Barton is a historic town close to the Humber Bridge with a variety of Georgian and Victorian buildings and two notable churches - St Mary’s, which dates from the twelfth century and St Peter’s. This fascinating tourist attraction is home to over 2,800 burials dating from Anglo-Saxon to Victorian times making it both an archaeological and architectural gem. There are also many scenic walks along the Humber Estuary with a national nature reserve at Far Ings and the recently-opened Waters Edge Country Park and Nature Reserve.
Barrow Haven is a hamlet and small port. It was the site of a former ferry crossing that spanned from the Humber Estuary to Hull, serving as a place for ships and boats crossing the Humber to moor away from the tidal flow. A port continues to exist nearby and the areas rail access is based at the Barrow Haven railway station.
New Holland is the former embarkation point for the London & North Eastern Railway's ferry service to Victoria Pier, Kingston upon Hull. The service was operational from 1820 to 1981, when the Humber Bridge opened. New Holland is now better known for its agriculture and hosts fabulous riverside walks and extensive views of the Humber Bridge.
Goxhill is a picturesque village with bags of history and architectural buildings that include the privately owned Goxhill Hall, a Grade II* listed 18th-century house which stands adjacent to a Grade I listed mediaeval hall known as The Priory. The hall was built between 1690 and 1705 for Henry Hildyard. The medieval hall, originally part of a larger complex, dates from the late 14th and early 15th century. All Saints Parish Church dates back as far as the 13th century. If history is not your thing, Goxhill is excellent for bird watching, cycling, and walking.
Thornton Abby is home to the ornate fortified gatehouse and is among the finest in Britain. There are remains of monastic buildings and an exhibition on the abbey’s history. Extensive restoration of the crumbling monastery and a new exterior staircase gives visitors easier access to the gatehouse and its haunting passageways and hidden alleys. The abbey offers a fantastic chance to experience history first-hand, and the grounds are a haven for wildlife and the ideal place to get away from it all and have a picnic.
Ulceby - located in a peaceful rural setting surrounded by thousands of acres of arable land - offers excellent walking routes and bridleways. It is home to the Grade I listed Church of St. Nicholas' dating from the 13th century and set in an attractive churchyard in the village.
Habrough, first mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086, is a fabulous award-winning In Bloom village. It is home to the historic St. Margaret’s Church dating back to the 1300s. This Grade II listed building is a must for anybody visiting the village. The church tower was restored in 1684, and the church rebuilt in limestone in 1869, by R. J. Withers.
Stallingborough is thought to date back as far as prehistoric times. South-east of the village there is evidence of an Iron Age complex of enclosures. It has survived the ages and has many historic treasures for visitors to investigate including, Stallingborough medieval settlement, post-medieval manor house and formal gardens. Surrounded by unspoiled countryside, great footpaths and bridleways, the this is a fantastic place for walking, cycling and riding.
Healing is another of the areas historic treasures and was a manor at the time of the Domesday Book. The parish church of St Peter and St Paul dates from the 13th century. The upper parts of the bell tower are in the Decorated Gothic style and ashlar faced. The church was partly rebuilt in 1840 and underwent a Victorian restoration. Within the churchyard is a listed 14th- or 15th-century cross base. The church is a Grade II listed building. Healing Manor (or Healing Hall) was begun in the early 18th century and is thought to have been a replacement for an earlier manor house. Remains of the former manor exist as moats, one of which has been incorporated into the gardens of the modern hall. With all this, plus great walking and cycling set in the Wolds, it offers the perfect day out.
Great Coates has roots dating back to the 11th Century and is situated in the outskirts of Great Grimsby. This bustling village has fantastic amenities and boasts The Church of St Nicolas which dates to around 1200 AD and a medieval manor at the south end of the village, now evidenced by remains of the manorial moat. The northern part of the parish extends to the Humber estuary foreshore. This is an excellent place to stop and look round before entering the bustling town and fishing port of Grimsby.
The busy shopping centre of Grimsby also includes Freshney Place which has a good and varied selection of shops and nearby are attractions such as the renowned Fishing Heritage Centre with its fishing trawler or the Paddle Steamer ’Lincoln Castle’ - formerly a ferry on the New Holland to Hull route.
Cleethorpes is a thriving beach resort with miles of safe sandy beaches. A short walk along the promenade brings you to the leisure centre, Pleasure Island theme park and the Cleethorpes Light Railway - a steam-operated narrow-gauge line. Back along the seafront, there is a good selection of shops, restaurants and pubs and some renowned and award-winning fish and chip restaurants. Cleethorpes location at the mouth of the Humber Estuary makes it a haven for seabirds and is also a good place to watch the ships and ferries making their way in and out of the Humber. West of the town this stretch of coastline is renowned for its rich variety of wildlife and is a regular haunt of birdwatchers.
Visit Hull, the UK City of Culture 2017, and explore its historic old town and cultural venues. All of the city’s museums and galleries are free to enter so spend some time in the Ferens gallery or immerse yourself in the city's maritime history at the Hull Maritime Museum. The city is famous for its theatres and has a tremendously strong local cultural scene. Why not visit Hull Truck Theatre and City Hall? Take a city tour following the famous fish trail and enjoy highlights like the museum quarter or a visit to the award-winning The Deep. Bring the whole family - there is something for everyone.
Cottingham is steeped in history and dates back as early as the Bronze Age. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book and other documents dating as far back as 1160. One of its many architectural highlights is the church of St Mary the Virgin, parts of which date from the 13th century. Famous poet, Phillip Larkin, is buried in the Victorian municipal cemetery. Larkin resided locally whilst head librarian at the University of Hull, a role he kept for 30 years until his death in 1985.
The market town of Beverley sometimes referred to as the heart of the East Riding is full of historical buildings, cobbled streets, and small-town charm. The Georgian Quarter has architecturally fascinating streets, divided by the 15th-century North Bar, and contains a great number of listed buildings. Its fascinating Minster serves as the Parish Church of St. John and St. Martin and was founded by John, Bishop of York, originally as a monastery in the 6th century. He died in 721 and his body was buried in a chapel of the Saxon church; John was canonised in 1037 and the present church was built around his tomb with work commencing in 1190 and completed in 1420. Throughout the Middle Ages, miracles which took place at his tomb attracted pilgrims from far and wide and is still a place of pilgrimage today.
Arram also serves the village of Leconfield with its extensive military base and RAF Rescue. The village has a fishing venue on the tidal River Hull and there are many fantastic country walks to be had from here and from Hutton Cranswick, an award-winning In Bloom village with a village green that is claimed to be the largest in the East Riding, running to some six and a half acres. One of the East Ridings true hidden gems.
The heartbeat of the Wolds, Driffield, is also its cultural 'capital' and an ideal place to take a break. Until the 18th century Driffield had been a rural village, but the coming of the Driffield Navigation, a canal extending the River Hull to the settlement, changed its fortunes, although the canal has been for pleasure craft only since just after the end of WWII. Spend an unhurried afternoon exploring All Saint's Church and nearby stately homes of Burton Agnes to the north-east, and Sledmere house to the north-west or simply stroll on the idyllic Riverhead. Whatever you decide don’t miss the famous Driffield Show a one-day agricultural show that is the highlight of the year.
Nafferton is a designated conservation area with a variety of historical features including several 18th Century houses bearing date stones indicating when they were built as early as 1778 and the villages All Saint’s Church, a large Norman-built church with a perpendicular tower, north aisle and clerestory. Nafferton Mere is the focal point of the village, once a mill pond which supplied water power to several water mills situated on its south-east bank. As you leave the village and travel along the line look out for the former stations of Lowthorpe, Burton Agnes and Carnaby, all have well-preserved station buildings.
Bridlington is a popular family resort with clean beaches, a working harbour, amazing nature and close by is Flamborough Head, with its famous lighthouse that can be seen in the distance. Dating back to pre-roman times the Old Town is full of character, being home to the beautiful Augustinian Priory, Bayle Museum and Harbour Heritage Museum which offer a wealth of information about the history of the area. Bridlington Spa is a dance hall, theatre and conference centre. Refurbished between 2006 and 2008 and further updated with new branding in 2016, the venue boasts a large Art Deco ballroom, Edwardian theatre and art gallery - all featuring outstanding views over Bridlington's South Bay. The original Spa on the site was built in 1896 consisting of a theatre and seaside pavilion. A fire in 1906 saw the theatre destroyed and a replacement opera house was built in 1907 which still forms part of the building today.
Bempton village is best known for its RSPB nature reserve, recognised for its breeding seabirds, including Northern Gannet, Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, Common Guillemot, Black-legged Kittiwake and Fulmar. It is one of the best places in England to observe seabirds. Even if you are not a bird watcher the scenery is breathtaking with exciting walks around the area. Bempton also used to be home to RAF Bempton, an early warning station and some of the old buildings are still visible from the clifftop.
Hunmanby is a bustling village surrounded by stunning landscapes that looks down over farmland to North Yorkshire’s famous seaside resort of Filey and Filey Bay. The village name of Hunmanby originated with the Danes, appearing in the Doomsday book as ‘Hundemanbi’ although evidence exists showing that Hunmanby was occupied by much earlier people than the Danes. A landslip occurred in 1907 revealing a British chariot burial site from the 1st or 2nd century BC, in which a chariot and horse was buried. Today it still boasts its historic Market Place Cross and the beautiful All Saints Church a 12th Century building.
Filey is a wholly unique, quiet and quite beautiful, small seaside town. Its stunning beach offers a truly relaxing experience, from here you can enjoy a peaceful walk, sand sculpturing, bird watching by the breath-taking Filey Brigg, or just simply laying back and enjoying the soothing sound of the waves breaking across the shore. Whilst here do not miss Filey Museum, winner of The Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Award in The Discover Yorkshire Coast Awards 2006 and Visitor Attraction of the Year Yorkshire Moors and Coast Tourism Award 2007.
The walk from Filey to Scarborough is one of the finest coastal walks passing through the picturesque village of Seamer. This pretty village has a mix of old and new builds with the main street being lined with the quaint traditional stone houses and St Martin’s Church which has a long history, going back almost 1000 years. This busy village offers a range of walking and cycling routes for novices and experienced trekkers.
Scarborough is a quintessential British seaside resort; stunning scenery and glorious beaches that people have been flocking to for nearly 400 years. There are lots of things to see and do from immersing yourself in its history with Scarborough Castle and the Rotunda Museum of Geology or you could venture down to the seafront to enjoy the traditional amusement arcades, ice cream parlours, shellfish stalls and beach huts. For those who love the here and now why not try boating in Peasholm Park; taking a ride on the miniature railway or make friends with the penguins at Scarborough Sea Life Sanctuary.
A must for every visitor is the majestic Scarborough Spa a Grade II listed building in South Bay. It is a venue for a range of entertainment, live music and events. Originally built around the source of Scarborough's spa waters, it boasts a Grand Hall, which seats nearly 2,000, The Spa Theatre, a 600-seat Victorian theatre and The Spa Ocean Room used for dances and conferences. The Victorian Cliff Tramway links the Spa complex with South Cliff, 200 ft above the South Bay just to give that extra something.