Filey, Brigg And Carr Naze

Filey is a small, unspoilt fishing town with a wide appeal and situated in a delightful part of the Yorkshire coast. The town is steeped in history and has earned its living from the sea for centuries. For many years this historic town by the sea with its beautiful gardens, golden sands and superb views which are second to none has attracted many visitors who return time after time. Filey Bay offers opportunities for sailing and sea angling.

There is a rich maritime history associated with the town, with its fishing cobles whose design dates back to the Viking period and a rich heritage particularly associated with maritime subjects that have attracted international recognition. The famous battle between the American  John Paul Jones and the Royal Navy took place within the Bay in 1779. Filey is the official southern end of the Cleveland Way.

Filey Brigg is an outcrop of hard Jurassic rock overlain by tills, extends nearly 800m almost due east and creates the abrupt change in coastal orientation at Filey Spa. The Brigg to the north and Flamborough Head to the south, form the natural breakwaters for Filey Bay.

The cliff area of the Brigg is Carr Naze. The cliffs on either side of Carr Naze are rapidly eroding and this makes the cliffs very dangerous, especially in wet conditions. The Brigg offers an interesting natural environment that supports a wide range of maritime life and is a favourite of families who indulge the rock pools. In the late 4th Century the Romans built a signal station on Carr Naze, just north of Filey Brigg, where the soldiers watched for Saxon raiders. The station was excavated in 1857 when base stones were found. Later on in 1993 The York Archaeological Trust as well as English Heritage carried out some extensive excavations.