Reighton Gap

Reighton Gap is less a village than a place name on the Yorkshire coast: a break in the cliffline between Filey and Bridlington where the small hamlet of Reighton sits back from the sea and a steep, wooded path drops through a ravine to the beach below. It is best known as the site of Reighton Sands Holiday Park, a large caravan and touring site perched on the clifftop with elevated views across Filey Bay, but the appeal of the spot is really the coastline itself.

From the top of the gap the outlook stretches north along five miles of sandy beach all the way to Filey, and south towards the chalk cliffs of Speeton and Bempton on the approach to Flamborough Head. It is a working stretch of coast rather than a resort, with farmland running down to crumbling boulder-clay cliffs, and the sound of seabirds carrying up from the ledges further along. Reighton itself is tiny, with the beach, the holiday park and the surrounding lanes forming the main reason to stop.

Top things to do near Reighton Gap

• Reighton Sands beach — a long, flat expanse of sand accessed via the steep path through the ravine at the gap; good for a bracing walk at low tide, with cliffs rising to either side.
• Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve — a few miles south, chalk cliffs packed with gannets, puffins, kittiwakes and guillemots between spring and midsummer, with clifftop viewing points and a visitor centre.
• Flamborough Head — the dramatic chalk headland beyond Bempton, with two lighthouses, sea caves and coastal walking trails looking out over the North Sea.
• Filey — a traditional seaside town a short drive north, with its own long sandy beach, the Brigg promontory, and a compact high street of shops and cafes.
• Speeton and the Reighton Sands circular walk — a coastal footpath linking Hunmanby, Reighton and Speeton sands, popular with walkers wanting a longer stretch of clifftop and beach.

Getting to Reighton Gap

Reighton Gap sits directly on the A165 coast road between Bridlington and Filey, roughly five miles south of Filey and around ten miles north of Bridlington, making it an easy stop by car. The nearest railway stations are at Filey and Hunmanby, both on the Yorkshire Coast Line between Scarborough and Hull, from where a taxi or short drive covers the remaining distance. There is no direct rail or regular bus service into Reighton itself, so a car is the practical way to reach the beach and holiday park.

Best time to visit Reighton Gap

Late spring through summer is the most reliable window, with longer days for beach walks and the seabird colonies at nearby Bempton Cliffs at their busiest between April and July. Like most of this coastline it is exposed to the North Sea, so early autumn can still bring pleasant, quieter days, while winter suits only the hardiest clifftop walkers.

Where to stay near Reighton Gap

Accommodation at Reighton Gap is dominated by Reighton Sands Holiday Park, a large caravan holiday park with static caravans for hire, touring and camping pitches, and on-site facilities including a heated pool, lazy river and golf course. Beyond the park, options are limited locally, and most visitors looking for hotels, guest houses or self-catering cottages base themselves a short drive away in Filey or Bridlington, both of which have a wider spread of places to stay.

Food and drink near Reighton Gap

On-site dining is centred on Reighton Sands Holiday Park itself, which has a restaurant and a fish and chip takeaway for guests. Outside the park there is little in the immediate area, and most visitors head into Filey or Hunmanby for pubs, cafes and restaurants, both a short drive north along the coast road.