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Scenic walks in Hull & East Yorkshire for you to enjoy this summer

As the warmer weather creeps in no doubt many of us will be after ways to enjoy the great outdoors; fortunately, Hull and the surrounding area are both endowed with a plethora of scenic walks that are, typically, able to be enjoyed by walkers of all abilities. To that end, here are five of East Yorkshire’s most scenic walks which you may be able to enjoy this summer.

Beverley Westwood

Beverley and the adjoined Westwood has a de facto walking path which runs from the historic Beverley Minster, across the Westwood, and back towards the Minster, that is delightful and very easy to complete; making it a suitable choice for all. Walkers should look out for the Black Mill which dominates the landscape to the west of Beverley as well as the ubiquitous cattle and sheep grazing the Westwood’s pastures.

Interestingly, the Westwood was gifted to the townsfolk of Beverley in 1380 by the Lord of the Manor (an Anglo-Saxon title that referred to the landholder of an estate) and has remained common land since. Begin at the Beverley Minster and head out of town to the north via York Road; this will take you onto the Westwood which you should follow in its entirety back towards Beverley before returning into town, typically via Ellerker Road or Kedgate Road, and the Minster.

How to get there:

Beverley is serviced by the numbers 23, 25, and B1 buses, and regular Northern trains. Moreover, car owners can take several routes into Hull including the Hull Road, the A164, and the A1035. Once in Beverley, the Minster is hard to miss, being found at 38 Highgate.

The Trans Pennine Trail

The Trans Pennine Trail, an impressive coast-to-coast cycling and walking route between Southport and Hornsea is another serious option for walkers to consider this summer. Notably, there is a north-to-south route that runs from Leeds and Chesterfield. Accessible via Hull, Swine, New Ellerby, Whitedale, Great Hatfield, and Goxhill, the Trans Pennine Trail is readily available to all across East Yorkshire and affords luscious greenery and quaint East Yorkshire villages. Walkers should keep an eye out for Hornsea Mere — the largest freshwater lake in Yorkshire and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Britain — which straddles the west of the seaside town.

How to get there:

Walkers who wish to use the Trans Pennine Trail are best off consulting the official website which contains an extensive guide that clearly indicates the best access points to the trail.

Hornsea Mere

At this point it seems apt to mention, exclusively, the Hornsea Mere which presents a lovely scenic walk in its own right. The Mere is fantastic for bird-watching and fishing, making it interesting for those with a more acute interest in wildlife. Although, ‘everyday’ walkers should not neglect an opportunity to visit the Mere if they can do so because, as previously mentioned, it is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Britain and possesses the largest freshwater lake in England.

Being close to 6 miles in distance, the Hornsea Mere walk takes an average of two hours and twenty minutes to complete, making it a moderately challenging route. Additionally, walkers seeking refreshment can make use of the café that is available and, perhaps, traverse the close-by Trans Pennine Trail into Hornsea town centre. By virtue of being a circular loop around the Hornsea Mere lake, directions are rather pointless and it suffices to say that you can approach the walk at your discretion.

How to Get There:

The Hornsea Mere is accessible via the A1035 and B1242 as well as being serviced by the numbers 25, and 25 buses.

The Flamborough Head Circular

The Flamborough Head Circular provides a walk that is nothing short of spectacular. Taking in views of the North Sea and adjourned by the white chalk cliffs of the Yorkshire Heritage Coast, the Head is enhanced by two lighthouse towers (dating from 1669 and 1806) and the myriad nesting sites that thousands of seabirds call home, making it a place of geological significance. The Circular is 2.4 miles long, typically taking walkers one hour, and is relatively flat, making it fairly easy to complete.

Catch the trail at the lighthouse by the Flamborough Headland information board and head towards the coastline, follow this path southwards before heading inland when you reach the public footpath sign for Lighthouse Road. Here, you will need to head inland again along the edge of the field in the direction of the flight of wooden steps up to Lighthouse Road which is where you can cross the road and go back towards Flamborough car park using the roadside path.

How to Get There:

The Flamborough Head, being just outside of Bridlington, is best approached via the A165 and the A164; from there, it is a short journey via either Flamborough Road or the B1255. Additionally, it is possible to take the train to Bridlington and continue from there or the number 14 bus to Flamborough Head.

Hessle Foreshore

The Hessle Foreshore walk takes walkers along a section of the previously mentioned Trans Pennine Trail from Hull to Hessle, or vice-versa, presenting enviable views of the Humber Estuary (the second-largest coastal plain estuary on the east coast of Britain) and the awe-inspiring Humber Bridge.

Here, walkers negotiate the flattened river bank for 6 miles and have the option of returning by rail since there are train stations at either end of the route, so the walk is suitable for most abilities. Start at the Hessle Cliff car park near the train station and Humber Bridge; this is where you can pick up the trail which will take you past Victoria Pier and into the city centre as well as the end of the walk.

How to Get There:

The Hessle Cliff car park is easily reached by drivers via the A63 and A164. Alternatively, Hessle Train Station presents itself as a useful medium alongside the numbers 152, 52, and 57 buses.

Why choose walking this summer?

As this article has hopefully indicated, walking is a delightful way to enjoy the great outdoors this summer; however, walking is also an efficacious way to improve, or maintain, your personal fitness and general disposition. Just thirty minutes of walking every day provide the following health benefits: increased cardiovascular fitness; reduced risk of heart disease and stroke; stronger bones and improved balance; increased muscle strength and endurance; and reduced body fat.

Additionally, walking is a pleasurable form of physical activity, exposing people to the natural world which, in its own right, is a source of immeasurable enjoyment as well as opportunities to socialise with others by walking with friends or joining a walking club — or, if you are a dog person, walking with your dog.

To enjoy these benefits, it is advisable to obtain the correct clothing (particularly footwear) and warm-up and cool down properly to prevent injury. Moreover, maybe it is worth investing in a pedometer to measure the number of steps you take on your walks.

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