In Cottingham, local history, walks and golf offer different ways to shape a stay. Key themes include Baynard Castle, the parish church of St. Mary the Virgin and a market that has been held since the 17th century. Practical differences can help with planning: one walk is available as a free leaflet, while another has a stated length of 9 miles or 14 kilometres. Access to the platforms also depends on the direction of travel.

Baynard Castle and local history

Baynard Castle is a notable example of a magnate’s manor house. Its well-documented history includes visits by two English kings. Remains of the outer moat can be seen in the front gardens of Nos. 274–286 Hallgate. The property is privately owned and not open to the public.

The parish church of St. Mary the Virgin offers another historical point of interest: the present church building dates from the 14th century. The Old Manor House is likely a 16th-century timber-framed building with brick infill. Together, the dated church building and the house thought to date from the 16th century represent different aspects of Cottingham’s architectural history.

Market day and walks

The market is still held every Thursday on Market Green, where it has been held since the 17th century. If you plan your stay for a Thursday, you can make market day a regular part of your itinerary. Together with the historic buildings, this offers a distinct focus on Cottingham’s history and market life.

There are two different options for walks. The Historic Cottingham Walk is still available as a free leaflet for a historical walk. The Cottingham Circular is 9 miles or 14 kilometres long and passes through the centre of Cottingham and parts of Skidby and Willerby. The first option focuses on the historic walk; for the second, you can take the distance and described route into account when planning your day.

Travelling by train

At Cottingham station, platform 2 towards Scarborough has step-free access. Platform 1 towards Hull is reached via a footbridge with stairs. Crossing the tracks is not suitable for wheelchair users. If you need step-free access, it is therefore important to consider your direction of travel when planning: access to the two platforms differs.

Golf and historic gardens

Cottingham Parks Golf & Leisure Club has two golf courses, Cottingham Parks and Skidby Lakes, as well as a driving range. Golfers can therefore choose between the two courses and an additional practice facility. Thwaite Gardens were once part of the gardens of Thwaite Hall. The gardens of Thwaite Hall were designated a Grade 2 garden of special historic interest; this former connection adds a garden-related focus to the local history.

Tailor your stay to your interests

When looking for a hotel in Cottingham, you can first consider what you want to focus on during your stay: architectural history and the market, a historic walk, the stated route of the Cottingham Circular or golf. These themes offer different ways to plan your days, without requiring you to fit them all into the same itinerary.

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View the main travel overview: East Riding Of Yorkshire.