Best Beaches on the East Yorkshire Coast

Miles of sand, chalk coves, and quiet stretches where you can walk for an hour without seeing another person.

The East Yorkshire coast doesn't attract the same crowds as Cornwall or Devon, and that's part of its appeal. From the chalk bays below Flamborough Head to the long, flat sands of Holderness, there's a beach here for every mood. Some are lively with fish-and-chip stalls and donkey rides. Others are so empty you'll wonder if you've taken a wrong turn. All of them sit within easy reach of the cottage, most no more than 30 minutes' drive.

Fraisthorpe Beach

If you want a proper stretch of sand without the crowds, Fraisthorpe is the one. This wide, flat beach runs south from Bridlington towards Barmston, backed by low clay cliffs and farmland rather than promenades and amusement arcades. At low tide the sand seems to go on forever.

Dogs are welcome here year-round with no restrictions, which makes it a favourite with local dog walkers. There's a small car park at the end of the access road (pay and display in summer, often free in winter), and that's about it for facilities. No cafes, no toilets, no ice cream van. Bring what you need and enjoy the simplicity.

The beach is exposed, so it can be bracing when the wind blows off the North Sea. On a calm summer evening, though, it's one of the loveliest spots on this coast. See our dog-friendly Yorkshire guide for more places to take your dog.

Bridlington North and South Beaches

Bridlington's north beach is the main family beach in the area. It's wide, sandy, and backed by a promenade with all the usual seaside facilities: cafes, ice cream kiosks, public toilets, and a few amusement arcades. RNLI lifeguards patrol during summer. The harbour, with its fishing boats and crab stalls, sits between the two beaches and is worth a wander.

The south beach is quieter and less developed. It stretches away towards Fraisthorpe and is better for walking than the north side. There's a car park at the southern end of the promenade, and from there you can walk along the sand as far as your legs will carry you.

Bridlington is about 30 minutes from the cottage. Parking near the seafront fills up on sunny weekends, so arrive before 11 if you want a good spot. For a full day out with children, combine the beach with Sewerby Hall and Gardens, which sit on the clifftop just north of town. Our family days out guide has more suggestions.

Flamborough Coves

The beaches at Flamborough Head are different from anything else on this coast. Instead of long, flat sands, you get small coves tucked below chalk cliffs. North Landing and South Landing are the two main access points, both reached by steep roads down to the shore.

North Landing is the more picturesque of the two. Fishing cobles still launch from the slipway, and the chalk cliffs frame a sheltered bay with clear water. It's a good spot for rock pooling with children, though the beach itself is shingle and sand rather than pure sand. A cafe at the top of the slipway sells hot drinks and snacks.

South Landing is sandier and slightly more sheltered for swimming. There's a small car park and a path down to the beach. Both landings can be linked by the clifftop path, a walk of about 3 miles each way with stunning views. For more on the Flamborough area, see our Yorkshire coast day trips guide.

Hornsea Beach

Hornsea sits on the Holderness coast, roughly 30 minutes south-east of the cottage. The beach is a mix of sand and shingle, backed by a concrete promenade and low clay cliffs. It's not the prettiest coastline, but the town has a friendly, unpretentious feel and the beach is rarely overcrowded even in summer.

The promenade runs for about a mile and makes a pleasant stroll. There are public toilets, a few cafes, and the Hornsea Freeport outlet shopping centre nearby. The real draw at Hornsea, though, is the Mere just inland, Yorkshire's largest natural lake and a fine spot for birdwatching and gentle walks.

Dogs are allowed on parts of Hornsea beach year-round, with some seasonal restrictions on the main section during summer. Check the signage when you arrive.

Spurn Point

Spurn isn't a beach day in the traditional sense. It's a narrow spit of sand and gravel extending 3.5 miles into the Humber estuary, managed as a nature reserve by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. The walk to the tip and back takes around 3 hours and passes abandoned military buildings, a disused lighthouse, and the pilot station.

The beaches along the spit are wild and empty. Swimming isn't advisable due to strong currents, but for a walk in a genuinely unusual landscape, Spurn is hard to beat. Birdwatching is excellent, especially during spring and autumn migration when rare species turn up regularly.

Spurn is about 50 minutes from the cottage. The access road can flood at very high tides, so check conditions before you go. It's worth a full day rather than a quick visit.

Withernsea

Withernsea is a small, quiet resort on the Holderness coast, about 40 minutes south-east of the cottage. The beach is sandy with some shingle higher up, and there's a promenade and a few cafes. The town has an honest, slightly faded charm that some visitors find more appealing than polished seaside resorts.

The inland lighthouse, now a museum, is an oddity worth seeing. It stands in the middle of the town, several streets back from the sea, a reminder of how much the Holderness coastline has eroded over the centuries. The Meridian Players community theatre adds a touch of cultural life.

Planning Your Beach Days

A week at the cottage gives you time to try several beaches. Fraisthorpe for a quiet morning walk with the dog, Bridlington for a family afternoon, Flamborough for rock pools and cliff views, Spurn for something different. The weather will decide as much as anything; a breezy day that's too bracing for sitting on the sand might be perfect for a clifftop walk at Flamborough.

Bring layers. Even in July, the wind off the North Sea can have a bite. And don't write off winter beaches. Fraisthorpe on a crisp December morning, with the sand firm underfoot and the sky enormous, is something special.