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Take a look at a map of Britain. Run your finger up the East Coast from the "rump" of England, East Anglia, to the gaping grimace which makes up the mouth of the Humber. Keep going a little further and you will come to a small sticky-out bit. And that my friends, is pretty much where I now live.
The sticky-out bit is called Flamborough Head and forms a prominent focal point to this part of the coast. The lowlands of the Holderness Coast and Bridlington Bay give way to dramatic cliffs which form the very Eastern End of the Yorkshire Wolds.
Looking Northwards towards Filey and Scarborough
Flamborough itself is a fairly remote village surrounded by the sea on 3 sides. It always appears to be rainy and windswept whenever we make our way up there. There are a few pubs, plenty of caravan parks, one large glazed kebab shop (which looks very out of place) and an old petrol station still displaying the price of petrol when it was still in double figures.
You can pretty much go only three ways at Flamborough. The South Landing, which is a beach facing out towards Brid itself. The Lighthouse, which marks the very Eastern Point of the land; Or The North Landing which gives spectacular views up the coast to Filey, Scarborough and as far as Whitby.
So far we've only explored the Lighthouse and The North Landing. Oh...and I can recommend The North Star, which, for a fairly unassuming pub, does some really good food. Much better than your usual pub fare.
Cave at North Landing
I don't know what it is about the Lighthouse but I find it really cool living near one. I guess it is the fact that Lighthouses are there to reassure and give a sense of safety. Whenever I drive back to Bridlington from inland, I always look out for the light as I head over the hills. It means I'm not too far away. Not sure I'd like to have it illuminating my windows all night long though! Anyway, it's just a cool hang out...if you're 32 years old and have nothing better to do.
Flamborough was actually the scene of one of only a few major actions in the American War of Independence to take place in Europe. Captain John-Paul Jones, a disaffected Scotsman who had joined the Revolutionary Navy, took on a couple of British Ships in what was really a very small skirmish, but at the time it was very shocking that an American Ship (albeit with help from the French) could even think to take the fight to British waters!
Cliff top view towards Scarborough
If you venture to the North Landing, do look out for the curious little housing estate perched on the cliff top. You will find a bizarre collection of sayings, jokes and ramblings all written on bits of pieces of plywood. Apparently, they are all written and placed there by a local and it's all in aid of charity. I absolutely loved the messages of support from some quite unusual "celebs"!
Just one word of warning if you go out exploring at Flamborough: The tide comes in very quickly and those unwary souls who go out scrabbling over the rocks can very easily get cut off by the rising water. We found this out to our cost one winter day, when we ended up having to virtually jump back to land!
