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Danes Dyke

Flamborough Headland contains a wealth of archaeological sites. By far the most visually impressive is Danes Dyke. A massive ditch and bank earthwork running for 4km from Catnab Cliff on the far north of the Headland to Danes Dyke beach on the south side.

The only recorded excavation of the area took place in October 1879 when Lieutenant Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers dug through a section of the bank close to where the Flamborough to Bempton road now cuts through the earthwork. During this excavation Pitt Rivers unearthed over 800 prehistoric flint artefacts, axe heads, arrowheads, scrapers and worked flint flakes. These were used to date the earthwork to the Neolithic or New Stone Age (c.4, 000 and 2,200 BC).

More recently following a survey by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, comparisons with post-Roman ('Dark Age') earth works of similar size have been made. It was pointed out that there are similarities between Danes Dyke and the Aberford Dykes, in the West Riding of Yorkshire which are considered to be of Dark Age date. The reported landing with sixty ships of the Anglian King Ida in the seventh century is seen by some to provide a historical context for Danes Dyke. The earthwork would have been created to secure a foothold on new territory before King Ida moved to conquer land beyond the Dyke.

Whilst the majority of the Dyke is privately owned, the woodlands to the south of the Bridlington road are owned and managed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The area was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2002. The wide variety of habitats from ash woodlands to ponds and sensitively managed farmland is home to many plants and animals. Spring sees the blossoming of carpets of primrose and celandine along the entrance road. Early summer heralds the arrival of songbirds from Africa such as the willow warbler. Autumn is a great time of year to discover a wide variety of Fungi such as the Jews ear which really is shaped like an ear! Winter is not only a good time to look for tracks and signs from small mammals such as the pygmy shrew it is also the time of year when lots of tree planting takes place to conserve and improve the habitats for this flora and fauna.

To discover the delights of Danes Dyke follow the entrance road into the woodlands 1-mile to the west of Flamborough village on the B1255, this leads to several car parks, a café, picnic area and woodland trails. East Riding of Yorkshire Council run a Countryside Events programme which is available along with any further site information on 01482 395323.
 
  Danes Dyke Poll

This website has been set up by Flamborough Community Environmental Action Group with funding through:

English Nature and The Shell Better Britain Campaign.