Yorkshire coast – More than just a place to paddle

Holidaying in the Yorkshire Coast is set to be far easier and better value than going anywhere else on holiday. This popular destination is set for a great spring and summer season but is also a great place to visit now as it has reinvented itself as far more than ‘just’ a place for a paddle.

Here is our round up of some great new ways to enjoy the Yorkshire Coast. There are more details of all these ideas on Yorkshiremoorsandcoast.com.

Access to the best cultural events in Yorkshire

Coastival 13th – 15th February offers three days of the very best art and culture in Yorkshire. Patronised by local lads Sir Ben Kingsley and Sir Alan Acykbourn the festival showcases an abundance of Yorkshire talent alongside internationally known names. The packed programme includes music, film, spoken word, dance, comedy, visual arts and theatre. Plus a series of events for kids – Rollercoastival. Visit coastival.com for further information.

Inspired by the Yorkshire Coast – stunning scenes in local galleries

There is no doubt that the stunning Yorkshire Coastline is enough to inspire even the most reluctant artist. So it might not be surprising to learn that the area is full of wonderful galleries and even a beachside sculpture trail. Scarborough Art Gallery has 1500 works in their collection housed on two floors of an Italianate nineteenth-century villa on Scarborough’s beautiful crescent.

Whilst a visit to the Staithes Gallery, will explain why so many young impressionists flocked here in the early 20th century. The Studio of John Freeman in Whitby allows you to see resident artist, John Freeman at work. Finally the Filey Sea Front Sculpture Trail invites you to wander along the promenade, enjoying a series of artworks inspired by Filey’s natural heritage. yorkshiremoorsandcoast.com/do.

Make your own discovery, following the Captain James Cook Heritage Trail in the Yorkshire Coast.

Enjoy your own voyage of discovery and follow in the footsteps of the young Captain James Cook. Visit the quiet market towns, peaceful villages where he lived and worked and the rugged Yorkshire Coastline from which he made his voyage of discovery on the Endeavour in 1768. Visit the Captain Cook School Room Museum in Great Ayton where he spent his formative years. Enjoy a Cooks Boyhood 4 mile walk circular walk and look out for memorials to Cooks life as well as the strangely shaped Roseberry Topping.

A detour to the quaint fishing village of Staithes affords you wonderful views of the rugged coastline and the Captain Cook and Staithes Heritage Centre. After which you can climb high up onto Whitby’s west cliff and look out to sea alongside the bronze statue of Cook. The Captain Cook Memorial Museum is devoted Cook’s life and the maritime history of the port of Whitby.

Get a feeling for fossils on the dinosaur coast

Intrepid explorers can start at the Rotunda Museum in Scarborough or the Whitby Museum at Pannel Park to investigate the most amazing collections of fossils from the Ice Age through to the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods. Delve beneath the cliffs at Staithes and try and spot evidence of the Ice Age at Filey Brigg. Walk along the beach at Robin Hoods Bay and Whitby to examine the Jurassic period and spot a spectacular array of fossils in the eroding cliffs the whole way along this amazing coast line.

Sea dog for a (half) day

Let the Warrior Sea Angling team take you fishing out on the open sea in their angling charter boat. You may even get to make friends with some of the Whales that live off the coast of Whitby. Visit wsatsite.com for further information.

Become a birder – in a spectacular setting.

The Yorkshire Moors and Coast is rich in wildlife and has an abundance of birdlife all living and breeding within the most dramatic scenery to be found in the country. A must for all birdwatchers is Sandsend Quarry a disused alum quarry is a great place to watch seabirds and also waders at low tide.

Smugglers and seafood

Whitby has a long history of seafaring dating back hundreds of years. The Whitby Museum has a unique collection of fossils and tells the story of the once flourishing whaling trade. Explore the rocky coves of the wonderful fishing villages of Sandsend, Runswick Bay, Robin Hoods Bay and Staithes and follow in the footsteps of the smugglers who profited from free trade. Today you can still see the boats go out to get the catch of the day for the many fantastic restaurants in the area.

Travel in style between Scarborough’s North and South bays on a miniature railway.

Enjoy good old fashioned British fun in Scarborough, the first seaside resort in the UK. The resort is split into two bays both with an imposing backdrop of the ruins of Scarborough Castle. North Bay Railway and Historic Chute is a miniature railway linking the north and south bays. This 70 year old service takes you on a 1 mile journey between the two bays in real style. There is no better way to entice the kids off the beach for a change of scenery.

Whitby Wizard for interactive science fun

When visiting the Yorkshire Coast and especially the historic fishing town of Whitby, you might not expect to find North Yorkshire’s only science museum. The Whitby Wizard situated high up on the West Cliff is home to nearly 100 hands on scientific experiments. It makes a great visit for kids and adults as they explore the fine details of the human skeleton and become temporarily invisible like the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland. Visit yorkshiremoorsandcoast.com/do for further information

See more with the Moor to Sea Cycle Route

When you’ve had enough of the beach strap on your helmet and try something a little more adventurous. The Moor to Sea Cycle Route follows a disused railway line hugging the rugged coastline between Scarborough and Whitby. This is an opportunity to enjoy some great physical activity with truly spectacular views. If you’ve left your bikes behind cycle hire is available in Hawsker near Whitby. Visit moortoseacycle.net for further information.

Some of the best water sports in the country

Book a lesson with the Scarborough Surf School and get yourself off the beach and into the sea. The school has a team of experienced instructors operating throughout the year who work with complete beginners to experienced surfers.

To find out about other great activities at the Yorkshire Coast and for information on the great range of accommodation on offer visit Yorkshiremoorsandcoast.com.