Walking the Yorkshire Coast from Scarborough

Explore the Yorkshire Coast on Foot

The Yorkshire Coast offers some of the most rewarding walking routes in the country, and many of them begin just minutes from Seaside Hideaway. With the Cleveland Way National Trail passing close to North Bay, visitors can easily explore dramatic clifftop paths, peaceful woodland tracks, open farmland and traditional seaside villages. Scarborough is also a fantastic destination for exploring the coast by bike, with several beautiful routes starting close to the hotel. You can discover some of the best local rides on our guide to cycling in Scarborough.

Spring is one of the best times to explore these routes, and many of our guests choose a spring break on the Yorkshire coast to make the most of the quieter trails and fresh sea air.

Walking has always been something we love doing ourselves. Over the years we’ve explored much of this coastline on foot – from short local circuits around Scarborough to longer adventures along the Cleveland Way towards Whitby, Filey and beyond. One of our favourite challenges was walking the Yorkshire coast from Spurn Point all the way to Staithes over several days.

Scarborough is an ideal base for a coastal walking break, with a mix of seafront paths and dramatic clifftop routes.

Below are a few of our favourite walks that guests regularly enjoy during their stay at Seaside Hideaway.

Our Favourite Walks from Seaside Hideaway

• Scarborough to Burniston Coastal Walk – A stunning circular route with clifftop views and a pub stop at the Three Jolly Sailors.
• North Bay & Peasholm Park Loop – A relaxed stroll taking in Scarborough’s beautiful North Bay.
• Scarborough to Whitby Cinder Track Walk – A spectacular long-distance walk along the Cinder Track.
• South Bay & Clock Cafe Walk – A classic seaside promenade walk with wonderful harbour views.
• Scarborough to Filey Coastal Walk – A scenic coastal route towards the sweeping sands of Filey Bay.

Many of these routes are perfect for a relaxing coastal break in Scarborough, combining fresh sea air with gentle exploration.

View across North Bay towards Scarborough Castle from Scalby Mills – the starting point for many coastal walks along the Cleveland Way.

Scarborough to Burniston Coastal Walk

This is one of our favourite circular walks from Seaside Hideaway and a route many of our guests enjoy during their stay. The walk combines dramatic Yorkshire Coast scenery, wide open farmland and a traditional village pub stop before returning along the peaceful Cinder Track.

Leave the hotel and head down towards North Bay, joining the promenade and following the seafront north past the beach huts and the Sea Life Centre. Continue along the path towards Scalby Mills, passing the historic harbour and the well-known Scalby Mills pub.

From here cross the beck and climb up onto the Cleveland Way National Trail. The path follows the clifftops northwards with sweeping views across the North Sea and along the rugged Yorkshire coastline. On clear days the views stretch for miles, making this one of the most scenic stretches of coastal walking near Scarborough.

The route continues past open farmland and dramatic cliff scenery before reaching Burniston Rocks, a particularly beautiful section of the coastline.

From Burniston Rocks turn inland along Station Road, which leads into the village of Burniston. Here you’ll find the much-loved Three Jolly Sailors, a perfect place to stop for lunch, refreshments, or simply a well-earned rest before the return journey.

To complete the circular route, leave the village and join the nearby Cinder Track, the former railway line that once connected Scarborough and Whitby. The level path makes for a relaxed and easy return walk back towards North Bay and Seaside Hideaway.

Walk Details

• Distance: Approximately 9 miles circular
• Shorter option: Walk to Burniston (around 5 miles) and take the bus back
• Bus return: The bus stops outside the Three Jolly Sailors and drops off across the road from Seaside Hideaway
• Difficulty: Moderate coastal walk
• Highlights: Cleveland Way clifftop scenery, Burniston Rocks, open farmland and a traditional Yorkshire village pub stop

Peasholm Park & North Bay Walk

This gentle circular walk is one of the easiest and most relaxing routes from Seaside Hideaway. It’s perfect for a morning stroll, an afternoon wander, or simply stretching your legs while enjoying some of Scarborough’s most loved green spaces.

Leave the hotel and head down the hill towards Peasholm Park, one of Scarborough’s most beautiful and historic parks. Enter the park and follow the path around the lake in an anti-clockwise direction, enjoying the peaceful views across the water.

As you make your way around the lake you’ll pass the famous wishing well, where guests are welcome to make a wish to return to Seaside Hideaway one day.

If you have time, it’s well worth taking a small detour into Peasholm Glen. This sheltered woodland valley is home to some of the oldest trees in the borough, along with carved wooden sculptures hidden among the trees. The glen is also a favourite spot for the local squirrels and ducks who are always happy to greet visitors.

Continuing around the lake brings you to Peasholm Café, a lovely place to stop for a cuppa. During the summer months visitors can also enjoy a gentle paddle on the famous dragon boats that circle the lake.

Leaving the park, head down towards North Bay beach where a leisurely stroll along the promenade offers wonderful sea views across the bay. Along the way you can pause at North Bay Adventure Golf for a drink or a coffee while watching the tides roll in and out.

To complete the walk, continue along the promenade before heading back up towards the Scarborough Open Air Theatre. From here a small woodland path through the glen leads back up towards Seaside Hideaway.

Walk Details

• Distance: Approximately 3 miles including Peasholm Glen
• Shorter option: Around 2.5 miles if you skip the glen detour
• Difficulty: Easy, mostly flat paths
• Highlights: Peasholm Park lake, dragon boats, woodland glen, North Bay beach and sea views

This walk can be enjoyed at any time of day, but one of our favourite times is mid-afternoon when the squirrels are often out in Peasholm Glen.

Scarborough to Whitby Walk (Cinder Track & Cleveland Way)

This is one of the great walks of the Yorkshire Coast and a route we return to several times each year. The journey to Whitby can be completed either along the Cinder Track or by sections of the Cleveland Way, with both routes sharing parts of the same path and offering spectacular coastal scenery along the way.

From Seaside Hideaway it’s a short walk of around 600 metres to reach the Cinder Track. Once on the track, the route heads north through Scalby and Burniston before the landscape begins to open up as you approach Cloughton. The old station at Hayburn Wyke makes a great place for a short pause before the gentle climb up towards Ravenscar.

As you leave Hayburn Wyke the countryside really begins to feel wild and open. The gradual climb eventually brings you to Ravenscar where the views across Robin Hood’s Bay are simply incredible. This is a perfect place to stop for tea or refreshments at either the village tea rooms or the National Trust visitor centre.

Leaving Ravenscar, sections of the Cleveland Way briefly join the same route before the Cinder Track continues northwards along the clifftops. For the next few miles the path offers stunning views across Robin Hood’s Bay and the dramatic Yorkshire coastline.

Arriving at Robin Hood’s Bay provides another natural stopping point, with cafés, pubs and facilities available. Many walkers choose to take a break here, although we often push on towards Whitby with the finish now firmly in sight.

The final section crosses open moorland where the scenery changes with the seasons — particularly beautiful when the gorse is in bloom during spring. As the cliffs open up ahead you’ll begin to see Whitby Abbey in the distance before the path winds down into the town.

The Cinder Track eventually leaves you near Pannett Park, from where it’s an easy walk down into Whitby town centre and the bus station. After a walk like this, a well-earned drink in one of the nearby pubs while waiting for the bus back to Scarborough is highly recommended.

Walk Details

• Distance: Approximately 20–21 miles depending on route choice
• Time: Around 6 hours via the Cinder Track or 7–7.5 hours via sections of the Cleveland Way
• Difficulty: Long-distance walk suitable for experienced walkers
• Highlights: Hayburn Wyke valley, Ravenscar views across Robin Hood’s Bay, clifftop scenery, moorland landscapes and Whitby Abbey appearing on the horizon
• Return options: Regular buses run from Whitby bus station back to Scarborough, stopping close to Seaside Hideaway

This is a truly memorable day’s walking and one of the most rewarding ways to experience the Yorkshire Coast.

North Bay to the Clock Café Walk

This walk is a lovely way to experience both sides of Scarborough’s coastline in one relaxed outing. It combines sea views, harbour scenery, and a well-earned stop for refreshments at one of the town’s most famous cafés.

Leave Seaside Hideaway and follow the wooded path down towards the Scarborough Open Air Theatre. From here turn left and head down towards North Bay beach, joining the promenade for an easy stroll along the seafront.

The walk follows the curve of North Bay with wonderful views towards Scarborough Castle. Along the way you’ll pass Hairy Bob’s Cave and enjoy some of the best castle views anywhere along the coastline. At high tide you may even find yourself dodging the occasional wave rolling onto the promenade.

As you round the headland onto Marine Drive, keep an eye out to sea as dolphins are sometimes spotted along this stretch of coastline. A viewing area along the drive offers fantastic views back across North Bay before the path continues down towards the harbour.

From the harbour the walk continues past the arcades and along the seafront where a stop at the famous Harbour Bar for an ice cream is almost essential. (Jim’s favourite is a chocolate twist with flakes.)

Continue along the South Bay seafront past the amusements and towards the Spa. Just beyond the Spa you’ll find the wonderful Clock Café. If the flag is flying you’re in luck — it’s open. Their freshly baked scones served with butter, jam and cream are legendary and make this walk worth doing in their own right.

After your stop you have two options for returning to the hotel. You can stroll up through the beautiful Italian Gardens to the Esplanade before heading back through town and across Spa Bridge. Alternatively, return to the Spa and take one of Scarborough’s iconic open-top buses, which will drop you near the bottom of the hill from Seaside Hideaway.

Walk Details

• Distance: Around 3 miles with the bus return, or approximately 5 miles if walking back through town
• Difficulty: Easy seaside walk
• Highlights: North Bay promenade, castle views, harbour atmosphere, Harbour Bar ice cream and the famous scones at the Clock Café

Scarborough to Filey Cliff Walk

This is one of our absolute favourite walks along the Yorkshire Coast. The route follows the Cleveland Way south from Scarborough and offers mile after mile of spectacular clifftop scenery, wide open views and some of the most dramatic coastline anywhere in Yorkshire.

Leaving Seaside Hideaway, head down towards Marine Drive and follow the seafront around the headland before continuing along South Bay towards the Clock Café. From here climb up through the gardens to the Esplanade where you can pick up the Cleveland Way coastal path.

The path winds its way around the back of South Cliff Golf Club before reaching the beautiful valley at Cornelian Bay. From here the landscape begins to open up as the path follows the dramatic clifftops along the back of Cayton Bay.

This stretch of coastline is truly special. The cliffs rise high above the beach and the views stretch for miles in both directions. Even during busy times the path feels wonderfully open and peaceful.

Continuing along the Cleveland Way you’ll pass the cliffs at Yons Nab before the coastline begins to curve towards Filey Brigg. As you walk behind the campsites at Flower of May, Crows Nest and Blue Dolphin, the cliffs become steeper and the views more dramatic.

The final section approaching Filey is particularly memorable. The towering cliffs behind Filey Brigg and the sweeping views across Filey Bay are often accompanied by crashing waves far below.

From Filey Brigg the path leads into Filey Country Park before dropping down into the town itself. Our favourite stop at the end of the walk is the Star Inn for a well-earned drink before the short stroll to the bus station for the journey back to Scarborough.

Walk Details

• Distance: Approximately 9 miles
• Time: Around 3–3.5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate coastal walking
• Highlights: Cayton Bay cliffs, Yons Nab, Filey Brigg and wide open coastal views
• Return: Bus from Filey bus station to Scarborough railway station, then a short walk or local bus back to Seaside Hideaway

More Walks to Explore from Seaside Hideaway

These are just a few of our favourite walks from Seaside Hideaway, but the truth is there are many more to discover along the Yorkshire Coast and across the North York Moors.

Over the years we’ve spent countless days exploring the paths around Scarborough, from gentle seaside strolls to longer adventures along the Cleveland Way. Some of our favourite days out have been simple walks along the clifftops watching the changing colours of the sea, spotting dolphins off Marine Drive, or finding a quiet stretch of path where you feel like you have the whole coastline to yourself.

If you’re planning a walking break in Scarborough we’re always very happy to help with ideas. Whether you’re looking for a short scenic walk before breakfast, a circular route with a good pub stop, or a longer day exploring the coast towards Whitby or Filey, we’re always glad to share our favourite routes and local tips.

The Yorkshire Coast is a wonderful place to explore on foot, and stepping straight out of Seaside Hideaway onto the coastal paths is one of the things we love most about living here.

Some of our best days here have simply started by stepping out of the front door and seeing where the path leads.

Many of these routes are ideal during a quiet off-peak break, when the coastline is at its most peaceful.

If you’re planning a walking break on the Yorkshire Coast and would like some ideas, we’re always happy to help. Feel free to get in touch or check our availability here if you’d like to stay at Seaside Hideaway and explore these walks for yourself.

Walking in Scarborough – Frequently Asked Questions

Stay at Seaside Hideaway Hotel in Scarborough

After a day exploring the coastline and countryside around Scarborough, there’s nothing better than returning somewhere comfortable to relax and unwind. At Seaside Hideaway Hotel, Jim and Sarah offer a warm welcome, comfortable rooms and a great location in North Bay, perfectly placed for many of the area’s best walking routes.

Whether you’re planning a short coastal stroll or a full day on the Cleveland Way, the hotel provides an ideal base for a coastal walking break in Scarborough. In autumn especially, when the light turns golden and the paths are quieter, many guests enjoy our Autumn Coastal Breaks, combining beautiful walks with a peaceful stay by the sea.

Our boutique rooms offer a comfortable place to recharge, while the relaxed setting makes it easy to unwind in the evening after time spent outdoors.

Many walking routes can also be combined with local events and seasonal activities — see what’s on during your stay.