Surrounded by flat arable fields on the eastern edge of the Vale of York is the village of Bielby.
At first sight, it looks like the kind of place you either live in or pass through. And as Bielby isn’t really on the road to anywhere, it’s more of the former.
The drive, for what it’s worth, is a pleasant pootle from the A1079 along a flat, single track that ploughs through fields of wheat. During harvest expect to pull over several times to let laden tractors through.
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For anyone who calls the Pennines or the North York Moors their home, it’s not exactly spectacular but it is pretty. It’s like a bit of rural Netherlands has been plonked halfway between York and Hull. It’s flat as a spirit level and dominated by huge skies.
Bielby, like every other village in the East Riding, is of Viking origin. The name means ‘Beli’s farmstead’ in Old Norse. It comprises a main street with a couple of lanes radiating from it. The houses, a mixture of Georgian and 20th century, each have a name rather than a number.
Some of the stranger sounding names include Overyonder, Pang Hill, Arc-en-Ciel (‘rainbow’ in French) and Bielbyville. However, those with less interesting sounding names tend to be the more interesting buildings.
Amenities? Not many. There was a village shop but it shut up shop in the 1970s. There was a post office but it sold its last stamp about 15 years ago. There was a pub called the College Arms, but it called time permanently in 2012.
There is, however, a small village cafe but it was closed when YorkshireLive rocked up. The owner was convalescing from an operation, a sign on the door read. That in itself, was kind of quaint.
Bielby is one of the quietest villages we've visited. That's nice but is there actually anything for a visitor to see or do in Bielby? Yes, a couple of things.
There’s St Giles, a grade II* listed church with parts from the late 12th century. Across the main street is a Wesleyan Chapel from 1837 with a curious sundial above the front door.
Down Mill Lane is the Old Mill, a former flour mill which is now a private home. The setting beside Bielby Beck, complete with a diminutive weir, is positively idyllic. Adjoining the beck is a narrow spur of the Pocklington Canal which terminates in a sheltered pond full of lily pads. It's all very rural British and quite lovely.
OK, so you’re unlikely to detour to Bielby if you’re en route to The Deep or York Races. It is, however, an ideal sleepover base for tourists exploring the Vale of York, the city of York and the Yorkshire Wolds which are practically on the opposite side of the A1079.
That's why there's a disproportionate amount of holiday accommodation. Next door to the Old Mill is Mill Cottage, which based on the location (see above), would be our pick. There are wooden holiday lodges for rent on the edge of the village as well as holiday cottages to let closer to the centre.
Staying in one such let is Nick Carter, from Blyth, Northumberland. He’s sitting in the front garden of cutesy cottage reading a book about the Middle Ages.
“I’d never heard of it [Bielby] but it was the first thing we came across,” says Nick, 56.
First time lucky, then?
“It’s lovely,” Nick adds pointing to a red kite passing over.
Bielby has no shortage of birds of prey. Anywhere else the sight of a kite or kestrel would elicit a “look – it’s a kestrel”. Here, it’s more like an “oh, there’s another kite”.
For those wishing to stay longer (i.e. live there) Bielby is kind of dreamy. Most of the houses are large detached properties with expansive gardens backing onto open fields.
Ian and Judith Simpson live in one such property. Ian says: “It’s a very peaceful village.”
But it’s convivial too.
“As a village we tend to organise a lot of things ourselves. We’ll put up a tent and have parties and village shows,” says Ian, 69. "I organise a Christmas meal for anyone who wants it. We have a safari supper.”
A ‘safari supper’ is where homes in a community each make a different course. Villagers will have starters at one house, move on to another house for their mains and so on.
Stay over in Bielby and you might get a taste for it.
Explore Yorkshire focuses on Yorkshire's unique identity and destinations to celebrate God's Own County for what it is - the best place in the world. Whether you are looking for a day out at the Yorkshire seaside such as Whitby, Scarborough or Filey , a weekend away in cities like Leeds, Sheffield or York or fancy trying somewhere new, Explore Yorkshire is here to help.
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