Hornsea

The North Sea crashes against clay cliffs here with relentless power, sculpting one of Britain's most dramatic coastlines. Hornsea sits right on this ever-changing edge, where the Yorkshire coast is literally disappearing into the waves at an alarming rate - making it both fascinating and slightly unnerving to visit.

This isn't your typical seaside resort. The town has a proper working feel to it, with the Leisure Boat Compound bustling with local fishing boats and pleasure craft. Beyond the immediate shoreline, Hornsea Burton reveals traces of ancient settlements, while All Saints church anchors the community with solid Yorkshire stone.

Walk north along the coast and you'll reach Mappleton Beach, where the coastal defences tell their own story about humanity's battle with the sea. The contrast is stark - one minute you're on Rolston Sands enjoying the wide beach, the next you're confronting serious coastal erosion that's claimed entire streets.

Inland, the landscape opens up beautifully. Euber Hill offers decent views across the Holderness Plain, while Burton Constable Holiday Park sits in parkland that once belonged to one of Yorkshire's grandest estates. The area feels genuinely rural once you're away from the coast - proper farming country with big skies.

Getting here is straightforward enough from Hull, about 15 miles southwest. The town makes a cracking base for exploring this fascinating stretch of coast, especially if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Sea View Country Park or Dacre Lakeside Park. You're close enough to the drama of the eroding coastline but far enough back to sleep soundly.