Explore East Yorkshire

The Yorkshire Wolds ~ Hockney's Inspiration
Walks
Wildlife ~ The Yorkshire Traingle
Beverley and its Minster
Seabird Cruises
Cycling
Historic Houses and Gardens
Hull City of Culture
Sewerby Hall and Gardens
Hornsea Mere
Danes Dyke
Flamborough Head Lighthouse
Fishing
Golf
Beaches
Hampers and Packed Lunches

The Yorkshire Wolds ~ Hockney's Inspiration

In celebration of Hockney we have a collection of some rare catalogues and articles in the Library Bar which give a unique insight into his lifelong connection with the region and it’s landscapes. Discover the rolling chalk hills, dry valleys and red-brick villages of the Wolds. Journey through landscapes so familiar to us and an inspiration to David Hockney. Perhaps start from Warter (Hockney's 'Bigger Trees') through Thixendale ('Three Trees near Thixendale') to Millington ('A Larger Valley'). Millington was one of Hockney's favourites and, as a family, we spent many happy hours in Millington Woods so we endorse David Hockney's view wholeheartedly! Onwards up to Huggate, the highest village on the Wolds ("Huggate's St Mary's Church Spire'), down through 'Garrowby Hill', 'Bugthorpe Valley' and see if you can discover 'Wheat Field near Fridaythorpe' before heading to 'The Road to York through Thixendale'. According to Art Historian Nikolaus Pevsner " a perfect example of an estate village". On to discover 'Tracks Into Wheat Field Near Langtoft', 'Puddle Near Kilham' and revel in the now famous 'Woldgate Woods' before ending with a coffee in Bridlington Old Town.

Walks

Follow in the footsteps of rebels on the Pilgrimage of Grace heritage trail, cross the magnificent Humber Bridge, discover the landscape around Huggate before relaxing on its poetry bench, explore the hidden dry valleys around Fridaythorpe, find the lost village of Wharram Percy or head out to search the rock pools of Filey Brigg before enjoying fish and chips (of course!) For more than 250 walks exploring East Yorkshire search for 'Find Walks' on www.walkingtheriding.co.uk including the famed Yorkshire Wolds Way. And for some great short walks have a look at www.top10trails.com

Wildlife ~ The Yorkshire Traingle

Bempton Cliffs boasts the largest colony of gannets, adorable puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes. Visit the Living Seas Centre and search for whales and dolphins. Inland the Wolds attract curlews, barn owls, red kites and hares, whilst the chalk streams are home to otters, water voles and kingfishers.

Beverley and its Minster

The Minster, St Mary's Church (spot the White rabbit), Georgian architecture, cobbled streets, markets, the Westwood, Beverley Races and Jazz, Folk, Literature, Puppet and Food Festivals. Beverley has a thriving culture!

Seabird Cruises

From April onwards the spectacular chalk cliffs of Bempton, Flamborough and Bridlington become home to 250,000 seabirds.The RSPB host some wonderful cruises including a puffin and gannet cruise or a skua and shearwater cruise. All trips leave Bridlington's North Pier. Take a hamper!

Cycling

We have plenty of great cycle routes on our doorstep, or you might like to explore Cropton Forest or Dalby Forest with trails from 2 - 17 miles and a choice of bike hire. If you get carried away, head off on the 170 mile Way of the Roses coast to coast route - but make sure you come back to us! All of the 'Big Skies' Bike Rides - a selection of circular day rides between 17 and 24 miles - can be downloaded from www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com To explore the Yorkshire Wolds, plan your routes by visiting www.cycleyorkshirewolds.com Where's my bike?????

Historic Houses and Gardens

We have fabulous houses and gardens around us, including Burton Agnes Hall and Gardens, Sledmere House (Sledmere village was a favourite of David Hockney) Burton Constable Hall, an Elizabethan gem with fine art and furniture, woodland and parkland and the Scampston Estate with gardens designed by Piet Oudolf.

Hull City of Culture

Explore the City where Philip Larkin spent most of his working life. The life size bronze statue of him in Hull's Central Train Station with inscriptions of Larkins poems in the floor space around is breathtaking. Visit Wilberforce House Museum, birthplace of the slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce, the Maritime Museum, Hull Truck Theatre, The Deep, the Humber Bridge, Ferens Art Gallery, and don't miss the extraordinarily successful Freedom Festival.

Sewerby Hall and Gardens

Opened by Amy Johnson in 1936 (the first female pilot to fly alone to Australia) and set in 50 acres of stunning parkland with woodland trails, a zoo and a cliff top path giving access to Sewerby Steps leading to rock pools on the beach and visiting wading birds. Happy memories for our family.

Hornsea Mere

Yorkshire's largest freshwater lake offers sailing, rowing, fishing and motor boat trips. From the viewing hide look for migrating osprey or listen for reed and sedge warblers in the spring. In the autumn/winter spot gulls, pink footed geese, goldeneye, whooper swan and Slavonian geese.

Danes Dyke

Don your boots! Explore the most extensive area of woodland on the Flamborough Headland, attracting breeding and overwintering birds and swooping bats on a warm summer evening. The Dyke is prehistoric in origin and the woodland stunningly beautiful. Lots of family picnics here over many years.

Flamborough Head Lighthouse

The lighthouse is located on Flamborough Head with spectacular views of Bridlington Bay and the Heritage Coast. For the best views, you can climb the 119 steps to the top!

Fishing

Hornsea Mere, at 2 miles long, is Yorkshire's largest natural lake and offers a great day's fishing. You might just catch a pike! Fossehill Lakes nearby have 5 stocked lakes or you could head out on the seas on a day fishing trip leaving Bridlington on the Yorkshire Lass.

Golf

Purchase a 'Golf Passport' and play on our premium courses; Hainsworth Park, Hornsea, Driffield and Beverley, or relish the cliff top views of the North Sea at Filey or Flamborough Head. Not forgetting Hull, Bridlington and many more - spend a week with us and explore them all.

Beaches

Fraisthorpe, Filey, Bridlington North and South Beaches, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay.....sandy beaches as far as the eye can see, craggy cliffs and sweeping views. The Yorkshire coast has everything you could ever wish for. In fact, we often wonder why so many places like Fraisthorpe are relatively undiscovered. Of course, that adds to their charm, but we are willing to share our secrets with you!

Hampers and Packed Lunches

Wherever you are heading, why not take a hamper (complete with picnic blanket) or packed lunch with you. Freshly made and filled with seasonal produce think door stopper sandwiches, savoury sides and some lovely sweet treats. You can even add a bottle of wine or champagne - just let us know and we'll get everything packed up for you.

On Our Doorstep

A short 4 miles from the historic market town of Beverley, 15 minutes from the coast and right in the heart of Yorkshire Wildlife's 'Wild Yorkshire Triangle', there is so much to see and do during your stay with us. Head into town to discover the Minster, with its origins in the 700's it's considered a gothic masterpiece and is a real joy to walk around. Whilst you're there why not venture into the town centre, lined by cobbled streets, it boasts vibrant markets (there is Wednesday market and Saturday market - one at the top of Beverley centre and one at the bottom) and a wealth of independent and high street shops. Or fancying more of a micro adventure? From the pastures of Beverley Westwood where cows and sheep roam freely to Bempton's white cliffs, home to flocks of puffins and stunning coastal views, our spot is the perfect base from which to explore.

The Wild East Yorkshire Triangle

One of the UK's best kept wildlife secrets, the Wild East Yorkshire Triangle runs from the heart of the Yorkshire Wolds to the chalk cliffs of the coast and all the way the the mighty humber estuary. Brimming with amazing wildlife all year round, visit sea bird 'cities', witness whales beneath the waves or walk the wolds with red kites swooping above. And right in the middle of the triangle is our home; a place to return to, a place to enjoy all the creature comforts, delicious flavours from the fields and seas and a great night's sleep.

Our Chairman's stay; A three day break

A three day exploration of Wild East Yorkshire's triangle, if you're not sure where to start ~ this is the perfect place! Put together by our chairman Paul, from Bempton Cliffs to Spurn Point, if you'd like to book this bespoke break we can package it all up for you (Including picnics of course!) just get in touch below.

Enquire

Day One

Too much food, too little exercise, stress creeping in, I need fresh air to clear the mind. And I knew where I'd find it.

RSPB Bempton Cliffs

A smiling face in a high-vis jacket guided me towards a parking space. "Ah yes" I thought, still in sombre mood "I bet he will guide me towards the pay and display machine." I needn't have worried, there isn't one. "Enjoy your visit" he beamed. Another high-vis jacket was there to greet me in front of the Seabird Centre, tell me which birds were arriving, where the gannets were nesting and where I would best see the puffins. All this to a man who didn't know a kittiwake from a guillemot. But I was about to find out.

Step inside the centre (you do have a to pay a bit now!), enjoy a coffee in front of the live cliff-view CCTV screen, then, suitably relaxed, open the back door towards the clifftops and discover a dramatic new world. This was spring with a quarter of a million seabirds screaming and diving, mating and nestling on the awe-inspiring chalk cliff sides. Gannets, puffins, guillemots, razorbills, herring gulls, kittiwakes, shags - this place is amazing! There are helpful wardens to educate you and fixed telescopes to look through. Black mood gone!

A late breakfast, prompted by fresh air and renewed vigour, was next on the agenda. A short drive found the Flamborough lighthouse and its café. Breakfast here, served all day, can only be described as "Yorkshire" - egg, bacon, sausage, tomato, beans, toast...and chips, all with change from a £5 note! An uncontrollable smile was now spreading from ear to ear.

Another walk was now needed to settle the breakfast so I strode out along the clifftop walk towards North Landing, its lifeboat station and the Living Seas education centre. Below me were huge beaches, rock pools and children with nets. A few short hours, a new man

Day Two

Tophill Low Nature Reserve

Between Beverley and Driffield you will find the hamlet of Watton. Ease the foot off the accelerator here and glide across four miles of historic wetlands towards the Tophill Low Nature Reserve. 260 species of bird await you here, over seventy even on a mid-winter day. There are twelve hides and viewing galleries, the main one with free telescopes to swivel, a log burner with extra logs for the winter, even a leather armchair to cosset you and a library to educate you. The reservoirs are alive with birds through every season, for example martins, swifts, breeding terns and plovers, sandpipers, kingfishers and murmurations of starlings dancing above the reed beds in the autumn. Signs ask you to be quiet. You won't want to make a noise, just open eyes wide and turn both ears to full volume. No need to be a twitcher here to discover a fascinating new world.

Huggate Poetry Bench

Now head to the Wolds. Huggate is the place. Take a coffee or lunch in the old village pub, don the walking boots and stride down the hill past the village green into the Wolds. At the bottom look right to see the magnificent Cow Dale as it spurs into the distance. Keep straight on for a mile or so, through an avenue of trees until the Wolds Way cuts left and right in front of you. Take the bridleway to the left to find the field gate which opes onto Horse Dale, Holm Dale and Harper Dale. This is it. Breathe in, you are witnessing one of the finest views in the Wolds. The Poets Bench is just below you on the right. Sit there as long as you like. It will take your breath away.

Day Three

Spurn Point

A bent finger of land that reaches out to cushion the Humber Estuary from the North Sea, there is nowhere else like it in Yorkshire. In fact there is probably nowhere quite like it anywhere.

Heritage Coast, Special Protection Area, National Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest, this place is really wild and one of the best bird watching locations in the UK. It hosts many thousands of spring and autumn migrants as well as stunning wader flocks in the winter. It is also home to a flock of Hebridean sheep. And you might be lucky enough to spot seals, porpoises, even Minke whales.

Start at the Discovery Centre, fill up on coffee and knowledge to plan your route - easy, a little longer or even a whole day's walk. There is always the lazy option, of course, just hop aboard the 4x4 shuttle which will take you to the old lighthouse and guide you through the amazing wildlife. Wrap up well in the winter or bask in the summer sun - either way you will be ready to enjoy a good cup of tea and a wedge of cake when you get back.