Sewerby/Danes Dyke Circular--About Bridlington

Sewerby/Danes Dyke Circular

Enjoy a pleasant stroll along the cliff top from the old village of Sewerby to the ancient earthworks of Danes Dyke. The end of the route takes you over the new golf course.

Start Point	Danes Dyke or Sewerby
End Point	Danes Dyke or Sewerby
Towns & Villages	Bridlington, Flamborough, Marton and Sewerby
Parish	Bridlington
Start Easting	520,148.00
Start Northing	468,995.00
End Easting	520,148.00
End Northing	468,995.00

Details
Circular Walk	Yes
Grade	Easy
Ordnance Survey Explorer Map	301
Car Parking Facility	Danes Dyke and Sewerby
Refreshments	Cafe at Sewerby Hall, plus snacks outlet at Danes Dyke
Public Conveniences	Danes Dyke and Sewerby
Distance Distance(Miles)	2
Distance (Kilometres)	3.2
Lengthened Distance (Miles)	2
Shortened Distance (Miles)	2

The Walk

On this 'busy' side of the headland you'll meet others enjoying a pleasant stroll and passing the time of day with fellow walkers.
You return to Sewerby either along the inland path over the golf course or back along the cliff top. If you return along the cliff top path you will enjoy splendid views of Bridlington.
Follow the route on the map and you shouldn't get lost!

Features of Interest

- Sewerby is an ancient village and the 'by' perhaps denotes Danish origin. The Romans built a settlement here and the village was mentioned in the Domesday Book. It has some fine chalk built cottages and has a pleasant feel about it.
- From along the cliff top to Danes Dyke you can see Bridlington Bay. In summer the Bay is full of cobbles from Bridlington on fishing trips. You can watch the two pleasure boats from 'Brid' - the 'Yorkshire Belle' and the 'Flamborian' - travelling to and from the lighthouse. Many still remember the 'Flamborian' when it was called the 'Boy's Own' and the other boats (the 'Bridlington Queen', the 'Britannia' and the Hull tug, the 'Yorkshireman').
- From the beach, east of Sewerby steps, is the "buried cliff". The cliff turns from clay to chalk topped by clay. The chalk section is the old cliff line and ran inland to Driffield and south to Hessle i.e. the Yorkshire Wolds. During the last Ice Age, glaciers swept over Holderness depositing debris along and on top of the former chalk coastline.
- In Holderness the sea erodes the clay cliffs at 2-3 yards a year and one day the coastline may again be along the chalk at Driffield and Hessle! Some protection took place at Mappleton south of Hornsea in 1990. This has stopped erosion there but further south the sea has washed away the beach. Certain farmers lost over 30 yards! There are also important fossil deposits here including perfect specimens of sponges. Children may find these, and the many large flat pieces of chalk with several holes in them, bored by shellfish called piddocks. Many children enjoy painting faces on them. Can you paint yours? The rock pools on the shore attract large numbers of wading birds and gulls, always a source of interest. Which can you identify?
- Inland was the site of an Anglian cemetery near to Home Farm dating back some 1,400 years. Excavation has revealed the graves of adults and children with items of jewellery, clothing, pottery and weapons, all of which suggest a settled community. Some of the finds can be found in Sewerby Hall.
- Sewerby has a fine hall and gardens which are well worth a visit. The house was built in 1714-20 by John Graeme with additions made in 1808. Inside is a collection of trophies, awards and mementoes belonging to the pioneering airwoman Amy Johnson. She opened the house in 1934 after its purchase by the former Bridlington Corporation. The grounds are delightful to wander around and contain what are said to be the oldest Monkey Puzzle trees in the world. The Old English Garden is especially pleasant in spring and summer and the children will enjoy the mini-zoo with its monkeys, llamas and penguins, as well as farm animals such as pigs and goats. It's a pleasant end to a pleasant stroll, especially if the brass band is playing on the bandstand, or if a game of cricket is being played on the cliff top field. A brisk tune or the sound of leather on willow, and always the headland beckoning beyond. Let's go for another walk...
Or if that is a step too far you may like to have a closer look at the Church of St John the Evangelist. Built in Neo-Norman style in 1846-48 for Yarborough Greame. The interior has many fine Victorian features: pews, pulpit, font and carved granit reredos. There is also a monument to Thomas Greame which was brought from the ruined St Martin's Church at the deserted village of Wharram Percy.

Accessibility Information
This route:-

- contains some steep slopes.
- contains steps.
- contains surfaces which can be boggy in wet weather.