Built-up area in East Riding of Yorkshire, England
| Coordinates: | 53.866, -0.133 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | TA 22 42 |
| Dialling code: | 01964 (Hornsea) |
Great Cowden is a very small coastal hamlet on the Holderness coast in the East Riding of Yorkshire, perched above low-lying farmland and cliffs that fall away to the North Sea. Its setting is striking for the wide, exposed beaches and the dramatic coastal erosion that has reshaped the shoreline over the decades, making the shifting cliffs a defining geographic and historic feature of the area.
Historically the hamlet has been rooted in agriculture with links to small-scale fishing, and today it feels quietly remote with only a handful of dwellings and limited services; nearby villages such as Aldbrough and Mappleton provide the nearest facilities and visible sea‑defence works. The locality attracts walkers and birdwatchers who come for the stark shoreline, migrating seabirds and the sense of an ever-changing coast.