The Yorkshire ‘X-Files’ – Our Guide
If you drive, walk or cycle across the stunning North York Moors National Park, you will see a large pyramid (officially a tetrahedron) dominating the skyline.
This is part of RAF Fylingdales, a radar station which began operating in 1963 at the height of the Cold War.
This globally important base is located between Whitby and Pickering.
Why not book your stay with us today as we are located halfway between these two locations?
Secret Location
Fylingdales is mysterious, even though its operations are perhaps more understandable today.
From the 1960s onwards, Fylingdales was part of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System.
The site helped detect enemy missiles during a period when war and nuclear war were very real threats.
Connected stations built during the 1960s across the globe included Thule in Greenland and Clear in Alaska.
Fylingdales was the third one, based here in the United Kingdom.
Golf Balls
Some of us will recall that before the pyramid, which opened in 1992, there were the iconic triplet ‘golf balls’
These were officially called ‘randomes’ and were visible from miles around.
These golf balls each had powerful radars inside.
RAF Fylingdales still has a very important role to play and is now a Solid Phased Array Radar System, part of the UK Space Command.
Around 300 people work at the site, including Ministry of Defence staff.
Personnel often conduct 10,000 to 12,000 tracks of objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) each day.
Did you know an object nearly 3,000 miles into space can be detected from Fylingdales?
As modern tech companies including SpaceX continues to deploy thousands of satellites into LEO, RAF Fylingdales’ workload increases.
Other Sites Nearby
Nearby sites also include GCHQ Irton Moor and RRH Staxton Wold.
Staxton Wold now has a golf ball covering the radar which is clearly visible atop the Yorkshire Wolds.
Until fairly recently the radar was open to the elements, turning around 24 hours a day.
Plans are now in place for interpretation board to be set up at Sandybed Lane in Scarborough, which was a former site for GCHQ.
A host of randomes are still in place at RAF Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, and have recently undergone repairs.
Finding Fylingdales
If you search on any map online then ‘Fylingdales Radar Installation’ is greyed out.
However, there are two interpretation boards close to the boundary of RAF Fylingdales.
One sign tells the story of the space race and the North York Moors’ connection to it.
The other describes the golf balls and the space heritage project.
There is also a fascinating online archive, the Fylingdales Archive which can be accessed via the web.
This features a wide range of articles, photographs, magazines, films, a sound archive and other materials.
The magazines from the 1960s were called RAF Fylingdales Triball Station, referring of course to the three golf balls.
From the early 1990s, the magazine was called The Pyramid, named after the new construction which replaced the golf balls.
Myths and Legends
There are all sort of myths and legends surrounding RAF Fylingdales.
There are rumours of an underground city, complete with roads, streetlights and more.
Many hikers in the area report that strange noises come from underground.
It’s tempting to embellish and believe these notions even though work of RAF Fylingdales must and should remain a secret.
A recent GCHQ exhibition in Scarborough Library shed some light on the work done in our neck of the woods.
This popular exhibition which took place in 2021 included mentions of the famous Enigma machine, German coding disks and more.
Bent Rigg Radar Station/RAF Air Force Ravenscar
Several radar stations have been located near Ravenscar since 1938 with a more permanent site built at Bent Rigg in 1941.
It was part of the Coastal Defence system, and there is a fascinating interpretation board in place for you to find.
This location is also on the Cleveland Way.
Kilnsea Sound Mirror
If you travel down the Yorkshire Coast and into East Yorkshire, you will see the Kilnsea Sound Mirror, sometimes called the Acoustic Mirror, an old-tech version of a radar used during the First World War.
The design of the mirror meant air raids could be detected in advance (though only by a few minutes).
Zeppelin raids took place during this time with Hull being a primary target and the sound mirror was one form of defence.
Riviera Guesthouse
There’s nothing secretive about our family run Riviera Guesthouse here in Whitby!
Our 15 spacious en-suite bedrooms are renowned for their originality.
Each has been uniquely designed to suit individual tastes.
And what’s more, they are beautifully furnished with lots of modern comforts so you enjoy a restful and cosy stay.
There is a choice of Four Poster Superior King, King Size, Deluxe Double, Standard Double, Family, Twin and Single bedrooms.
All are comfortably furnished and feature flat screen LCD televisions and complimentary WiFi.
On arrival you’ll find a well-stocked refreshment tray in your room which is topped up daily with a selection of teas, coffee, hot chocolate, milk and biscuits.
We supply both sugar and sweetener (in case you aren’t sweet enough).
