Ten Of The Best Beaches In Yorkshire

Ten Of The Best Beaches In Yorkshire

Make the most of the summer by visiting one of Yorkshire’s beautiful beaches. With over 40 miles of coast there is a beach to discover.

Saltburn

Saltburn beach is a sand and shingle beach backed by a promenade and with plenty of facilities close at hand. It is home to one of the best surf spots along this stretch of North Sea coast. Facing directly north it picks up more swell than neighbouring spots. It is also protected from the wind by the imposing headland of Huntcliff at the eastern end. There is also a pier, which was once 1,500ft in length. Following many years of neglect and a few disasters, the pier now stands at less than half this length. Saltburn Cliff Tramway provides an easy route up and down the 120 ft cliff and is the oldest water balanced funicular lift in the UK

Mappleton

Mappleton Beach is a long sandy clean beach which is also dog friendly. Close to the cliffs it is possible to find abundant fossils. There is adequate parking and toilet facilities and a nearby café. It is a former MoD bombing range and as such there are signs warning of old armaments and the danger of picking up metal objects. However, this doesn’t stop people enjoying the vast wide open spaces at low tide.

Whitby West Cliff

Whitby West Cliff Beach is a large sandy beach with some rocks that runs from Upgang Beach to the mouth of the river Esk. It is the most popular beach in the area,as it is only a few minutes walk from the town’s centre. In true Yorkshire style, there is a line of colourful beach huts available for hire, as well as deckchairs and windbreaks near the slipway at West Pier. Children can enjoy donkey rides from this area during the summer, and there is always plenty of space to do things like fly a kite, play beach games or go paddling. Dogs are not allowed on the beach between May and September

Sandsend

Sandsend beach is popular with fossil hunters and fishermen. At low tide there are plenty of rockpools to explore too. In summer, a section of the beach is roped off for swimmers. It is possible to walk all the way along the beach to Whitby. Dogs are restricted to certain areas of the beach.

Runswick

Runswick Bay is one of Yorkshire’s prettiest destinations with its sweeping, sheltered bay and cascading red roofed cottages. It is a family favourite for rock pooling, fossil hunting and coastal walks, where you can admire the breath-taking sea views. Runswick Bay, like so many of the villages on this part of the coast, has long been a haven for artists, with the nearby Staithes Arts Group spilling over into the village – the pair have been compared with Newlyn in Cornwall as centres of artistic excellence.

Flamborough

The small, picturesque beach of North Landing is flanked by stunning chalk cliffs, which are backed by grassy hills.The beach here is a mix of soft sand and pebbles. At low tide this can be a good place to hunt for marine wildlife in the rockpools, although care must be taken as the rocks can get very slippery. This part of the Yorkshire coast is also popular with kayakers and fishermen at any time of year. The bird life here can be amazing. Cormorants, kittiwakes, razorbills and even puffins can be spotted.

Filey

The traditional seaside resort of Filey is an ideal seaside location for young families or anyone looking for a fine stretch of good sand for walks, playing in the sand, kite-flying or even horse riding. There is still a strong fishing heritage here, and fishermen can still be seen casting their nets from traditional “coble” boats. The glorious 5-mile stretch of golden sand stretches from the rocky peninsula of Filey Brigg to the north down to Bempton, home to an RSPB reserve. At low tide a quarter-mile width of sand is exposed. There are plenty of rock pools for your youngsters to explore.There are seasonal restrictions on dog-walking in the area between the Royal Parade and the beach slipway. Other parts of the beach are dog-friendly at any time of year

Scarborough South Bay

South sands beach is a large sandy bay with good facilities and is popular with families. There is a working inner harbour with a small fishing fleet and outer harbour for pleasure boats and yachts. You can experience a boat trip around the bay or along the coast. The town is easily accessible by the use of a handy cliff lift. Further north along the beach you will find amusements cafes and restaurants along with the traditional seaside stalls selling everything from the freshest of seafood to sweets such as Scarborough rock and fudge. Scarborough is famous as the “Queen of the East Coast”

Hornsea

The blue flag beach at Hornsea, is just one of the delights to discover at this quintessential British seaside resort. There is a charming seafront promenade, with a Floral Hall which hosts events throughout the year. The town centre houses an award-winning Folk Museum complete with Victorian farm kitchen, dairy, blacksmith’s shop and gardens. Hornsea Mere is Yorkshire’s largest freshwater lake and is an ideal place to birdwatch as well as offering a variety of boating activities.

Bridlington

Bridlington boasts miles of sandy beaches. Our favourite is the award winning blue flag North Bay where you can take a dip, sail out to sea or ride a donkey. A great traditional seaside resort.