The Best Family-Friendly Beaches in North Yorkshire
Beach holidays are always an absolute treat for those with children! Whilst your children can explore rockpools, build sandcastles and splash in the water, parents have the rare opportunity to relax in the sun.
To help you plan your days at the beach with your family, we’ve compiled a list of recommendations for the best family-friendly beaches in North Yorkshire. Let us know if we’ve missed any off our list!
Whitby Beach
Perhaps we’re a little biased, but we believe that our hometown beach is the best family-friendly beach in North Yorkshire! Whitby Beach is a short eleven-minute drive from our park, making it the perfect destination to visit on your holiday. Whitby Beach is split by West Pier into two beaches.
West Cliff is the larger of the two and hugely popular amongst families. This sandy beach is filled with cheerful beach huts, paddling pools and donkey rides. If you’re feeling peckish whilst spending a day at West Cliff, then we recommend treating yourself to a tasty fish and chip meal at The Fisherman’s Wife Whitby.
Tate Hill Beach can be found on the other side of West Pier. Tate Hill is not to be overlooked despite being a lot smaller than its counterpart. The waters are far gentler at Tate Hill, making it the perfect place for some relaxed bathing. Tate Hill Beach is home to a range of old-timey sweetshops and eateries, so you can easily enjoy a tasty lunch in between dips in and out of the water. This beach also allows dogs all year round, so every member of your family can be included in this fantastic day out.
Scarborough Beach
Scarborough Beach is one of the most popular beach destinations in North Yorkshire, if not the whole of the UK! The clean beach is especially popular amongst families as Scarborough has a wide variety of fun-filled activities for the whole family. Children can enjoy a traditional donkey ride along the bay, whilst older children can spend their time playing games in the arcade. There are plenty of gift shops, takeaways, and coffee shops along the promenade that flanks the beach.
We highly recommend taking a dip in the blue waters at Scarborough. Parents can also have the peace of mind that their children are safe to play in these waters as the RNLI and lifeguards, watch over the beach during the summer months.
Runswick Bay Beach
Runswick Bay Beach is a delightful, sheltered beach, which is ideal for families with young children. In 2020, this beach was given the title of ‘Best Beach of The Year’ by The Times, and it’s easy to see why. As one of the prettiest family-friendly beaches in North Yorkshire, we believe that this beach is a must-see for those with young children. At Runswick Bay Beach, children are free to build sandcastles, splash in the sheltered waters, hunt for fossils and even explore the rockpools on either side of the beach in low tide.
Runswick Bay Beach is also incredibly popular amongst those wishing to participate in watersport activities, such as canoeing and surfing.
Port Mulgrave
Port Mulgrave is a stunning beach with a rich history – and there are plenty of fun things to do on this beach too! Port Mulgrave beach is an incredibly tranquil shingle beach with scenic views over the rugged coastline and the derelict old iron mine.
Often regarded as a hidden gem, Port Mulgrave is a hotspot amongst dog walkers and fossil hunters. We recommend spending a day combing the beach for ammonites, dinosaur remains and sea glass, which commonly washes up on the shore.
The beach itself is accessible by fairly steep steps, therefore it’s better suited to families with children over the age of 6.
Credit: Flickr – Colin Gregory LINK
Family Friendly Holiday Park in Whitby
Our Whitby Caravan Park is perched on the cliffs of Saltwick Bay and ideally placed for exploring the amazing beaches in North Yorkshire. We offer a wide range of accommodation options to suit all families from luxury caravans and pet-friendly caravans, to touring and motorhome pitches.
If you are dreaming of visiting the stunning beaches in North Yorkshire, then book your holiday online, or call our friendly reception team on 01947 602664