Walking the Humber Bridge: Everything You Need to Know
At 2.2km, it's one of the great walks in the north of England. Here's how to do it properly.
The Humber Bridge opened in 1981 and held the record for the world's longest single-span suspension bridge for sixteen years. Today it's open to pedestrians and cyclists from dawn to dusk, free of charge, and the walk across and back is one of the most underrated two hours you can spend in the area.
The pedestrian path is on the west side of the bridge — wide, well-surfaced and sheltered enough from traffic to feel calm even on a busy day. From the Hessle side, you walk out over the north bank of the estuary, the city of Hull visible to your right, open water stretching south. The central span is 1,410 metres and the towers rise 155 metres above the water; standing at mid-span with the wind coming off the Humber, it is genuinely vertiginous.
The best time to walk is late afternoon on a clear day, when the light drops low over the water and the bridge cables catch it at angles that make it look like something from a photograph rather than an engineering project. Sunset from the southern tower anchorage, looking back at the north bank, is one of those things that residents take for granted and visitors remember for years.
Practical notes: the car park on the Hessle side has good facilities and the Country Park around the base is worth the additional half-hour. Allow ninety minutes for the crossing and back if you're walking at a normal pace. The bridge is occasionally closed in high winds; check before you go.