Cycling the Hull to Hornsea rail trail
The Deep in Hull
Fresh from finishing our West Highland Way adventure in May, we began looking for new and fun outdoor ideas to spark our imagination.
It had been a while since my bike had seen the light of day, so when Ride Holme suggested a cycling trip to the seaside, I was intrigued.
Trans Pennine Trail: Hull to Hornsea
The Hull to Hornsea Rail Trail is part of the Trans Pennine Trail and created by the cycling charity Sustrans.
It’s a flat 13 miles, most of which is traffic free. We decided to start from the big public car park outside The Deep in Hull and make it a true sea to sea adventure.
The first section of the trail from The Deep to where the traffic-free section starts was on busy roads. But there was always the option to push on pavements and use pedestrian crossings.
Thankfully, it wasn’t long before we were on quiet trails with only other cyclists and pedestrians to keep us company.
The trail winds its way through the suburbs of Hull, before opening out into the farmland and countryside of the Holderness Plain.
Route finding was easy - we just kept following the old railway line. The trail crosses several minor roads along the way, and we passed a few parking areas which would shorten the distance and avoid the traffic in Hull:
Swine village (off the A165)
On the A165 south of Skirlaugh
New Ellerby
Through the streets of Hull
Into the open countryside
Arriving in Hornsea
As we neared the popular seaside resort of Hornsea, we met a family with young children coming the other way. Their bikes were laden with buckets and spades, so I reckon they’d turned a day at the seaside into a longer adventure.
What a brilliant idea!
The trail goes almost to the sea front in Hornsea. There were a couple of busy road crossings as we came into the suburbs. But we were soon back on a traffic free trail which took us right to the old Hornsea railway station. From there, it was just a couple of minutes to the sea front.
The leisure centre on the sea front had a great cafe with outdoor seating. We enjoyed tea and cake, looking out over the sea, before retracing our route back to Hull.
TPT sign in Hornsea
Hornsea sea front
Sunset dinner at Hull marina
We moseyed our way back to Hull and arrived back at the van, ready for our evening meal. Jumping in the back, I changed out of my cycling kit, ever thankful of the privacy which comes with van ownership.
I’d expected us to stop somewhere on the way home, so was surprised when Jason suggested we wander over the bridge to the marina. My impression of Hull had been formed by the parts seen when driving through to the ferry port. Not so good!
But wow, what a difference…
Hull marina has had a huge investment of capital, leading to a superb regeneration. The harbour front was lined with bars and restaurants. It felt very continental and I loved it. We relaxed over dinner outside a little Italian restaurant, watching as the sun set.
Then, in true Italian style, we finished off the evening with la passeggiata - an evening stroll after our meal, gelato in hand.
All the details
Cycling trail: Hull to Hornsea Rail Trail
Distance: 13 miles each way
Gradient: Mostly flat
Terrain: Hard packed, much of it asphalt
Traffic: Most of the route is traffic-free. But there are road crossings and some cycling on public roads in Hull and Hornsea
Public toilets: Available during opening times at The Deep and Hornsea Leisure Centre
More information: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/hornsea-rail-trail-hull-to-hornsea
Starting out in Hull
Arriving in Hornsea
Finishing in Hull
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Outdoor-Girl is run by Jacquie Budd, an outdoor adventure and marketing content writer for brands that care about their impact on people and the planet.
