Reighton Gap
Clifftop views over five miles of Filey Bay sand
Photo © Diane Wishart, Google Maps
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.
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 in Reighton Gap
All hotels in Reighton Gap →About staying in Reighton Gap
Hotel choice right at Reighton Gap itself is very limited, since the hamlet is small and dominated by a single large holiday park rather than a spread of independent accommodation. Visitors after a conventional hotel stay generally look a short drive up or down the coast to Filey or Bridlington, both of which offer a proper choice of seafront hotels, guest houses and B&Bs within easy reach of the beaches, Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head. Staying in one of those towns also puts you closer to shops, restaurants and evening options, while still leaving Reighton Gap's beach and clifftop walks within a short drive.
For those who do want to stay in the immediate area, the accommodation at Reighton Sands Holiday Park itself is mostly geared towards caravan holiday homes and touring pitches rather than hotel rooms, so it suits a self-catering or caravanning trip more than a traditional hotel break. If your priority is direct clifftop access to the beach and a self-contained holiday park with pool, golf and dining on site, that is the main option right at Reighton Gap; if you would rather have choice of restaurants and a wider hotel market, Filey or Bridlington make a more practical base a few miles along the coast.
Haven Reighton Sands Holiday Park Yorkshire
Reighton Sands Holiday Park, Filey
Haven Primrose Valley Holiday Park Yorkshire
Primrose Valley Holiday Park, Filey
The Royal Oak
Moor Road, Filey
The Piebald Inn
65 Sands Lane, Hunmanby
Wrangham House
10 Stonegate, Filey
The Southgate B&B
8 Bridlington Street, Filey
The White Lodge Hotel
The Crescent, Filey
The White Swan
1 Church Hill, Hunmanby
Things to Do in Reighton Gap
All attractions in Reighton Gap →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.
Where to Eat in Reighton Gap
All restaurants in Reighton Gap →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.
Attractions Near Reighton Gap
All attractions in Reighton Gap →Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Reighton Gap.
3 mi
Filey Beach
Filey · ⭐ 4.6
3 mi
Filey Zoo
Filey · ⭐ 4.6
4 mi
RSPB Bempton Cliffs
Bridlington · ⭐ 4.8
5 mi
Woldgate Trekking and Livery Centre
Bridlington · ⭐ 4.4
6 mi
Bridlington Beach
Bridlington · ⭐ 4.7
6 mi
Sewerby Hall and Gardens
Bridlington · ⭐ 4.7
6 mi
The Scarborough Fair Collection
Scarborough · ⭐ 4.7
6 mi
Danes Dyke Beach
Bridlington · ⭐ 4.7
Camping in Reighton Gap
All campsites in Reighton Gap →About camping in Reighton Gap
Reighton Gap is best known among campers for Reighton Sands Holiday Park, a clifftop touring and camping site with around 238 pitches for tents, motorhomes and touring caravans, set just back from the steep path down to the beach. Pitches are grassy and gently sloping in places, with elevated views out over Filey Bay, and the site's facilities extend to a heated indoor pool, an outdoor lazy river, a nine-hole golf course, a restaurant and a dog-friendly beach and terrace, making it a well-equipped base for a family camping trip on this stretch of coast.
As with anywhere in England, wild camping on the open cliffs, farmland or beach around Reighton Gap is not legally permitted without the landowner's explicit permission, so campers should stick to the established holiday park or other licensed sites nearby rather than pitching independently. The Yorkshire coast here is exposed, with boulder-clay cliffs prone to erosion, so any camping should keep well back from the cliff edge regardless of site.
Late spring to early autumn is the most comfortable season, when the touring pitches are driest and the coastal weather is at its calmest, and it also coincides with the seabird breeding season at nearby Bempton Cliffs, making a camping trip a good match with birdwatching along the clifftop. For those who prefer fixed accommodation with the same clifftop setting, the holiday park also offers static caravans and glamping-style options, giving a softer alternative to a tent while keeping the same short walk down to the sand. Outside the main park, camping options directly at Reighton Gap are scarce, and campers wanting more choice of pitches or facilities typically look towards Filey or the wider Yorkshire coast for additional sites.
Self-Catering Cottages in Reighton Gap
All cottages in Reighton Gap →Apple Pip
4 bed · sleeps 8 · from £971
Hunroe Brow
3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £881
Sunny Bank
2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £423
Sunny Crest
3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £567
Tigh Na Mara
3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £543
The Chalet
2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £427
The Moorland Retreat
2 bed · sleeps 4
Dotterel Cottage
2 bed · sleeps 6 · from £962