Local Area Information
The Victorian town of Filey is just three miles away or a 45 minute walk along the beach. It retains a charming traditional seaside feel with quaint shops, excellent bars, cafes and restaurants, a lovely promenade and a great selection of shops to browse.
Filey hosts several regular events such as the Kite Festival, Food festivals, Steampunk weekend, Folk festival, Americana Festival, Literature Festival, Filey Ball Race, Filey Beach Race, Soap box Derby and Raft race. Filey Sailing Club also hold an annual regatta.
Filey Bay beach is dog friendly until you reach the promenade, from May to September dogs are not allowed on the beach directly in front of the promenade.
Our favourite things to do
Hunmanby Gap
Walk down to the beach, turn right and stroll along to Hunmanby Gap for old fashioned milky coffee and bacon butty at the Beach Café. Beautiful views of the bay, seating outside, takes about 20mins. Simple, reasonably priced snacks such as cheese toasties and excellent homemade cheesecake.
Carry on up out of Hunmanby Gap on the main road and do a circular walk back to The Bay. Difficult to describe this but I don't think you could get lost if you attempted it. Look for a gap in the hedge on the right just past the row of bungalows on the left which will take you into the meadows area of The Bay.
There is now a new stretch of coastal path from Hunmanby Gap to The Bay. Starts in the corner of the Hunmanby Gap car park and ends just over the road from Number 88, can be muddy and follows the cliff edge so keep an eye on children and dogs. This means you can walk to Hunmanby Gap on the beach and take the coastal path back or vice versa depending on tide times. Recent storms have taken their toll on this bit of coastline, there have been lots of mud slides. The new path is already showing signs of movement so please take care.
Cayton Bay
Cayton Bay is just 10 minutes down the road and is another lovely stretch of beach. It also has a tiny beach café, Lucy’s Beach Shack.
Sewerby and Bridlington
Drive to Sewerby Hall just outside Bridlington, park then find coastal path and walk to Danes Dyke. Will take about 30mins (roughly). Lovely white pebble beach and sand when tide is out. Alternatively drive to Danes Dyke and park, then walk down to beach. Car park, toilets and very small refreshment kiosk. We love it here. There is a land train that goes into Bridlington from Sewerby Hall, it only runs at peak times. Sewerby Hall has a small zoo, so good day out for the family – a bit of everything.
Sewerby is also the home of Bondville Miniature Village which has recently reopened under new management. It’s a delightful place to visit and has a great cafe.
Boggle Hole and Robins Hood Bay
Drive to Boggle Hole and park. Then take coastal path to Robin Hoods Bay. Will take about 30mins to walk to Robin Hoods Bay. Lots of eating places and little shops to explore, I definitely recommend this one.
Flamborough, Bempton and Thornwick Bay
Visit Flamborough head. Plenty to see and lots of costal paths to walk and if you are lucky seals! Our favourites are the lighthouse, South Landing where you can go on a boat ride to see Bempton cliffs and Thornwick Bay. Cafes and toilets at all places.
Visit RSPB Bempton Cliffs, entry is free for RSPB members, nice little cafe plus very nice cliff top walk and if lucky nesting sea birds including Puffins. If you drive to Bempton via Buckton there is a nice café on the main road, The Richard Burton Art Centre.
Fraisthorpe Beach
Nice cafe/restaurant at Fraisthorpe, The Cowshed, just south of Bridlington looking out over the beach. Lots of Sand Martins nesting here.
Whitby, Sands End and Staithes
Whitby is a bit of a drive and usually busy but lovely, if you go to Whitby drive a few miles further north to visit Sands End. The ‘Posh’ fish and chip shop (The Fish cottage at Sands End) is worth a visit.
Staithes is even further north, but if you are in the mood for a road trip, do it! Very steep walk down from the car park. Cod and Lobster pub for lunch.
Scarborough and other local attractions
Drive up to the top of Oliver’s Mount on the edge of Scarborough town, very nice tearoom (Olivers on the Mount Café Bar) with spectacular views across Scarborough. There is a dedicated area for customers with dogs, it does get very busy particularly at lunchtime.
Visit North Yorkshire Water Park, located inland between Filey and Scarborough about 30 mins drive from The Bay. It has a café and nice walks around the lake plus a wide range of water sports and huge adventure inflatables. You can also launch your own kayak here for a launch fee.
Scarborough FootGolf up the road at Cayton is great fun for family entertainment. FootGolf followed by tea at the Stained-Glass Centre sounds like a good day out to me.
Scarborough Fair and Filey Bird Garden and Animal Park are just up the road. We actually haven’t visited these attractions yet but I suspect now we have the grandchildren accompanying us we will be soon. Scarborough Fair looks fascinating, and the bird and animal park has recently updated many of its animal/bird enclosures. Both have cafes.
Lots of artisan food and drink proprietors have opened in the area such as Dahlia Bakery, Filey Gin, Twisted Roots Distillery, Wold Top Brewery and Filey Bay Whisky. Sterchi's Chocalatiers can be found on Hope Street in Filey, producing high quality chocolates since 1919.
Scarborough like Filey has seen a bit of a revitalization over the past few years. Excellent restaurants have emerged, some of which you will see on the Number 88 Facebook page.
If you fancy a bit of a longer drive out, go to Falling Floss and Midge Hall. There are woodland walks here and a lovely cafe.
So much to do, so much to see, there are so many other gems in this area I could go on and on. Whether you are a couple, a couple with a dog, a single person, friends, family there is so much to do within a short distance of the cottage.
Google the places I have mentioned for more information and opening times, if you have access to google maps even better.
