Hollym

Hotel choice in Hollym itself is essentially non-existent, as this is a tiny rural parish rather than a visitor town, but that is no obstacle to a comfortable stay in the area. Most visitors choose a hotel or guesthouse in nearby Withernsea, a short drive or even a pleasant cycle away, where seafront and town-centre options put the beach, lighthouse and Pier Towers within easy walking distance. Withernsea's accommodation tends towards traditional seaside guesthouses and small independent hotels rather than large chains, which suits the relaxed, old-fashioned character of the town.

For a wider range of hotels, including bigger chain options and more choice on food and facilities, Kingston upon Hull is around half an hour's drive away and makes a practical base for exploring the whole Holderness area, from Hollym and Patrington to Spurn Point, while still being close enough to the coast for day trips. Booking a hotel in either Withernsea or Hull gives you easy access to Hollym's quiet lanes and the wider Holderness countryside without sacrificing places to eat and things to do in the evening.

Wherever you choose to stay, this is a part of Yorkshire where the appeal lies in slowing down — flat, open countryside, big coastal skies and a scattering of villages with real history, from Hollym's own Domesday-era roots to Patrington's magnificent medieval church. A hotel base in Withernsea or Hull, combined with a car, is the easiest way to take it all in.

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.

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.

Hollym sits in the flat, open farmland of South East Holderness, a landscape of hedgerow-lined lanes and big skies that runs down to the North Sea coast near Withernsea. As with everywhere else in England, wild camping here is not legal without the explicit permission of the landowner, so anyone wanting to camp in or around Hollym needs to book a recognised campsite or caravan park, of which there are several along the nearby coast, particularly around Withernsea and further south towards Easington and Spurn Point.

The terrain is gentle and largely agricultural rather than dramatic, which makes it well suited to relaxed touring caravan and camping holidays rather than wild, remote pitches. Sites along this stretch of coast tend to be simple, family-run touring and static parks close to the beach, offering an easy base for exploring Withernsea's seafront, the bird reserves around Spurn Point, and villages like Patrington with its notable medieval church. Given the exposed, low-lying nature of the Holderness coast, pitches near the sea can be breezy, so a sturdy tent or a caravan with good weatherproofing is worth having outside the height of summer.

The best season for camping around Hollym runs from late spring through to early autumn, roughly May to September, when the weather is at its most settled and the long evenings make the most of the flat, wide-open coastal scenery. Spring and autumn also bring good birdwatching opportunities at Spurn Point during migration, which can make a camping trip timed around these seasons particularly rewarding for wildlife enthusiasts, even if the weather is a little less reliable.

For those who prefer more comfort than a tent allows, glamping options can be found scattered around the wider Holderness area, typically pods, static caravans or converted farm buildings on rural sites within a short drive of Hollym. These offer a good compromise for a coastal break in this part of East Yorkshire — proper beds and shelter from the North Sea wind, while still being close to the beaches, nature reserves and historic churches that make this quiet corner of Yorkshire worth the visit.