A guide to the best beaches in Yorkshire

Summer is on the horizon and many of us are now turning our thoughts to booking a holiday for the family and whilst some may opt to travel abroad, more and more Brits are deciding to go on holiday in the UK.

At the top of many people’s holiday list will be Yorkshire as the county is renowned for its natural beauty and for its range of stunning beaches. If you are planning to book a stay in one of the many hotels in Whitby this summer and are unsure of what beaches you should visit, take a look at our list of the best Yorkshire beaches below.

MARSKE SANDS BEACH

Whilst some other beaches in Yorkshire are more famous, Marske Sands Beach, which is located between Redcar and Saltburn, is a beautiful sandy beach that the whole family can enjoy.

The beach is dog-friendly and is a popular spot for people to go fishing and surfing. Families will also be delighted to hear that the water quality of Maske Sands Beach has been rated five out of five for cleanliness.

The nearby town of Marske-By-The-Sea also has a number of interesting attractions worth visiting. One such attraction is the Winkies Castle Folk Museum, a unique “hands on” folk museum that attracts people of all ages. Based in a 450-year-old half cruck cottage, the museum has a range of exhibitions that depict events in Marske’s history from the 11^th Century to the present day. Two highlights to look out for include the burial of Captain James Cook’s father in 1779 and a visit to the village by author Charles Dickens in 1844.

The museum is run and managed entirely by volunteers and is now open every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11.00am-4.30pm until the end of September.

SANDSEND BEACH

Sandsend Beach is a picturesque beach that is on Yorkshire’s heritage coastline, meaning that it is a popular haunt with fossil collectors.

The beach is just a short distance away from many of the great walks in Yorkshire and is only a short distance away from Whitby Abbey. The abbey is one of the best attractions in the whole of Yorkshire, with thousands of people coming every year to visit the ruins of this medieval abbey church.

Visitors to Sandsend Beach can go and see Whitby Abbey all in the same day and can also enjoy some of the great events that are set to take place at the abbey. No matter what time of the year you and your family visit Whitby Abbey, there is always something going on, such as the Viking Raiders and Invaders tours of the abbey, which takes place at the end of May, or the Dracula performance that is taking place in July and August.

DANES DYKE

Danes Dyke beach, also known as Flamborough, is three quarters of a mile long and offers visitors a number of rock pools to explore. The beach looks across Bridlington Bay to the south and is safe for beach goers to go swimming or bathing in.

The beach’s nearest town is Bridlington and visitors that are looking to make a day of it should also head over to the family-run Bridlington Animal Park. The award-winning business offers families a variety of animal encounters, wallaby walks, flying displays and much more furry fun!

RUNSWICK BAY

Once used as a safe haven for fishing boats, the golden sands of Runswick Bay are now hugely popular with holidaymakers. The sheltered beach is great for swimming and bathing, and is also a great destination for dog walkers.

If you do visit Runswick Bay, stop and have a bite to eat at Cleveland Corner – a cosy 16-seater bistro with art-covered walls that is housed in a 250-year-old fisherman’s cottage in the heart of picturesque Staithes.

Being so close to the sea, Cleveland Corner’s daily specials board leans heavily towards fish, but they still cater to the meat eater and vegetarian alike, and they also can adapt to most dietary requirements. The unique bistro also sources the majority of its ingredients from within North Yorkshire.

SALTBURN BEACH

This sand and shingle beach has its own pier and promenade. One of the highlights is the chance to ride on a Victorian tram that runs under the cliff.

The beach is perfect for families as it has a lifeguard service and is extremely popular with surfers, kayakers, wind surfers and swimmers. It was also recently named by The Guardian as one of the top 10 surfing locations in the UK.

Surfing lessons from Flow Surf School are ideal for those who would like to test out The Guardian’s recommendation. They provide beginner and intermediate Surf Lessons – all equipment is provided, including board and wetsuit, and lessons are run all year round.

If you do visit Saltburn Beach, then you and your family can also go on coastal discovery days with Valley Adventures. Valley Adventures also offers visitors or small companies a range of activities to participate in, such as archery, scavenger hunts, nature trails, bush craft lessons, orienteering, circus skills and military-style assault courses!

ROBIN HOODS BAY

If you are staying in hotels by Robin Hoods Bay then you have to visit the beach, which is a perfect destination for walkers or surfers. It is also very close to our hotel, which makes it a lovely day out for our guests in particular. Robin Hoods Bay also puts on donkey rides for visitors and those with dogs are allowed to bring their pets.

Image Credits: Stephen McCulloch, Winkies Castle Folk Museum, YorkshirePhotoWalks (flickr.com), Whitby Abbey, Thomas Tolkien, Bridlington Animal Park, Matt Buck (flickr.com), Cleveland Corner, Flow Surf School, deargdoom57 (flickr.com).