Walk #243: Skeffling to Paull

P2002A220004 A monument beside Outstray Farm.		P2002A220005 The road leading from Outstray Farm to the Winestead Pumping Station

General Data

P2002A220015 The seawall.		P2002A220021 A view along the road near Sands Farm.

P2002A220029 St Andrew's Church, Paull.		P2002A220030 The old lighthouse in Paull.

Map of the walk

Notes

Another day, another walk. The Humber estuary is the first major estuary that I have had to cross, and it is going to take me a couple of days to walk around it. I do not mind this so much, however, as it looks as though the route will be quite straightforward and I also have the crossing of the Humber Bridge to look forwards to tomorrow. In reality I am quite glad that the long, grinding miles of beach walking that I have had to endure over the last few days are over, and for the next day or so I shall have a little more variety in the scenery.

Whilst I was walking along the seawall I got a phone call from Radio Humberside, who wanted to know when I was going to be in Hull. I explained that I was going to be a day later than I had told them last week, and the lady at the end of the phone told me that she would phone me tomorrow. Consequently I am going to have to plan tomorrow's walk so that I can get into Hull for around midday, as that looks like a likely time that they will need me for.

I quite enjoyed the walk along the seawall, even though the long grass made the walk slightly harder than it should have been. The path from Winestead Pumping Station to Stone Creek is not a right of way but a courtesy path; and it is one that I am thankful for because without it I would have had to walk much further. When I got to Stone Creek, however, I found the path that runs along the seawall to the northwest from there - which is a public footpath - was closed of. There were no other signs explaining why, or for what period the closure may be. I looked on my map, and the path was very long with no intermediate access points for miles. To make matters worse, to the south of the back is the estuary and to the north is a drainage channel. This meant that if I did get caught out I may have to walk all the way back again. I therefore reluctantly decided to take a longer route along roads; this would be harder on my feet and further away from a true coastal route, but I found it hard to justify any other choice. Later on in the walk near Thorngumbald Drain I came across the reason for the closure - the seawall was being strengthened (indeed, it looked as though a new wall was being constructed further inland). The works are costing three and a half million pounds, and are expected to take until the autumn of 2004 to complete, so it looks as though I made the correct decision in taking to the road.

Directions

This walk starts off at the car park beside the Humber estuary to the south of Skeffling. Leave the car park and join the sea banking. Turn right and follow a path along the top of the bank in a general westwards direction. After a couple of miles the path starts to divert inland and becomes rougher, although still easily discernable on the ground, as it turns slowly to head in a more north-westerly direction. As it does so the path leaves the sea banking, which is much flatter, and follows the base of the bank.

The path passes to the right of a couple of small wooded areas, which are marked as small lakes on the map, with good quality arable farmland on either side. Through the trees Outstray Farm can be seen quite nearby on the left. Continue on past the farm and then take a green path that passes to the left through the trees. This path curves round to the left and then immediately to the right before becoming a very muddy track that leads southwestwards to a bridge over the Patrington Channel.

Cross the bridge and join a tarmac road on the other side of the channel. Turn left down this road for a short distance towards Outstray Farm, and when the road turns to the right to enter the farm at a small stone monument continue straight on southeastwards down a stony track.

The track follows the western bank of the Patrington Channel until it reaches the large pumping station at Winestead. Here the track ends, and you have to join a path that follows the top of the banking, which heads in a roughly westerly direction. The path has a little jink to the right and then the left, on which there is another monument, which as a plaque commemorating the raising of the flood defences and another one which marks the spot as being exactly on 0 degrees longitude.

Continue on along the top of the sea bank for many miles, passing Hawkin's Point and a small wooded area before eventually reaching a bridge that carries the path over a tributary to Stone Creek. Cross the bridge and reach a small tarmac road. At the road turn left over another bridge that carries a muddy track over the main creek and follow it around to the left until it meets the sea bank once more.

When the track meets the sea bank it turns to the right and becomes surfaced once more. There is then a path that runs along the top of the sea bank for over six miles to Paull, but this path was closed when I walked this route, so I will describe another route below.

Follow the surfaced road as it heads north-westwards for a few miles, passing Sand Farm as it crosses the Cherry Cobb Sands. Shortly after New House Farm on the right the road curves around sharply to the right. At this point continue straight on down a tarmac driveway that leads to the farm at Little Humber. It should be noted that this is not a public right of way, and therefore walking along it is slightly naughty.

Walk along the driveway, which is surfaced throughout, to Little Humber and then join the public road that head northwards for a couple of kilometres from the farm. When this road ends at a T-junction turn left along another road that heads southwestwards for a little under a mile before turning to the right and crossing over the Thorngumbald Drain. The road continues on, passing Paull church and the road leading to Paull Battery, before finally entering the village of Paull. Follow the road as it curves around to the right and then take the second road to the left, which leads down to a very attractive disused lighthouse. Follow the road as it curves to the right along the riverfront and the post office is about a hundred yards ahead on the right.

Distances

This makes a total distance of 18.9 miles, with 154 feet of ascent and 154 feet of descent.

Accommodation

We stayed at the St Quinton caravan site, Sandalwood, Hull Road, Easington, Hull, HU12 0TE, tel. 01964 650273. The pitch cost us six pounds for the night, although as the owners were away we had to put the money through the letterbox. This was the third night that we have stayed at this campsite, as there is a lack of good campsites in the immediate area.

Disclaimer

Please note that I take no responsibility for anything that may happen when following these directions. If you intend to follow this route, then please use the relevant maps and check the route out before you go out. As always when walking, use common sense and you should be fine.

If you find any information on any of these routes that is inaccurate, or you wish to add anything, then please email me.

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And finally, enjoy your walking!

This walk was mentioned in the following routes:

My walk around the coastline of Britain

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