Cayton Bay is a broad sandy beach five kilometres south of Scarborough, between Osgodby Point and Lebberston Cliff, and it is the local alternative to the town beaches.
It is wide, it is shallow, it is lifeguarded in season, and it is reached by a steep footpath from the clifftop — which is both its main drawback and the reason it is never as crowded as South Bay.
A long stretch of firm sand, considerably wider than Scarborough’s South Bay, with a gentle shelf and shallow water.
That combination makes it good for children: the water is shallow a long way out, there is plenty of room, and lifeguards patrol the main section in season.
Rock pools at the northern end below Osgodby Point.
Views north to Scarborough Castle on its headland and south towards Filey Brigg.
Cayton Bay is one of the best-known surf beaches in Yorkshire.
It faces north-east and picks up North Sea swell reliably, and it has several breaks along its length — a beach break in the middle, and reef and point breaks at the ends that work in bigger conditions.
There is an established surf scene here, with hire and lessons operating from the top in season and a surf shop at the car park.
The water is cold. A wetsuit is not optional, and in winter a good one is essential.
Access is down a steep footpath from the clifftop car park, and it needs stating plainly because it is the beach’s defining practical feature.
It is a proper descent — a few minutes down, longer back up, on a path that is steep and can be slippery after rain.
It is not suitable for anyone with mobility difficulties, and it is hard work with a pushchair, a cool box and a windbreak. Visitors say so consistently.
The compensation is real: the effort filters out a good proportion of the people who would otherwise be on it, so a beach five minutes from Scarborough is often quiet on a summer afternoon.
The cliffs here are unstable — Cayton Bay is on soft glacial deposits over clay, and there have been significant landslips. Some of the historic access routes have been lost, and the cliff face is actively moving in places.
Stay away from the cliff base, and take notice of any closure signs.
Free beach; parking charged at the clifftop car park, which has plenty of spaces — unusual for this coast, and one of the beach’s advantages.
Facilities: a beach café at the top serving snacks, toilets, and a surf shop.
Lifeguards: in season only.
Dogs: generally permitted, with some seasonal restrictions on the central section — check the signs.
Getting there: off the A165 south of Scarborough, signposted, about ten minutes by road. Buses on the Scarborough–Filey route stop nearby.
The Cleveland Way coast path runs along the clifftop in both directions — north to Scarborough, south to Filey and the Brigg.
Filey is fifteen minutes south, with a five-mile beach that is flatter, larger and easier to get onto.
Scarborough Fair Collection and Playdale Farm Park are both close by inland.
Yes — it is steep, and it is a real climb back up. It is not suitable for anyone with mobility difficulties and is hard work with a pushchair.
Yes, in season, on the main section.
Yes — it is one of the best-known surf beaches in Yorkshire, with hire and lessons in season.
Yes, a clifftop car park with plenty of spaces, charged, with a café and toilets.
Yes once you are down — wide, shallow and lifeguarded. Getting the gear down the path is the obstacle.