Hornsea Mere
Hornsea Mere
4
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The Largest freshwater lake in Yorkshire and listed as one of the Severn Natural Wonders of Britain. For boating and sightseeing of nature
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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51 within 5 kms
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22 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
387 reviews
Excellent
164
Very good
119
Average
58
Poor
19
Terrible
27
JayeCDale
Bradford6 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
The mere itself is beautiful but the cafe & boat house leave a lot to be desired. We are a family of 4 with two 6ft plus teenagers. I walked into the cafe to see what food they did and went to get my boys from the waters edge. When all 4 of us walked back in we were told they’d stopped serving food at 2.30…….it was 2.32. They clearly don’t need the money. The boys wanted to go on a rowing boat. I ask ‘can my boys go on a boat please?’ The man replied ‘No’ he seemed to be waiting for me to reply. What seemed like an eternity he eventually said it was too windy. The 30th of July was a breezy summers day nothing unusual about the wind. As if that wasn’t enough he pointed to my eldest child and said ‘how old is HE?’ I replied 17 and he excitedly said ‘an adult has to go on’ if it’s too windy mate his age question needn’t have been asked. What a rude unwelcoming man. Basically we had money to spend and didn’t spend any of it and left totally disappointed with the whole experience. Needless to say as owners of a holiday property with lots of friends in the area, we wont be going again.
Written August 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex H
Leeds, UK3 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
The setting is beautiful. The cafe serves freshly cooked food served by friendly and competent staff. This contrasts starkly with the boorish attitude of the chap who runs the boats. His customer service skills leave much to be desired, the content of his subsequent communications being innappropriate and abusive. The cost of the boats is £10 and you are rudely directed where you should not go. Not the best experience! It is a pity because the rest of the visit was really pleasant.
Written June 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wadey97
Northampton, UK142 contributions
Jul 2021 • Solo
Visited the area for a week and had planned on running around this lake as I love a waterside run but sadly this seemed impossible. I ended up parking in Hull Road and taking the footpath through the little gate to run part of it. I say “footpath” but it is no path. Just an uneven series of fields with the actual footpaths unclear and often away from the water so turned back after 2km. A full track all the way around would improve this so much. Wouldn’t return.
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gwyneth F
2 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Visited to see a memorial seat but closed at 4om. Went next day, the state of car park is disgraceful, more holes than surface. Not safe. Cafe only open Thursday to Sunday. Wheel chair disabled lady refused access to toilet when employee inside was cleaning in closed cafe. When challenged , F....off was the reply. Not returning to Hornsea Mere ever.
Written June 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pat L
Halifax, UK17 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
Arrived to find the gates locked, closed despite ads saying it was open.
Went on the Hull Rd and parked on Mere View Ave to walk at the southside on the public footpath. Didn't park outside anyone's house or in anyone's way, on the public highway not blocking anyone or near a driveway. Obviously the residents don't like it and we came back to find our car damaged so DON'T park on Mere View Avenue the residents are not friendly. We were there for 2 hrs not all day. A costly walk and a great shame as we have just invested heavily in the area.
Went on the Hull Rd and parked on Mere View Ave to walk at the southside on the public footpath. Didn't park outside anyone's house or in anyone's way, on the public highway not blocking anyone or near a driveway. Obviously the residents don't like it and we came back to find our car damaged so DON'T park on Mere View Avenue the residents are not friendly. We were there for 2 hrs not all day. A costly walk and a great shame as we have just invested heavily in the area.
Written September 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oli
West Yorkshire, UK1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Family
It was OK but very little to do/explore & staff were rude & unwelcoming. We got a takeaway coffee when we arrived, the coffee shop staff were OK. We then decided to go on the boat ride that was announced & asked if dogs were OK to go on to which the man’s response was, “Yes if it doesn’t bark all the way round like it has done for the last 20 minutes or the boat will just turn round & bring you back”. We’d only just arrived & our dog had barked for a few seconds just before we’d asked, it’s what dogs do occasionally. We decided with an attitude like that it wasn’t somewhere we wanted to spend our money so we left. I certainly wouldn’t go out of your way to visit as it’s nothing special tbh I wouldn’t recommend going at all.
Written August 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miranda A
Sheffield, UK10 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
This place sounded much better online than the reality. To say it's described as a centre for birdwatching there were people in the car park feeding bread to the birds which is no good for them nutritionally. Not everyone knows this but there were no signs up to let people know. They could sell proper bird food to better preserve the bird population.
No clear signage about anything other than one by the boat shed saying no boating due to high winds, it was a breezy day but definitely not high winds. This could be a great visitors centre but just seemed a bit run down and tired.
No clear signage about anything other than one by the boat shed saying no boating due to high winds, it was a breezy day but definitely not high winds. This could be a great visitors centre but just seemed a bit run down and tired.
Written August 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl M
Pontefract, UK31 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
We walked here on a lovely sunny day so we could sit outside and enjoy the scenery. Nice staff in the cafe, they sell beer and wine as well as coffee and tea. There are rowing boats to take out and z putting green.
Written August 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carole W
Stockton-on-Tees, UK73 contributions
Aug 2020
Walked here from town. Had the dogs and it was a bit blowy so didn't have a go on the rowing boats that you can hire. What a lovely tranquil space. Grabbed a lovely latte and sat on one of the many benches overlooking the Mere. I could stay here for hours just watching the birds. A lovely oasis of calm
Written August 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Val S
Kingston-upon-Hull, UK7 contributions
Apr 2020
I have always loved Hornsea Mere. Visiting my younger days and now taking our Grandsons to feed the ducts, swans, etc. It is a very lovely peaceful place when there aren't too many people about but I love it anyway. We have watched others boating but not done it ourselves. It's one of those special places with not too many activities but enjoyable to just sit and watch the world go by. The only thing that really spoils it is the dog business. People not picking up the mess and leaving others to stand in it. Not fair to them.
Written October 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I’d like to take our inflatable (good quality) kayak for a paddle. Is this allowed? Is there a fee?
No one has answered this yet.
Written August 11, 2021
Shell
Bradford, United Kingdom
Are the boats available to hire still at the moment?
Written August 17, 2020
Hiya. Are we able to launch our own inflatable canoe on the mere please. Is their a launch fee? Thanks
Written July 30, 2020
You're not allowed to bring your own to the mere
Written February 17, 2023
I go quite often and have never seen anyone swimming.and wouldn't think it's allowed.
Written August 7, 2019
Dont think so - just small rowing boats. And there's a sailing club that is open to anyone interested in joining
Written August 5, 2019
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