Hollym

Hollym is a small village in South East Holderness, part of the flat, farmed landscape that runs out to the North Sea coast in the East Riding of Yorkshire. It sits about two miles south of the seaside town of Withernsea and a similar distance north-east of Patrington, reached along quiet lanes lined with hedgerows and open arable fields. The village is old enough to appear in the Domesday Book under the name Holam, and its name is thought to mean a homestead near a hollow.

There is not much to Hollym itself beyond a scatter of farmhouses, cottages and the parish church, but that is part of its appeal for anyone wanting a genuinely rural, unhurried base. The real draw of the area is what surrounds it: Withernsea's beach and lighthouse a short drive or cycle away, the wide skies and bird-rich wetlands of the Holderness coast, and the long straight roads that make this one of the easiest parts of Yorkshire to explore slowly, by bike or on foot.

Top things to do in Hollym

Hollym is a village rather than a visitor destination in its own right, so most days out from here mean a short trip into Withernsea or along the Holderness coast. Here is a realistic list of what is actually worth doing nearby.

• St Nicholas Church, Hollym — the village's own Grade II listed parish church, rebuilt in 1814 on an older site, with a simple, unadorned interior typical of Holderness churches.
• Withernsea Lighthouse — a 127ft whitewashed lighthouse in the middle of the town, no longer operational but open as a small museum with RNLI and coastguard exhibits; climb the 144 steps for views that stretch inland towards the Humber on a clear day.
• Withernsea beach and seafront — a Blue Flag sand and shingle beach with the twin castellated Pier Towers, the last remnants of the Victorian pier, still standing at its entrance.
• RAF Holmpton — a former Cold War nuclear bunker a few miles down the coast near Easington, now run as a visitor attraction with guided tours through the underground command rooms.
• Patrington and St Patrick's Church — the neighbouring village is home to one of the finest medieval parish churches in England, often nicknamed the "Queen of Holderness" for its 14th-century spire and architecture.
• Spurn Point — the narrow, shifting spit of sand and shingle at the very tip of the Holderness peninsula, a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve important for migrating birds and seals.
• Hull — the East Riding's main city is around 30 minutes away by car, with The Deep aquarium, a historic Old Town and marina, and a good spread of museums and restaurants for a bigger day out.

Getting to Hollym

Hollym lies just off the B1445, the main road between Hedon and Withernsea, making it an easy drive from Hull (around 30 minutes) via the A1033 and B1445. From further afield, the M62 and A63 bring you into Hull, from where the B1445 runs east through Patrington towards the coast. There is no railway station in Hollym itself — the village's own halt, Hollym Gate, closed in 1964 — so the nearest mainline station is Hull Paragon, from where local buses run out to Withernsea and the surrounding villages, though a car is by far the easiest way to get around this rural stretch of Holderness.

Best time to visit Hollym

Summer (June to August) brings the warmest weather and the best conditions for the beach at Withernsea and walking out towards Spurn Point, along with the longest daylight for exploring the surrounding lanes by bike. Spring and autumn are quieter and often excellent for birdwatching, particularly at Spurn during the migration seasons. Winter on this exposed stretch of coast can be bracing, with strong North Sea winds, but it is also when the area is at its most peaceful, and storm-watching from Withernsea seafront has its own appeal for a hardier visitor.

Where to stay in Hollym

Accommodation in Hollym itself is limited to the occasional farmhouse bed and breakfast or holiday cottage, in keeping with its size. Most visitors base themselves in nearby Withernsea, which has a wider choice of guesthouses, static caravan parks and self-catering cottages close to the seafront, or look further afield to Hull for hotel options. The appeal of staying in or around Hollym is the quiet, rural setting, with the coast, Spurn Point and Hull all within easy reach by car.

Food and drink in Hollym

Hollym does not have a working pub or restaurant of its own today, though historic records show it once had The Plough among its trades. For food and drink, Withernsea is the nearest option, with a handful of chip shops, cafes and pubs around the town centre and seafront serving straightforward seaside fare. Patrington also has village pubs worth a stop when visiting St Patrick's Church. For a wider choice of restaurants, cafes and bars, Hull's Old Town and marina area is the best option within reasonable driving distance.