Cayton Bay

A couple of miles south of Scarborough, Cayton Bay is one of those beaches that rewards the effort of getting to it. There is no promenade, no seafront row of amusements, just a long crescent of sand hemmed in by soft, crumbling cliffs and the open North Sea. Getting down to the beach means a walk along a cliff-top path and a descent of steps or a slipway, which keeps the crowds thinner than at Scarborough or Filey either side of it, even in high summer.

What Cayton Bay lacks in facilities it makes up for in character. The cliffs here are Jurassic in age, roughly 150 million years old, and regularly give up fossils after storms and high tides have done their work. The bay is also the best-known surf spot on the Yorkshire coast, with a beach break that suits everyone from complete beginners to experienced surfers, and a local surf school that has been running lessons here for decades. Add in the Cleveland Way running along the clifftop, seabirds and seals along the shoreline, and the remains of wartime pillboxes half-buried in the grass, and it is easy to see why walkers, surfers and fossil hunters keep coming back.

Top things to do in Cayton Bay

Cayton Bay is a small place, but there is plenty to fill a day, whether you are on the beach, in the water or up on the cliffs.

• Surf at Cayton Bay — the bay is widely regarded as the best surf beach in Yorkshire, with reliable beach-break waves for beginners and improvers; Scarborough Surf School, the region's longest-running surf shop, runs lessons and hires boards and wetsuits here.
• Fossil hunting — the crumbling cliffs are made up of Jurassic rock and regularly reveal ammonites and other fossils, especially after winter storms; guided fossil safaris are run in the bay from time to time for anyone who wants an expert eye.
• Walk the Cleveland Way — this stretch of the National Trail runs along the clifftop above the bay, with sweeping views out to sea; it is possible to follow it south towards Filey Brigg or north into Scarborough, roughly a three-and-a-half mile walk each way.
• Look for wildlife — the cliffs and rock pools attract nesting seabirds such as kittiwakes, while seals are regularly spotted hauled out on the sand or bobbing offshore.
• Explore the wartime remains — concrete pillboxes and other coastal defences from the Second World War are still dotted along the clifftop, a reminder of the bay's role in watching the North Sea.
• Rock pooling and beachcombing — at low tide the exposed rock ledges are good for rock pools, and the tideline regularly turns up sea glass and driftwood alongside the odd fossil.
• Day trip to Scarborough — the bay is only a short bus or drive from Scarborough's harbour, castle and seafront, making it easy to combine a quiet beach day with a livelier town.

Getting to Cayton Bay

Cayton Bay sits just off the A165 coast road between Scarborough and Filey, and is well signposted from both directions. There is a pay-and-display car park at Killerby Cliff (postcode YO11 3NR), a short walk from the top of the beach access path; on quieter days it is sometimes possible to find free roadside parking along the cliff top too, though spaces fill quickly in summer.

If you are travelling without a car, the number 13 Coaster bus runs between Scarborough and Filey and stops at Cayton Bay, with a journey time of around 20 to 25 minutes from either town. The nearest railway stations are Scarborough and Filey, both on the Yorkshire Coast Line, from where local buses connect through to the bay. Whichever way you arrive, be prepared for a walk down to the beach itself — the cliff path and steps are unavoidable, and can be steep and slippery after rain.

Best time to visit Cayton Bay

Summer, from June to August, brings the warmest sea temperatures and the busiest surf lineups, along with the best chance of settled weather for a full beach day. Spring and autumn are quieter and often produce good surf as North Sea swells pick up, while the cliffs are at their most productive for fossil hunting after autumn and winter storms have freshly eroded the rock face. Whatever the season, check tide times before you go — at high tide the sand narrows considerably and the beach can be cut off in places.

Where to stay in Cayton Bay

Accommodation in Cayton Bay itself is mostly geared towards touring caravans, camping and holiday lodges, with a couple of larger holiday parks a short drive away towards Filey. For hotels and guesthouses, most visitors base themselves in nearby Scarborough or Filey, both a few minutes away by car or bus, and choose from a wide range of seafront hotels, B&Bs and self-catering cottages.

Food and drink in Cayton Bay

Options right on the bay are limited but welcome after a cold surf or a blustery clifftop walk — a beachfront takeaway near the car park serves coffee, home-baked cakes and simple hot food with a view over the sand, and The Tow Bar on Mill Lane serves pub food and drinks close to the village. The holiday parks around the bay have their own cafés, bars and restaurants for guests and visitors. For a wider choice of pubs, cafés and restaurants, Scarborough and Filey are both close by and easily reached by bus or car.