Discover Driffield

Driffield offers different scales for planning a trip: a short walk around local attractions and longer routes through the Yorkshire Wolds. There is also an open stretch of countryside within the town boundaries, historic buildings and the waterside at River Head. You can tailor your stay according to whether you would rather explore individual stops or focus on walking, cycling and waterways.

On foot: from the Town Trail to the Wolds

The Driffield Town Trail is a short circular walk. Its attractions include Fawcett Gardens, Cross Hill, Bridge House, Laundry Lane and River Head. The route brings together several stops in the town, offering a different scale from longer routes through the countryside. As details of the trail may change, it is worth checking the town’s latest information before setting out.

A much longer walking option is the Wold Rangers Way: this 44-mile circular route runs through the Yorkshire Wolds, along old green lanes and bridleways. Unlike the Town Trail, its defining feature is not a series of individual town highlights but an extended route with a circular layout. If you would like to include walking in your trip, you can take its length and route into account when planning.

The Driffield Millennium Green is a distinctive landscape feature. It is the last stretch of open countryside within the town boundaries and a starting point for several walks along the parish boundary. The Green is also a habitat for great crested newts and rare orchids; their presence may vary seasonally. Landscape, walking and nature observation come together here in a relatively small area, though this does not mean any particular species will be seen in every season.

Cycling and water at River Head

There is also a clearly described destination for a cycling itinerary: a route runs from Driffield to Bridlington along quiet country roads through the Yorkshire Wolds. Unlike the Wold Rangers Way, it is directed towards Bridlington and described as a cycling route. The Wold Rangers Way, by contrast, is a circular route through the Yorkshire Wolds.

Leisure boats are used and sailing takes place at River Head. There is a small, partly developed slipway for launching small, non-motorised watercraft. As facilities like these may change, it is advisable to check their current availability before use. River Head is also a stop on the Town Trail, linking it both to the town walk and to the waterside.

The Driffield Navigation is a separate feature: it is an 11-mile waterway that runs across the Holderness Plain to the market town of Driffield in East Riding of Yorkshire. Its length and route give it a different geographical scale from the local stops at River Head. If you are interested in waterways, you can distinguish between activities at River Head and the course of the Navigation.

Historic traces and market day

Moot Hill is a motte-and-bailey castle in fairly good condition. The term refers to a castle complex with a raised mound and an adjoining bailey. At River Head, there is also Mortimer’s Warehouse, a Grade II listed warehouse dating from the late 18th or early 19th century. The two sites offer different historical points of interest: at Moot Hill, the castle’s design and state of preservation; at the warehouse, its use as a building and its construction period.

All Saints Church is also part of the town’s history: the church dates from the 12th century. Together with the Town Trail stops, these buildings can add to an exploration that is not focused solely on routes and countryside. They offer different points of interest for a stay, from the medieval church to the later-built warehouse.

The weekly Thursday street market in the centre of Driffield has been a part of local life since 2001. The Driffield Thursday Market offers fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, pies and fresh bread; the selection of stalls may vary. If you are planning a visit to the market, it is best to check the latest information about opening times and what is on offer.

Driffield Showground hosts the annual Driffield Show. If the event is important to your trip planning, check the latest dates in advance. The market and the show therefore offer two different reasons to plan your stay around a particular day of the week or an event.

Planning your stay in Driffield

When looking for a holiday rental in Driffield, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on: will your stay be mainly about the short Town Trail, the market and historic buildings, or would you like to plan longer walking and cycling routes? The options described differ in activity, route format and destination.

Discover more destinations: Aldbrough, Skirpenbeck, Hull, Everingham, Stamford Bridge, Goole, Beverley, Howden.

For the wider travel overview: East Riding Of Yorkshire.