Brohes one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 71.43% of reviewers

This walk along the Humber Estuary offered a real variety of landscapes, which I enjoyed! It was my first time walking next to the Humber, and it was fascinating. However, the experience was definitely impacted by the weather. The heavy rain and muddy ground made it difficult to appreciate the surroundings at times.

An important note for anyone considering this route: be aware of the tide times. We were lucky to have a navigator who knew about the tides, and I highly recommend checking them before you set off.

Accessibility:
The route is easy to follow if the tide is low, as it's a single path along the riverbank. However, there are some challenges to consider:

Limited rest stops: The distance between places to sit can make the walk feel longer, especially on muddy stretches.
Ferriby Foreshore: This area is lovely for walking, but following heavy rain or storms, debris can make it unsuitable for less mobile walkers.
High Tide Diversion: If the tide is high, there's a significant detour via the Yorkshire Wolds Way through Long Plantation woodlands. This adds extra distance and time to the route and involves some road walking.
Highlights and Challenges:

Humber Bridge Views: Seeing the Humber Bridge in the distance was a great motivator! Walking under the bridge at the end of the route was exciting too.
First Few Miles: The initial leg is an easy walk but lacks rest stops or shelters.
Ferriby Foreshore at Low Tide: This section is beautiful at low tide, but requires walking on the beach and large stones to continue the path. This is not suitable for those with mobility limitations.
High Tide Route: The high tide route through the woods is poorly signposted at the end. We had to ask for directions and follow roads to rejoin the Riverside Walkway.
Humber Bridge Approach: Be mindful of cars coming in and out of the pub under the bridge, as the pedestrian walkway disappears there.
General Tips:

Wear sturdy boots with gaiters or wellington boots, especially if there's been recent rain.
Check the tide times online or via BBC Look North weather forecast.
Observe the water levels in the reed beds to get a sense of the tide.
Overall, this was an interesting route with more than just a riverside stroll! However, the weather conditions and tide times can significantly impact the difficulty and enjoyment of the walk. Be prepared and consider these factors before setting off.

The walk from Brough to Hessle was varied! I liked the variety and walking next to the Humber Estuary was a new one for me! The ground was very muddy and it was raining quite heavily, so it was hard to look around and take in the surroundings when one look up and your glasses are suddenly swimming. But the variety of plants were lovely! Thankfully we had a navigator in the group who knew about low and high tides, which was lucky and I think it’s definitely something to be aware of. I did spot on this walk there was a distance between places to sit, which meant that a long walk felt at times alot longer as there weren’t options for respite at different points. Seeing the Humber Bridge was a great source of motivation!.

This route involves essential planning relating to tide times.
This route is easy to navigate if you are able to follow the low-tide path, as it is just a single path following the river.
Ferriby Foreshore is a nice area to walk, although at this time of year (Spring) and following heavy storms and floods, a lot washed up debris made it unsuitable for less agile walkers.
If you are walking at high tide, you will have to make a major diversion and use the Yorkshire Wolds Way High Tide path, which is a very nice walk heading north away from the river through Long Plantation woodlands, but it adds time and distance to the route and brings you to a portion of road walking to get back to the river route at North Ferriby Riding for the Disabled stables.
After Ferriby, the walk is more accessible, approaching the Humber Bridge is scenic and gives motivation to reach the end! Walking under the bridge to finish the route is also quite exciting.

The first few miles are an easy walk along the Humber but with no spots to rest or options to shelter.

We walked it on a very wet day (mid March) and it was very muddy. Be mindful that the section along Ferriby is only possible at low tide due to private gardens being in the middle of the trail. If the tide is low, you will have to proceed via the beach and on the big stones in order to rejoin the path and continue to Hessle. This is not accessible at all for those with mobility issues or wheelchair users. There is a high tide route via the woods and back into Ferriby. It isn’t well signposted after the woods end and we had to ask local people for directions, follow Melton Road/High Street and turn right onto Church Road to rejoin via the Riverside Walkway. Once you do know where you are going it is fairly easy to rejoin but it adds a big loop to the whole walk.

Going under the Humber Bridge is a highlight although the pedestrian walkway disappears around the pub which is just under the bridge so watch out for the cars coming in and out.

Brohes One
This route encompasses over 4 millennia of history.
At Brough there is the BAE Aircraft factory which built the Sopwith Camel, the Blackburn series of aircraft including the Beverley Transport, Buccaneers, Harriers and the Hawk used by the Red Arrows. Latterly a Lockheed F35, as used on the Royal Navy’s latest aircraft carrier, was delivered to the factory by barge on the Humber for testing and assessment.
In Roman times, Brough was known as Petuaria and was the site of the Roman crossing for the Humber. There is an information board in the carpark near the start of the route.
Onwards to North Ferriby, a Bronze age boat was discovered in 1937 by two school boys. A full sized outline is in
the grass on the route along with an information board.
Near the Humber Bridge is the Humber Country Park, the site of a chalk quarry used for stone and whiting - crushed chalk- for painting and cement manufacture in Hull. The large Black mill was used to crush the chalk until the mid 20th Century.
PS. Its a real ‘step up’ near the Humber Bridge.

Brohes one
On leaving Brough Station heading south to the River Humber, turn eastwards and follow the bank along the flood defence wall past the Humber Enterprise Park. There are abundant birds, in the reeds and on the water. The grassy track is wide and easy walking. When you are bounded by water on both sides, the flooded clay pit is used by Trinity House School and Welton Sailing Club for water activities. As you approach the eastern side of Welton Waters you have a choice of routes. However if you have anything larger than a solo bike or lightweight pushchair which you are able to carry along with any small passengers, you should turn northwards and follow the Transpennine Trail (TPT) to rejoin the Slow Ways route east of North Ferriby. If you are going to follow the Slow Ways Humber bank route - it is best if you have stout boots with gaiters or ‘Wellies’. The path narrows and is very brambly. Then the path gets ‘very close’ to the foreshore.
The original RoW has been eroded away, so you make your way along the edge of the foreshore. If there is a high Spring tide, this route is not prudent. Use the TPT route. Tide times can be found online or BBC Look North weather at 1845 gives the High water times for Hull. Brough is about 20 minutes later. Local observation of the reed beds will also be indicate the state of the tide.
After about 300 metres, which is muddy in places. You can rejoin the bank top.
As you approach the west of North Ferriby the Slow Ways route appears to turn into the river. This is not wrong, unless the tide is in! In which case follow the sign posts for the High Tide Yorkshire Wolds Way. The Low Tide way goes down steps to the foreshore and continues eastwards along the beach. Once again the original RoW has been eroded away and the garden fences of the houses prevents entry to the bank top. Once you get to car park you can join the bank top. There are good views of Humber Bridge and across the Estuary to South Ferriby. The grassy path improves considerably and after the small pond, the TPT route rejoins the Slow Ways route. Its all ‘downhill’ now heading to the Humber Bridge alongside the railway line. At the Country Park Inn there are meals and refreshments available, by the Black Mill there are toilets. The route continues along the road by the flood defences and under the Humber Bridge. Then its up the hill to Hessle Station and Town. Overall an interesting route - a bit more than a pedestrian amble along a river bank!.

A really nice route along the Humber Estuary, however the path near North Ferriby is dependent on the tidal conditions - even when the tide is out, is can be very muddy. The only diversion from this is quite far in land (although through very pleasant woods for a section).

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