Danes Dyke South End

Jutting out miles into the North Sea, the headland has in the past been effectively cut off by the construction, in the Iron Age, of the erroneously named Danes Dyke, which encloses five square miles of the peninsula. The end of the Dyke is a deep ravine on the south side of the Headland, where it exits into Bridlington Bay. There are a number of nature trails in the Dyke which can be accessed easily from the car park off the main Bridlington to Flamborough Road.

Although visible across the entire headland, the Dyke is not such a prominent feature as it approaches the northern side and, seaward of Bempton Cliffs, is barely noticeable.

Danes Dyke, Nature Walk

Danes Dyke was declared a Local Nature Reserve in 2002 in recognition of its wildlife value and its importance to the local community. Local Nature Reserves aim to protect places of special interest and provide opportunities for research, education and informal enjoyment.

Address: Danes Dyke, Flamborough, East Yorkshire,
Telephone: 01482 395208

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Flamborough Lighthouse

Flamborough headland has always been a dangerous place for shipping.  There are many chalk reefs and outcrops obscured by the crashing waves.  The sea is also notorious for its strong tidal currents that are funneled past the head.

Old Lighthouse at Flamborough

The earliest recorded vessel to be wrecked off the headland was the La Katerine in 1348.  La Katerine was a small sailing boat and was stranded on the rock during a raging storm.  In 1674, Sir John Clayton was given permission by King Charles II to build three light towers around the country.  Dues were to be collected  from ships sailing around the headland .  The first light tower was built at Flamborough,  designed for a coal or brushwood fire to be lit at the top of its tower.  Unfortunately Clayton went bankrupt before the other two towers could be built and whether the light tower at Flamborough was ever used is still uncertain.  The tower remains the oldest surviving lighthouse in England and was restored in 1996, mainly due to the persistence of Councillor Norman Hall MBE, at a cost of £100,000.  The cost was met by the English Heritage and the East Yorkshire Borough Council.  Over 20 tonnes of chalf were used in the replacement of the North face and all the floors and roof were replaced.

New Lighthouse

The current working lighthouse was commissioned in 1806, when Trinity House was convinced that a lighthouse would help prevent the ever growing number of ship wrecks occurring.  Between 1770 and 1806, no less than 175 ships were wrecked on Flamborough's treacherous rocks.  The lighthouse was designed and built at a cost of £8,000.  A clockwork motor revolved an oil lamp which warned ships of the cliffs and rocks, visible for 20 miles out at sea.  In 1925 the tower was raised to its present height of 85 feet, 250 feet above the waves.  In 1992 a 1000 watt halogen bulb was installed.

Address: Flamborough Lighthouse, Lighthouse Road, Flamborough, YO15 1AR
Telephone: 01262 673769
Website: http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk

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