Skipsea

Skipsea itself has no hotels to speak of, which is part of its charm as a low-key village rather than a resort. What accommodation there is tends to be self-catering cottages and holiday lets dotted around the village, well suited to a quiet week by the beach rather than a city-style hotel stay. Anyone set on a traditional hotel or guesthouse is better off looking a short drive along the coast, where both Bridlington and Hornsea offer a proper range of options.

Bridlington, around ten miles north, is the area's main resort town and has the widest choice: seafront hotels overlooking the harbour and North or South Bay, along with independent guesthouses and B&Bs within walking distance of the beach, shops and amusements. Hornsea, about five miles south, is smaller and quieter but still has a handful of hotels and guesthouses close to its own beach and to Hornsea Mere, making it a good base for exploring this stretch of the Holderness coast at a gentler pace.

Wherever you base yourself, Skipsea, Hornsea and Bridlington are close enough together that a hotel in either town still puts Skipsea Castle and the beach within easy reach for a day trip, so it is worth weighing up whether you would rather stay somewhere with more facilities on the doorstep or keep things simple and quiet in the village itself.

Skipsea is a small village, so its own attractions are modest and best treated as one part of a wider day exploring Holderness, but there is enough here to fill a relaxed day or two.

• Skipsea Castle — An English Heritage site and Scheduled Monument, this grassy motte and bailey was built between 1071 and 1086. The mound itself is now known to be a reused Iron Age monument, possibly the largest of its kind in Britain, later adapted by the Normans and surrounded by an artificial lake, Skipsea Mere, which had its own harbour linked to the sea. Entry is free and the climb to the top gives wide views over the flat Holderness landscape.
• Skipsea beach — A long, sandy, largely undeveloped beach reached down a track from the village, popular for dog walking, beachcombing and watching the cliffs and coastal defences at close quarters. There are no amenities on the beach itself, so it stays quiet even in summer.
• Skipsea Brough — The neighbouring hamlet just south of Skipsea marks the site of the fortified medieval borough created by Count William le Gros in the 12th century around the castle, with houses and shops that once fronted a toll road; little remains above ground but it is an easy stroll from the castle earthworks.
• Skirlington Sunday Market — A large car boot sale and market held on the Skirlington leisure park a short drive south of Skipsea, one of the bigger regular markets in the area and a popular half-day out for visitors staying locally.
• Hornsea — About five miles south along the coast, Hornsea is a proper seaside town with a sandy beach, Hornsea Mere (Yorkshire's largest natural lake, good for birdwatching and boat trips), and a small high street of shops and cafes.
• Bridlington — Roughly ten miles north, Bridlington is the area's main seaside resort, with a working harbour, amusements, a long promenade and easy access on to Flamborough Head and its chalk cliffs and seabird colonies.

Skipsea keeps things simple: the village pub, The Board Inn, is the main hub for food and a drink, and there is a small parade of shops including a general store and, in season, an ice cream parlour. For a wider choice of pubs, cafes and restaurants, most visitors head to Hornsea or Bridlington, both within easy driving distance and well stocked with places to eat by the sea.

Skipsea is caravan and camping country rather than wild camping territory, and that distinction matters here: wild camping without the landowner's permission is illegal in England, so anyone wanting to sleep out under the stars on this coast needs to book into one of the established sites rather than pitch up on the beach or dunes. Fortunately there is no shortage of choice, with several holiday parks around the village offering everything from static caravans to touring and tent pitches, and increasingly glamping options such as pods and safari tents for those who want the outdoor feel without bringing their own kit.

The terrain here is flat, open Holderness farmland running down to low clay cliffs and a long sandy beach, very different from the rugged camping country further north in the Dales or on the Moors. That flatness makes for easy, breezy pitches with big skies, but it comes with a serious caveat: this is officially the fastest-eroding coastline in Europe, and the cliffs above Skipsea beach are receding by roughly two metres a year in places. Local caravan parks have had to move pitches back from the cliff edge repeatedly, and it is worth checking directly with any site about its current setback from the cliff and its erosion policy before booking, particularly for touring pitches closest to the sea.

The best months to camp here are from late spring through to early autumn, when the weather is at its most reliable and the long evenings make the most of the coastal setting; this exposed stretch of coast can feel bleak and blustery outside the summer season. Most sites are geared towards the traditional British caravan-park experience, with clubhouses, entertainment and family-friendly facilities alongside the pitches, so it suits those who want a sociable, well-equipped base for beach days as much as it suits quieter, simpler camping. Whichever type of pitch you choose, book ahead for peak summer weekends, when the whole Holderness coast, from Bridlington down through Skipsea and Hornsea, gets busy with staycationers.