The communities west of Hull are some of the most sought-after locations in Yorkshire. Kirk Ella and West Ella together make up one of the most affluent suburbs of the city, with villages such as South Cave and North Ferriby proving popular for their easy access to amenities and the countryside.
HOUSE PRICES
Latest figures available show that the average price paid for a detached house in this area is just over £263,000, a semi (the most sold property type) sells for an average of just over £220,000 and a terrace house, for just over £121,000.The average paid for a flat is around the £129,000 mark while the average price paid for any property in this HU10 postcode comes in at just over £206,000. Prices for detached homes in the South Cave area have remained fairly consistent, with the average price paid being just over £187,000, according to the latest statistics. Fewer people have been after semi-detached homes in the locality but they have been paying an average around £161,000, with terrace homes £152,000.The average price paid for a property in the HU15 postcode is a little over £187,000.
PROPERTIES
Some of the lovely village locations west of the city have historic links with Hull and its Humber industries, bringing prosperous merchants to live in the various manors and halls in the area.These large and covetable dwellings do come on to the market today, as do chocolate-box cottages, luxury apartment conversions and attractive, period homes in Georgian terraces. Aspirational individuals choosing to locate themselves and their families in this highly desirable part of the East Riding may find themselves in protected leafy streets with conservation area status, with many of the locations having their own preservation societies and heritage trails relating to the important architecture and historic features of the villages.
OPEN SPACES
Some of the East Riding's most idyllic scenery is centred around the villages west of Hull. Undulating dales, rolling chalk wolds and ancient woodlands help to make up this part of the county. The charming village of Welton, for example, sits on the Yorkshire Wolds Way national trail, one of the country's much vaunted long distance footpaths. Pretty streams and picturesque ponds can be found at the heart of many of the settlements west of the city.
AMENITIES
For leisure pursuits, this area is a hard one to beat. Perfect for walkers, keen to take advantage of the myriad marked footways, there is so much outdoor space to enjoy off the beaten track. For golfers, there are some amazing courses in the locality, including Hull Golf Club, at Kirk Ella and Brough Golf Club. Keen on sailing? You will find Welton Waters, a former clay pit, is home to Welton Sailing Club. Elloughton is a picturesque and historic spot, with a busy community hall that hosts a range of activities.Among lesser-known landmarks and sites of interest around the Welton area are Nut Wood and Wauldby Scrogs, a Woodland Trust-owned area of ancient woodland, locally renowned for its display of wild flowers. Many of the villages in this area boast their own sports teams, from football and cricket to flat-green bowling, and South Hunsley Sports Centre, at Melton, offers membership to take part in all kinds of fitness activities. There are also opportunities for treading the boards with local amateur dramatic societies – North Ferriby's has been performing a variety of plays, reviews and pantomimes to appreciative audiences for more than 65 years – and there are plenty of village organisations to join, including the WI, playing field associations, community choirs and Neighbourhood Watch groups.
SHOPS
Villages west of Hull enjoy their own local facilities, including post offices, newsagents and mini markets and some of the bigger settlements boast hair and beauty salons (Kirk Ella is home to celebrity hair stylist Mark Hill and his team, gift and craft shops and DIY stores. Wherever you live in this corner of the Riding, you are never far from one of the major supermarkets, where you can do your "big" shop or arrange for home delivery. The retail park at Willerby has a number of stores, including a Waitrose, an Aldi and a Lidl, for example.
SCHOOLS
Most of the villages in this part of the world benefit from having a primary school right on the doorstep. Elloughton Primary, rated "good" at its most recent Ofsted inspection, offers lots of extra curricular activities to inspire its pupils, while Swanland Primary has been rated "outstanding" since 2006. Hunsley Primary opened in Melton, near Brough, in September as East Yorkshire's first free school, offering parents an additional choice regarding where to send their child.It will cater for the increase in demand for primary school places in the local area covering Brough, Welton, Elloughton, South Cave, Swanland, North Ferriby, Hessle, Anlaby, Willerby and Kirk Ella.At senior level, there is South Hunsley School and Sixth Form Academy, at Melton, an "outstanding" institution, according to Ofsted, where students thrive in the learning environment.Serving the Haltemprice area is Wolfreton School and Sixth Form College, which has its lower school in Willerby and its upper school in Kirk Ella, and is preparing to move into new purpose-built facilities at the start of the next academic year.Sixty-seven per cent of its year 11 pupils achieved a "gold standard" five or more GCSEs at A* to C (including English and mathematics) this summer.Highly regarded public schooling is available at Hull Collegiate School, Anlaby. Nearby Hessle and Cottingham have high schools, too.
PUBS AND RESTAURANTS
Whether you are looking for a cosy country pub with open fires, fine dining in a top-ranking restaurant or barista-made coffee in a stylish café-bar, there is plenty of choice to be had here. Among the highlights for foodies is Medici's in North Ferriby, a venue for drinking, dining and socialising in luxurious surroundings.The Black Horse in Ellerker is known for its top quality cuisine in the charming surroundings of what were once neighbouring two-up, two-down cottages. The Triton Inn , Brantingham, is a great location for a special pub meal, while local legend has it that the Green Dragon , at Welton, was where highwayman Dick Turpin arrested.He was charged with horse theft from Thomas Creasy at Welton in 1739 and later tried and hanged in York. The Gallery, in a former ironmonger's in South Cave, operates as a café during the day and a restaurant in the evening.For everything from a traditional English afternoon tea to a fine dining experience, Drewton's at South Cave offers the lot – and a farm shop so you can buy and enjoy local produce prepared at home. Millers tea room and farm shop is another relaxing venue in Raywell, near Skidby, serving home-made food and selling fresh produce, hampers and gifts.
TRANSPORT
This part of the county is well served by local buses, with rural EYMS routes running throughout the area.It is an ideal region to be based in for commuters travelling east to Hull and west via the A63/M62 motorway – and also to Lincolnshire via the Humber Bridge.There are good rail links in the area, with stations at North Ferriby, Hessle and Cottingham, and at Brough, First Hull Trains runs several weekday and weekend services direct to London Kings Cross.Doncaster, Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester are all easily accessible.
