East Yorkshire, or the East Riding of Yorkshire as it’s otherwise known, is most famous for the undulating hills of the Yorkshire Wolds, its beaches, the seaside town of Bridlington and its city, Kingston Upon Hull. But, much like its neighbours North & West Yorkshire, it has some of the most beautiful villages surrounded by the rolling chalk hills of the Yorkshire Wolds. North Yorkshire, with its two National Parks, gets the most tourism, but the lesser-known part of God’s Own Country is just as beautiful. To showcase it, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best villages in East Yorkshire to visit.
You know a good village by its pubs and community spirit, and these definitely have a few decent watering holes to frequent. East Yorkshire is known for its farming, and its fishing with Bridlington famously known for crabs and lobster. Highlights of part of Yorkshire include its historic town of Beverley along with the beautiful coastline, but the villages in East Yorkshire are great little spots to visit as well.
We’d highly recommend taking on the Yorkshire Wolds Way if you’re looking to head to Yorkshire, which passes by some of the best villages East Yorkshire has to offer.
So, what are some of the best villages in East Yorkshire?
1. South Cave
Known for its happening high street – especially for a village – South Cave offers up all the charming elements of a village and offers a unique blend of history, lovely walks and more making it a picturesque destination. You can get out onto the Yorkshire Wolds and enjoy a peaceful walk that is fine for all abilities.
Once you’ve enjoyed all that the surrounding countryside has to offer, you can head back to the village and enjoy a nice meal and some choice ales from the local pub the Fox & Coney, which has a fantastic menu and great local ales to choose from. The pub has all the trappings of a good ol’ boozer with a lovely open fire to keep you mesmerised whilst enjoying a rewarding beer.
2. Sledmere
Situated close to the great old market town of Driffield, the Capital of the Wolds makes it a great place to start. It can’t be a bad place to visit if it inspired one of the world’s greatest painters David Hockney to sit down and paint its beautiful war mural – can it? You can take in the splendour of Sledmere House also. Used for weddings, the house has the most beautiful grounds to wander around. We’d say it is well worth a visit. Another village located in the Yorkshire Wolds, it’s also home to some fantastic local walks as well as a quaint whitewashed pub, The Triton Inn for a post-walk drink.
3. Goodmanham
Just outside of Market Weighton, Goodmanham is another village along the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds Way. The village is built on a south-facing slope of the Yorkshire Wolds – which may help with its pull. After all, we all love a bit of sunshine. It has a delightful traditional country pub, which has a museum that holds vintage motorcycles, pots and pans, pub interiors and more. The village has its origins dating back to the Iron Age and is a great example of the rural charm of East Yorkshire.
4. Kilnwick
Found in the centre of the Yorkshire Wolds, just 5 miles from Driffield, Kilnwick is surrounded by natural beauty. The village also has a wonderful pond that is ripe with lush greenery to be enjoyed – especially in the summer months. The 18th-century park, Kilnwick Percy is a picturesque place to visit with a mature woodland, ornamental water, church and deserted village site. The site is now mainly in the ownership of the Madhyamaka Buddhist Centre.
5. Huggate
One of our favourite villages along the Yorkshire Wolds Way. You can enjoy a pint in the Wolds Inn village pub, and take a walk around the pretty houses taking in the wonderful views. Huggate also has one of the deepest wells in England. It has some amazing chalk hills to walk around before heading back to the pub. You can enjoy a circular walk on one of the most beautiful parts of the Yorkshire Wolds from the East Yorkshire village as well, the Huggate circular is a local favourite – especially from the view of the poetry bench that looks out over the dry valleys also called dales.
6. Millington
Millington is a tiny village on the outskirts of Driffield and Pocklington along the Wolds Way. Its beautiful chalk-coloured houses are great to wander amongst before visiting its traditional pub, The Gait, which is said to be the home of sticky toffee pudding. You can also stay at their luxury lodges with hot tubs with views over the Wolds. Nearby are two fantastic walks, Millington Woods and Millington Pastures, both have their own charm and are the perfect spots to earn your sticky toffee. An amazing and quaint place, it’s one of the villages in East Yorkshire you wouldn’t want to miss out on.
7. Bishop Burton
Another village in the East Riding of Yorkshire with those white-washed houses that are synonymous with the chalky hills of the Wolds. Their beautiful duck pond is a beautiful place to stop and take in the idyllic village views. There is a beautiful pub and restaurant The Altisidora, that is well worth a visit for anyone checking out this wonderful village in East Yorkshire. On its doorstep is the popular market town of Beverley the hub of East Yorkshire. It has the fantastic Beverley Westwood, which is scattered in buttercups and roaming cows in the summer months.
8. Warter
Another unspoilt village sat on the famous Wolds Way walk, the picturesque village of Warter has beautiful thatches and cottages and is the most idyllic little village you’ll find. It’s also a stone’s throw away from where a famous painter, known for his East Yorkshire landscapes painted ‘Bigger Trees near Warter’. You can park up in the village and head out into the local Wolds walks and when you return, it’s only a short drive to the market town of Pocklington, which has popular ale houses, bakeries and more. We recommend going to the BrewYork pub for ales and the East Asian street food offered by Yuzu.
9. Cherry Burton
This little gem is found on the outskirts of Beverley, on the eastern edge of the Yorkshire Wolds – and is well worth a visit. It is filled with quaint traditional houses that give the village a wholesome old-fashioned feel. The Bay Horse at Cherry Burton serves up some delicious homemade hearty grub that goes perfectly with a nice local ale of Timothy Taylors after a wander through the Wolds.
10. South Dalton
Home to the Michelin Star restaurant Pipe and Glass run by James and Kate Mackenzie, South Dalton can be found on the outskirts of Beverley, and is well worth a visit just for the former mention. The picture postcard village is set within the rolling countryside of East Yorkshire/ The Dalton Estate is a beautiful place for a short stroll if you’re looking to work off your meal after visiting the famous restaurant.
Read More: 8 Of The Most Beautiful Nature Walks In East Yorkshire
Feature Image: Photo © Chris Morgan (cc-by-sa/2.0)
