There's plenty to see & do on the Yorkshire Coast this autumn.
Not everyone enjoyed the heat of last summer and there are plenty of us who are now relishing the advent of the crisper mornings, the trees proudly displaying their multitude of colours, the calming, pastel hued skies and dare I say it…..Christmas!!
Whilst the beaches may be quieter, there’s still plenty to do in & around the #YorkshireCoast.
Across the road from Number One Seagate is Sewerby Hall & Gardens. The grounds are free to enter from now until the end of March – perfect for an afternoon stroll or for the more energetic, there’s the Sewerby Park Run held every Saturday morning. If relaxing to a few tunes is more your thing, the Orangery is the venue for live music each Sunday afternoon. October is the time of spooky goings on in the grounds, with potion making and a Halloween trail that won’t be for the faint hearted!! As Christmas approaches, there is the welcome return of Winter Woodland which runs from 9th to 23rd December. This hugely popular festive event creates a discovery trail of light & sound through the grounds – it’s one to book in advance.
I love a good #walk at this time of year. Whilst there’s always a chance you’ll be met by a bracing sea breeze, there are many sunny days during autumn & winter on the east coast which cast a soft light over the beaches & the rolling countryside.
From the doorstep of Number One Seagate, turn left along the coast path and discover the woods & beach of the Dane’s Dyke nature reserve. The path along the ancient dyke can be walked from the beach for around 5km to the north of the Flamborough headland, close to Bempton Cliffs.
Talking of Bempton Cliffs, the puffins may have long gone but this important RSPB reserve is on the bird flight path equivalent of the M1 and it plays host to many migratory birds this time of year.
One such visitor is the short-eared owl, which commonly hunts during daytime and can often be seen prowling the cliff tops. - they seem to love the attention of the visitors with their dramatic fly pasts! Stop off at the cafe after a walk for a warming soup, coffee or one of their lush cakes!
Have you ever heard of the Wold’s Rangers? No, neither had I until last year but their unique story offers a fascinating insight into social history. The Rangers were a group of nomadic travellers who, from around the time of the industrial revolution, walked the paths & lanes of the Yorkshire Wolds in search of agricultural work. These hardly souls resisted the pull of the booming industrial heartlands and sought a simple life, living and working on the land. The paths they walked have been recently mapped & restored and we can now tread in their footsteps. There are five routes ranging between 3 and 22 miles which are each named after some particularly interesting characters - or there is the option to walk the complete Wold’s Rangers Way which is a 44 mile circular route.
Whichever path you follow, we recommend you snuggle up in front of the log burner for a cosy evening of pure #hygge on your return to Number One Seagate.
So, let’s finally talk about the C word….CHRISTMAS!!
The splendour of Burton Agnes Hall will be the backdrop for a traditional Christmas which has one eye on sustainability. The rooms will have the fires lit and be adorned with flora & foliage from the grounds with lots of handmade decorations. Outside there’s a snowman trail to follow. Top it all off with one of their legendary wood-fired pizzas (not quite so traditional but delicious none the less).
Finally, I must give special mention to Castle Howard. For a truly majestic festive experience, look no further than Castle Howard’s take on a Fairytale Christmas – Into the Woods, which runs from 12th November to 2nd January. We were blown away by their 2021 Narnia event (I was lost for words wandering through the land of the Lion, Witch & the Wardrobe – which trust me, doesn’t happen very often) and 2022 welcomes back the same team to transform the grand rooms into a magical, fairytale wonderland.
