Beach breaks in Yorkshire

Yorkshire has some of the most picturesque beaches in the UK 🌊

With more than 100 miles of breathtaking coastline on offer, there are plenty of beautiful spots to discover.

While a vast part of Yorkshire encompasses rolling moorland, historic towns and quaint rural villages, a large part comprises the rugged Heritage Coast of the North York Moors. Here, you’ll find an array of gorgeous beaches where you can while away an afternoon, taking in the fresh sea air.

• Copy link

Bridlington Beach

Bridlington is the largest shellfish port in Europe and has a thriving fishing fleet where visitors can find brown crabs and lobsters! The seafront is located in the Harbour with fantastic beaches to both the North and South. The South Beach is a large stretch of golden sand, whereas the North Beach has more pebbles and shingles.

Filey Beach

The traditional coastline of Filey is less commercial than some of its East Coast neighbours and is a fantastic seaside location for young families or anyone looking for a stretch of golden sand for long walks along the beach, building sandcastles, kite-flying or even horse riding.

Hornsea Beach

The Hornsea promenade stretches the whole length of the seafront, with stunning landscaped gardens, plenty of parking, and old wooden breakwaters. This location is fantastic for bird watching, canoeing, jet-skiing, kayaking, sailing, swimming and even windsurfing. The beach is usually quiet however seals have been spotted here on occasion!

Redcar Beach

Redcar Beach is a long stretch of sandy beach backed by vast dunes and an esplanade and plenty of roadside parking. The town itself boasts a museum containing the world’s oldest surviving lifeboat and Redcar Central railway station, a few hundred meters from the beach. There is also a cinema and several shops and a variety of yummy places to eat and drink.

Saltburn Beach

Saltburn is a seaside resort with a rich heritage dating back to the Victorian days, with the town being built off the back of the Industrial Revolution. Saltburn Beach is a sand and shingle affair backed by a promenade with plenty of facilities close by. Saltburn is home to one of the best surf spots along this stretch of the North Sea coast. Facing directly north, it picks up more swell than many neighbouring spots.

Sandsend Beach

The tiny, picturesque village of Sandsend lies on Yorkshire’s heritage coastline. Sandsend beach is popular with fossil hunters, fishermen and walkers. Visitors can also enjoy fine views down the coast towards the romantic ruins of Whitby Abbey, which is said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. At low tide, large areas of the beach are exposed, uncovering plenty of rockpools for children to explore, making this location a fantastic place to take your friends or family this year.

Scarborough Beach

Scarborough is one of the UK’s top seaside resorts, and it’s easy to see why. Scarborough Beach is divided into two bays, the South Bay and the North Bay. South of the beach is undoubtedly the livelier of the two. Visitors will find cafes, ice-cream parlours, shops, theatres and all the entertainments and delights that you’d expect from a traditional seaside resort. The long, sandy beach at North Bay is backed by sea defences, an esplanade, hills, and cliffs and is generally more popular with rock poolers and sunbathers.

Whitby Beach

Famous for its delicious fish and chips and a spooky connection to Dracula, Whitby has all the charming traditional characteristics of a gothic seaport town, while being surrounded by the rugged natural beauty of North York Moors National Park. As well as the picturesque harbour that can be seen in its full glory from atop the 199 Steps, Whitby has many beautiful family-friendly beaches to relax and explore.

From the rock pool discoveries and surfing opportunities at Runswick Bay to the donkey rides and fabulous scenery of West Cliff beach, there’s some summer fun to be had by everyone. Overlooking the town and coastline are the ruins of the famous Whitby Abbey, which has inspired some of England’s most famous writers and poets, including Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula.