Enjoy a wild sandy beach perfect for surfing, fossil hunting, and dog walks with dramatic Jurassic cliffs and excellent water quality.

Cayton Bay is a picturesque sandy beach located approximately 3 miles south of Scarborough, renowned for its natural beauty and outdoor activities. The beach features a large sweep of fine sand backed by impressive cliffs formed during the Jurassic period around 150 million years ago, creating a distinctive wild atmosphere that appeals to both families and adventure seekers. The bay is particularly famous as a premier surfing destination, home to one of the UK's longest-established surf schools operating since 1989. Beyond water sports, visitors can enjoy swimming during suitable conditions, rock pooling at lower tides, fossil hunting along the cliffs, and birdwatching. The Cleveland Way coastal path runs along the cliffs above the beach, offering scenic walks towards Scarborough or Filey. Cayton Bay is dog-friendly year-round, making it an excellent choice for families with pets, especially compared to other Scarborough beaches with restrictions. The beach has earned Marine Conservation Society Recommended status with excellent water quality ratings. Basic facilities include toilets, a café, and a shop near the main beach access. The beach is protected by RNLI lifeguards during summer months, with daily patrols from early July to early September between 10am and 6pm. Visitors should note that access involves a steep path from the clifftop, which may be challenging for wheelchairs or pushchairs, but the rewarding sandy beach and natural attractions make it worth the effort.

Venue Details

What this place offers

Toilets

Public transport nearby

Accessible toilets

Free WiFi

Baby changing facilities

Food available

On-site parking

🐕Dog-friendly

Parking nearby

Pushchair friendly

☕ Food & Drink

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David Hardy

4 weeks ago

Cayton bay has a nice wide stretch of beach. Car park has plenty of spaces with access to the beach down a steep footpath which some may find difficult. Tje beach has lifeguards watching over visitors. The beach cafe serves a variety of snacks and drinks etc. Does get busy though.

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Mark Shenton

2 months ago

What a lovely beach lots of space found lots of sea glass sea was a bit could lol but worth the hard walk down the steps are more harder than the slopes where the carpark is but both are challenging but we'll worth the effort

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Przemyslaw Pecikiewicz

2 months ago

Cayton Bay – a really beautiful and peaceful beach with amazing views, perfect for paddleboard ING. The beach has a great relaxed atmosphere and feels less crowded than many tourist beaches nearby. Ideal for family walks, chilling out, and spending the day by the sea. The only downside is the access to the beach — the walk down is quite steep and can be challenging, especially if you’re carrying a paddleboard or other equipment. Comfortable shoes are definitely recommended. Overall, highly recommended for a day trip, especially in good weather.

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Nicola Laurie

2 months ago

Beautiful beach to take the dog for a walk. Plenty of parking either on the road or car park at the top of the cliffs. Very steep path down to the beach to be aware of.

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Michael Hedley

7 months ago

Nice beach and cliff walks start from here. There is a little car park at the cliff top £1.50 for the first hour. But everyone seems to park on the access road. There is a toilet at the car park but it was locked when we where there (December).Good views up to Scarborough.

Reviews last updated: 29 September 2026