Why visit Filey?
Family fun on the beach
Fabulous Filey beach is a dramatic five-mile sweep of sand, bookended by a rocky promontory to the north and RSPB Bempton Cliffs to the south, known for its puffin colonies in summer. Backed by brightly painted wooden huts, the beach itself is popular for dog walks (some seasonal restrictions apply), horse riding and kite flying as well as summer swims, paddleboarding and sailing. If you fancy a change of scenery, take a trip to other – slightly busier – family-friendly beaches at Bridlington, Whitby and Scarborough.
Days out with the kids
Away from the beach, the Filey district has lots to offer families, no matter the age of the kids. Take toddlers to meet donkeys and goats at Playdale Farm Park, download the app and follow the Dinosaur Safari around Crescent Gardens, or see the vintage cars and colourful painted carousels at Scarborough Fair Collection and Vintage Transport Museum. There are Humboldt penguins to be fed at Sea Life Scarborough, or you can spend the day on adrenaline rides at Flamingo Land Resort, near Pickering.
Heritage highlights
Culture vultures won’t be short changed either. Lovely Burton Agnes Hall is an Elizabethan treasure with fragrant walled gardens and woodland walks where dogs are welcome, and there’s another architectural gem at Scampston Hall, with an elegant Regency-style house to explore as well as water gardens and parkland designed by Capability Brown. You can also head to the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to tour the sumptuous apartments at stately Castle Howard or spot all the temples and statues that scatter the grounds.
Countryside adventures
If you want to get out into some bracing Yorkshire air, Filey’s Centenary Way – a circular walk with great sea views – is a lovely easy hike or an introduction to walking for the kids. More serious hikers can follow sections of the long-distance Cleveland Way, which starts at Filey Brigg and wends its way inland to gorgeous Helmsley. And of course, with the Yorkshire Wolds and North York Moors National Park in Filey’s back garden, there are bike rides and walking trails galore for all ages and abilities.
Essential things to do in Filey
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Take the kids rock pooling for crabs and other marine life at Filey Brigg, the promontory at the northern end of Filey Beach
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Follow the Seafront Sculpture Trail along the promenade for North Sea views combined with art masterpieces by local artist Russ Coleman
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Learn to surf at Cayton Bay, which has consistent waves, board hire from the watersports centre and lifeguards on duty in summer
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One for families: feed the goats and chirrup along with the cheeky cockatoos at Filey Bird Garden and Animal Park
Unusual things to do in Filey
Discover Victorian Filey
The Victorian period transformed Filey from a small seaside fishing village to a wealthy resort town. Admire the splendid stucco-fronted Victorian townhouses in the elegant, curving Crescent, fronted by neatly planted formal gardens with North Sea views, then see how wealthy Victorians lived in the period rooms at Filey Museum.
Tour a distillery
The Spirit of Yorkshire distillery was established in 2016 and uses all local ingredients to produce Yorkshire’s first single malt whisky. You can take daily guided tours of the gleaming copper pot stills and taste a few tots of finest Filey Bay liquid gold before enjoying sandwiches, scones and a decent cuppa for afternoon tea.
Watch the birdie
The wetland habitat at Filey Dams Nature Reserve is a magnet for wildlife. Walk along the boardwalk to the hides, where you might see migrating wading birds like sandpipers and greenshanks. In spring, look out for barn owls in the nesting box by the pool, while always keeping an eye out for newts and toads too.
Here’s how
Once you’ve decided upon Filey, you’ll need to consider what sort of accommodation you’re looking for. Keep prices down by going off-grid for a real back-to-nature experience, or push the boat out and stay in a luxurious glamping pod with a hot tub thrown in.
Whatever you’re looking for – fishing, a play area or somewhere for a campfire, perhaps – use the Pitchup tick-box filters to narrow down your choices and find the outdoor holiday that suits you and yours. If you’re stuck for inspiration, try some of our most popular collections.
Family-friendly Filey campsites
Filey campsites with electricity
The Yorkshire coast not for you? If you’d rather have easy access to untamed moorland countryside, pretty towns like Easingwold and Helmsley in the North York Moors National Park are yours to explore too. And of course, we’ve got masses of wonderful campsites right across the north of England, from the Lake District and Cumbria to Northumberland.
