The best free beaches on the Yorkshire coast

The Yorkshire coast has everything: wide sandy bays for sandcastles, rocky coves for rock-pooling and fossil hunting, and dramatic chalk cliffs. Every beach here is free to visit — though some car parks charge, so it's worth checking before you go.

Stay safe: the tide comes in quickly along this coast, especially around headlands and sea caves. Check tide times before you set off, and never get cut off below the cliffs.

1. Robin Hood's Bay

A steep, tumbling old fishing village above a rocky bay that's famous for rock pools and fossils at low tide.

2. Runswick Bay

A sheltered sandy bay with red-roofed cottages clinging to the cliff — one of the prettiest spots on the coast.

3. Sandsend

A long stretch of sand running towards Whitby, with a pretty village and beck at the northern end.

4. Saltburn

A classic Victorian seaside town with a wide sandy beach and a pier you can stroll along. (The famous cliff lift charges a small fare.)

5. Filey

Miles of golden sand stretching from the town towards the rocky Filey Brigg — great for long walks and paddling.

6. Cayton Bay

A wide sandy bay just south of Scarborough, popular with surfers.

7. North Landing, Flamborough

A small cove tucked between white chalk cliffs, with sea caves and colourful fishing boats.

8. Thornwick Bay, Flamborough

Dramatic chalk arches and caves to explore at low tide — just keep a close eye on the tide.

9. Fraisthorpe

A huge, quiet sandy beach south of Bridlington — a good choice when the busier resorts are packed.

10. Hornsea

A friendly seaside town with a long promenade and sandy beach.

See every free beach in Yorkshire on our map.

---

Everything here was free to visit when we wrote this, but opening times, parking charges and access can change — please check before you travel. Spotted something that's changed? Use "Suggest an edit" on the place's page.

Cover photo: Robin Hood's Bay by James F. Carter · CC BY-SA 2.5 · via Wikimedia Commons.