Withernsea Hornsea Mere North Yorkshire England UK

Hornsea Tourist Guide, Hornsea Folk Museum and Hornsea Mere Freshwater Lake

South of Bridlington on the Holderness Coast, historic market town Hornsea has a distinctive seaside village feel blending seaside attractions with rural heritage - you're on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds here. Attractive Hornsea town centre is a delightful shopping experience boosted by its regular markets. Just outside the town sits the Freeport Shopping Outlet (weblink right for store listings). Find it just off the B1242 just outside Hornsea. This Freeport retail outlet was once the site of the famous Hornsea Pottery Company and to view an extensive collection of Hornsea Pottery visit the Hornsea Folk Museum in the town centre. In peak summer season especially, concerts and entertainment events often take place around Hornsea's North Promenade and Floral Hall area and Hornsea bursts into life annually during its Carnival Weekend in July (see the Hornsea Carnival webguide right for details on forthcoming events).

Situated just inland from the beach, mid-way between the coast and Hornsea Mere freshwater lake sits the award winning Hornsea Folk Museum. Housed within an 18th century farm house, this acclaimed museum has featured on tv several times and is where to head to dig deep into the history of the North Holderness region. Exhibits are extensive and Hornsea Museum can easily fill a whole fun packed family day out. The museum reveals the lives of the Burn Family who occupied this farmhouse from 1645 to 1945. Tour through rooms which include the farmhouse kitchen, parlour, a Victorian bedroom and schoolroom. Themed galleries are on subjects such as local industries like pottery, bricks and tilework and the Display Room houses a fascinating collection of quirky artefacts including toys and Hornsea souvenirs. Pick up a copy of the biography on Rose Carr in the museum's shop. Rose spent her early youth in domestic service during the 19th century, but went on to start her own stable and carriers busines in Hornsea - usually a man's job but Rose was able to carry two 16 stone sacks of corn in one go!

Hornsea Mere is Yorkshire's largest freshwater lake and is popular with both birdwatchers and for gentle watersports like rowing, fishing and sailing (see Hornsea Sailing Club and Hornsea Mere Marine's webguides right). A shop and cafe are on the edge of the mere - kids can pick up a packet of corn here to feed the geese.

Hornsea Tourist Information Centre, 120 Newbegin, Hornsea HU18 1PB. Tel. 01964 536404. Hornsea Folk Museum, Burns Farm, 11- 15, Newbegin, Hornsea, East Yorkshire HU18 1AB. Tel. 01964 533443.

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Withernsea Tourist Guide and Withernsea Lighthouse

Withernsea is a delightful traditional seaside mecca on the Holderness Coast with a superb family friendly beach and promenade. The town once had a pier, but all that remains today are the Pier Towers on the promenade. Withernsea's promenade offers ample amusement arcades, swimming, golf, and play parks. In the Valley Gardens venue free musical entertainment is often part of the summer menu, and Withernsea hosts a selection of live music and carnival events through the summer season. For full listings see Withernsea's town council webguide right. The Wildfest Music Festival in August and the July/August Withernsea Carnival week are particular highlights.

Seaside attractions include the Pavilion Leisure Centre which is seeing a huge refurbishment. Extensive swimming and leisure facilities will be available here. (see the Pavilion's webguide right for details).

Withernsea Lighthouse, now a museum, is unusually located inland but when it was built all that sat between the sea and the lighthouse were dunes. Today you can climb to the very top lamp room for spectacular views across to Spurn and the Humber Estuary. Inside you can view exhibits on the RNLI and HM Coastguard and find out why this lighthouse was so important in preventing what were previously frequent shipwrecks off Spurn Point. A local history room takes a close look at Victorian and Edwardian Withernsea, with also feature exhibition on Withernsea's own Kay Kendall, famous British film star of the 1950s in films such as Genevieve (1953) and Les Girls (1957), who was born in the town in 1926. Her father was vaudevillian star Terry McCarthy and her grandfather Robert Drewery assisted in the construction of Withernsea Lighthouse. Kendall died young tragically in 1959 when she succumbed to myeloid leukemia.
Withernsea Lighthouse Museum, Hull Road, Withernsea, HU19 0UA Tel. 01964 614834. For more information and opening times checkout the Withernsea Lighthouse webguide link right.

Withernsea Tourist Information Centre, 131 Queen Street, Withernsea HU19 2DJ. Tel. 01964 615683.

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Spurn Head National Nature Reserve

South of Withernsea the spectacular spit - Spurn Head pushes out for three and a half miles (and at its widest 50 metres) across the mouth of the River Humber. A National Nature Reserve, this unique spit is extremely popular with birdwatchers coming to view the many migratory birds which flock to the area as well as the passage waders and wildfowl.

Spurn spit was formed 10,000 years ago when the ice caps retreated, and constantly shifts and erodes. Access to Spurn Point is via the B1445 to Kilnsea.

For more details on Spurn and the history of the Humber Lifeboat see Spurn Point Nature Reserve. www.spurnpoint.com

No dogs are allowed on Spurn. See also webguides right for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust/Spurn and the Spurn Bird Observatory.

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