled. You may be lucky enough to get some bootleggers (aircraft trying to get a slot which isn't pre booked),so patience and a scanner are required.

                                     Wainfleet

Targets which are old ships.       R Blencowe  

Directions:From Skegness which is north of the range,pick up the A52 road to Boston.After approx 6 miles you will come to Wainfleet St Marys,halfway through the village turn left(sign posted RAF Wainfleet).Keep going for about 2 miles where you will pass the tower and end up in the carpark.Park anywhere except the bays marked out H as they are for helicopters.You can view from the carpark or walk to your right down the tarmac track to the gate ,in front of you are the ships which are targets for rocket and small bombs.For a slightly closer view you should go back to the carpark and walk back towards the tower then turn left and follow a small dyke keep going until you are as close as you can get to the ships.Do not cross any bounderies marked to stop you straying into dangerous postions.From the closest point you will need a 400mm lens to get anything near frame filling size at best. 

2  A10's working the range

Carpark gaurdian at the driving range.  R Blencowe

                               Holbeach