Spurn Head

Spurn Head, East Riding

Spurn Head

Where is it – England, Yorkshire and the Humber

Who looks after it –  Charity 

What is it –  Coastal, Free access, Walk, Wildlife 

When is it from – All or N/A

Spurn Head is a narrow, exposed, low spit of clay, sand and shingle, formed from the process of longshore drift, at the southern end of East Yorkshire’s Holderness Coast. To its east is the North Sea, to its west, the Humber Estuary. It is a nature reserve, renowned for wildlife – particularly migrating birds – and a constantly evolving, often dramatic, environment with a history of settlements lost to coastal erosion. It has a military history too and was fortified during the First and Second World Wars. Remains of these fortifications can still be seen. At the end of the spit is the RNLI’s only permanently manned lifeboat station and a Victorian lighthouse. The latter is open at various times and offers fabulous views. Spurn Head has been owned by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust since 1959. It is accessible on foot at low tide, or by the YWT’s Unimog. Part of the head floods at high tide. A visit to the YWT’s visitor centre is recommended before you set off and it is essential that you check the tide times before crossing the area of washover.

 


Address

Kilnsea, Hull, East Riding HU12 0UH 

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