Attractions and Heritage, Filey

Filey Brigg

Discover the dynamic and ever changing face of Filey Brigg, Filey Brigg is a site of Special Scientific Interest because of its geological importance and is designated as a local Nature Reserve.

Filey Brigg is a long narrow peninsula situated about a mile north of Filey, North Yorkshire – this dominated the view from the beach and can be walked to from The Bay!

ts steep cliffs are 20 metres high and consist of a variety of material, from pure sandstone to pure limestone. The landward end of the peninsula of Filey Brigg is known as Carr Naze, whilst the long neck of rock at the seaward end is called the Brigg. In the early 1970s the fields on top of the Brigg were turned into Filey Brigg Country Park.

The biology and geology of Filey Brigg place it among Sites of Special Scientific Interest in North Yorkshire.

While exploring the Brigg, you’ll come across a stone sculpture. This sculpture marks the end of two National Trails. The Cleveland Way from Helmsley to Filey and the Yorkshire Wolds Way from Hessle (near Hull) to Filey. Along with the names of places along each trail, the sculpture also features a carving of the National Trail acorn.

In 1857, a local antiquarian, Dr. Cortis (MD), discovered a Roman signal station. During a lecture to Filey’s antiquarians, he presented various findings by “Wilson,” a painter from Filey who had unearthed significant amounts of Roman pottery, bones, and charred wood in the Carr Naze region on the northern side of Filey Bay.

After the initial discovery of the Roman signal station, further excavations were carried out, leading to the unearthing of five large stones that were believed to be either altars or bases of pillars. One of these stones was intricately carved with a dog pursuing a stag on one. Later investigations conducted in 1920 suggested that these stones were the foundations of a watchtower. Unfortunately, no other remains can be seen today due to cliff erosion. It is believed that the signal station was built in the late 4th century and was either abandoned around 400 A.D. The five stones are currently on display in the Filey Crescent Gardens.