Archive for the ‘Attractions’ Category

The Yorkshire Wolds stretch and arc from the chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head to the banks of the Humber Estuary at Hessle. It is some of the most picturesque and unspoilt landscape in the country - a true hidden gem just waiting to be discovered. From bustling market towns such as Beverley, Driffield, Pocklington and Market Weighton to countless pretty villages with their well-kept village greens, pubs, ponds and churches, the Yorkshire Wolds offer miles of beautiful scenery, peaceful riverside walks, woodlands teaming with wildlife and a gently undulating patchwork quilt of farmland  brimming with crops and wild flowers of every description.

The rolling hills of the Yorkshire Wolds are ideal for discovering by bicycle or walking and the best way to make the most of the area is to follow ‘The Wolds Way’ - a 79 mile unbroken National Trail which captures the unrivalled beauty of the region and takes in many hidden villages well off the beaten track.

Driffield - ‘The Capital of The Wolds’ - is a thriving market town with charming Victorian buildings and shops and is also home to one of the largest agricultural shows in the country. At the western edge of the Wolds is Pocklington, with it’s narrow interesting streets dominated by the splendid 15th century church, and offering lovely walks along the canal, it is an understated, quiet town which is the epitome of the whole region. A visit to Pocklington is not complete without seeing Burnby Hall & Gardens which house Europe’s largest collection of water lillies - over 5,000 different species!

Market Weighton is a 750 year old market town that once regularly held the largest sheep fair in England and was home to William Bradley, ‘The Yorkshire Giant’, who at seven feet nine inches, was the tallest Englishman ever recorded. Market Weighton is in easy reach of many public footpaths and rights of way which pass through the town, including the Yorkshire Wolds Way, The Minster Way and the Humber Way as well as the North Sea Cycle Route.

By far the most popular and most visited town in East Yorkshire is Beverley. This busy market town with it’s chic shops, fine Medieval & Georgian architecture is arguably one of the most beautiful towns in Britain. The famous Beverley Minster was founded in the 8th century and is one of the best examples of a cathedral size Gothic church in Europe. Beverley race course must be one of the most attractive courses in the country, set as it is among the open space of Beverley Westwood, and with attractions such as the city of Hull and the East Yorkshire coast within easy reach, Beverley is both fascinating & memorable and is the perfect base for discovering the beauty of the Yorkshire Wolds.

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From the famous, white chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head to the stunning sand dunes of Spurn Point, the East Yorkshire coastline is suprising, fascinating, wild and treacherous - but always spectacular. For the visitor the East Yorkshire coast offers bustling traditional seaside towns, miles of golden sand, picturesque, peaceful walks and thousands of years of history. There is something for everyone along this glorious piece of coastline - from bird watching to fishing, sandcastles to beach combing, visiting places of interest to just escaping the crowds - the East Yorkshire coast has it all.

The whole area from Flamborough in the north to Spurn Point in the Humber Estuary has some of the finest beaches in England and is a magnet for families looking to enjoy a visit to the seaside throughout the year. But away from the bustling resorts offering family entertainment of all descriptions lies another side of the area - the peaceful serenity of long tranquil walks, discovering an abundance of wildlife and all manner of flora & fauna, historical attractions and the chance to escape from every day life.

Bempton cliffs are some of the the highest in East England, towering 200m they are home to the largest nesting seabird colonies in England. The Reserve is home to thousands of gulls, puffins, kittiwakes and cormorants and attracts avid watchers from all parts of the UK and beyond.

The area around Flamborough Head, including Thornwick Bay & Danes Syke, offers the visitor peaceful walks and spectacular coastal views with hidden caves, unusual rock formations and isolated winding pathways. Flamborough village sits in the centre of the headland with it’s famous lighthouse built in 1806.  The area of the North Sea off Flamborouigh Head is the resting ground of many ship wrecks, including the Bonhomme Richard, flagship of John Paul Jones, which was sunk by the British in 1779 in the first action of the newly-formed United States Navy. Danes Dyke, a huge 4km long ditch earthwork leading to the beach, dates back to Neolithic times and provides the visitor with unforgettable sights and invigorates the senses of all who take the time to meander along it’s narrow, sinuous pathways.

Situated on the cliff top, just south of Flamborough and overlooking Bridlington Bay, is Sewerby Hall and Gardens. This magnificent 18th century mansion attracts thousands of visitors every year and is set in 50 acres of beautiful, well kept grounds. It offers peaceful landscaped gardens as well as a pitch and putt golf course, children’s zoo & play area and tea rooms. It also houses a permanent collection of souvenirs & momentoes dedicated to the Hull-born aviator Amy Johnson who was the first woman to fly solo from the UK to Australia in 1930. There is also a bowls rink and one one the most picturesque cricket grounds in the country situated on the cliff top.

Bridlington, with it’s miles of golden sand and historic harbour, is a traditional seaside town that has been welcoming visitors since the Edwardian era.  The clean, expansive beaches are still the main attraction of a visit to Bridlington but visitors who explore the town will find the magnificent Priory Church, once one of the largest and most important monasteries in England, the ‘Old Town’ with it’s 17th century High Street and the Bayle Museum which was once the local prison. Once a thriving fishing community, Bridlington has adapted with the times and offers something for everyone - beaches, all manner of entertainment, including two 18 hole golf courses, history, a superb location and, ofcourse, delicious fish & chips!

A few mile south of Bridligton lies the small town of Hornsea. Once a centre for smuggling along the coast, Hornsea developed and expanded as an exclusive holiday resort with the arrival of the railway in the Victorian era. Home to Yorkshire’s largest natural lake, the town became known world-wide for it’s famous Hornsea Pottery which ceased production in 2000. The site of the pottery is now home to the Freeport Shopping Village offering visitors over 50 outlets selling a range of goods from designer clothing to kitchen utensils. The award-winning Hornsea Folk Museum, situated in an historic farmhouse in the town centre, gives the visitor a fascinating glimpse into rural life in Holderness from years gone by. On the edge of the town lies Hornsea Golf Club, generally regarded as one of the finest golf courses in Yorkshire.

Further down the East Yorkshire coast is the lively, seaside town of Withernsea. Offering plenty of entertainment, Withernsea is also perfect for exploring the area of Holderness. In the town centre the recently landscaped Valley Gardens is a large open space offering plenty of seating, children’s play equipment and an arena used for open-air concerts during the summer season. The inland lighthouse standing in the centre of the town gives spectacular views out to sea and of the Holderness landscape.

Beyond Withersea the coast line dwindles down to Spurn Point - a three and a half mile long spectacular hooked finger of sand and shingle banks only 50 metres wide in places -  that turns into the Humber Estuary. The whole area is a nature reserve and is perfect for bird watching, fishing or walking. This unique landscape is often referred to as ‘the oddest place in Britain’, and once visited it’s easy to see why. Spurn Point is also home to Britain’s only full-time lifeboat station.

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