If you are planning a coastal break in North Yorkshire, Scarborough and Filey are two of the easiest and most rewarding places to add to your stay. From High Oaks Grange near Pickering, both resorts are within easy reach, making them ideal for day trips that combine beaches, family attractions, food and coastal walks with time back at the edge of the North York Moors.
Staying at High Oaks Grange gives you a well-placed base to explore both Scarborough and Filey, combining lively seaside days with quieter coastal stops during the same break.
Scarborough brings classic seaside energy, major attractions and a busy events calendar, while Filey offers a gentler pace, a wide sandy beach and a more relaxed feel. Together, they make a strong combination for couples, families and short breaks that want more than one kind of Yorkshire coast experience.
Compare lodges, cottages and glamping for your coastal break.
Stay at High Oaks Grange for Scarborough and Filey
Choosing somewhere well placed for both the coast and countryside can make a short break feel much easier. High Oaks Grange works well for guests who want to spend time by the sea while still having straightforward access to Pickering, the North York Moors and other North Yorkshire highlights.
Lodges near Scarborough
Browse our lodges if you want a comfortable base with space, privacy and a more relaxed setting after a day on the coast. They work especially well for longer days out, and some guests will value the extra comfort of features such as hot tubs when returning in the evening.
Cottages near Scarborough
Our cottages near Scarborough are well suited to guests who want flexible self-catering accommodation for a few days by the coast. They are ideal for longer stays where you want the freedom to mix beach time, coastal attractions and quieter days inland.
Glamping near Scarborough
For shorter, experience-led stays, our glamping near Scarborough offers a memorable way to enjoy North Yorkshire. It suits couples and short-break guests who want easy access to the coast without giving up the atmosphere of a countryside stay.
Compare accommodation for your Scarborough and Filey break.
For more ideas, you can also browse our weekend breaks in North Yorkshire, countryside retreats in North Yorkshire, romantic breaks in North Yorkshire and family holidays in North Yorkshire.
Things to Do in Scarborough
South Bay
South Bay is Scarborough’s classic seaside setting, with a broad beach, promenade, harbour atmosphere and the kind of traditional resort feel many visitors are looking for. This is where you get the full seafront experience, from sand and sea views to arcades, cafés and that familiar Yorkshire coast energy.
It works well for families, casual beach days and first-time visitors who want the best-known side of Scarborough. If your trip is built around a traditional seaside day out, South Bay is usually the natural place to begin.
North Bay
North Bay offers a slightly calmer and more scenic side of Scarborough. It is a good choice if you enjoy open views, walking and a stretch of coast that feels a little less traditional than South Bay while still being close to major attractions.
This part of Scarborough also links well with attractions such as SEA LIFE Scarborough, Alpamare and Peasholm Park, which makes it useful for visitors planning a fuller day rather than just time on the beach.
Scarborough Castle
Scarborough Castle is one of the town’s most recognisable landmarks, set high above the sea with wide views over the coastline. It adds history and a strong sense of place to the visit, especially if you want more than beaches and seafront attractions from your day in Scarborough.
The headland setting is a big part of the appeal. Even before you get into the history, it gives you some of the best viewpoints in the town and helps connect Scarborough’s seafront with its longer story as one of Yorkshire’s best-known coastal destinations.
For visitor information, see the Scarborough Castle page from English Heritage.
Alpamare Water Park
Alpamare is one of Scarborough’s strongest all-weather family attractions, combining slides, pools and spa facilities in one site at North Bay.
It is a good option for families wanting more than beach time, and it also helps add flexibility if the weather is mixed. If you are planning a family coastal break, our family holidays in North Yorkshire page is also worth a look.
Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Scarborough Open Air Theatre is one of the town’s biggest draws during the summer season. It adds another layer to the resort beyond beaches and family attractions, especially if you are planning a break around a concert or evening event. For official listings and visitor information, see the Scarborough Open Air Theatre website.
It also helps make Scarborough feel like a place for evenings and live entertainment, not only daytime sightseeing.
Scarborough Spa
Scarborough Spa adds another classic landmark to the seafront, bringing together live shows, concerts, exhibitions and seasonal entertainment in a building that sits directly above South Bay. For official information and what’s on, visit the Scarborough Spa website.
For visitors, Scarborough Spa helps balance the beach and promenade with indoor entertainment and a more traditional seaside venue atmosphere. It is also useful if you are planning a break around a particular show or event date.
SEA LIFE Scarborough
SEA LIFE Scarborough remains one of the most recognisable family attractions in the town and fits naturally into a North Bay itinerary. It is an easy addition for families wanting a mix of coastal scenery and indoor activity, especially when travelling with younger children.
It also adds variety to the day, which can be useful if you are balancing beach time with attractions that feel a little more structured.
Sea wildlife cruises and coastal boat trips
Boat trips from Scarborough offer a different way to enjoy the North Yorkshire coast, taking you out beyond the seafront for views back towards the bays, cliffs and headland. They can be one of the most memorable additions to a day by the coast, especially if you want something a little more experience-led.
Some local wildlife trips and boat operators highlight regular sightings of seals and seabirds, with porpoises and bottlenose dolphins sometimes seen in the summer months. That means every trip is slightly different, but it adds a sense of excitement that works especially well for families and couples looking for more than the usual seaside routine.
Peasholm Park
Peasholm Park offers a different pace from the busier parts of the seafront. It is a good place for a gentler walk, a change of scene and a more relaxed hour or two during a day in Scarborough.
That calmer side is part of what makes Scarborough work well for mixed groups. You can move easily between traditional seaside attractions, family activities and quieter stops without needing to travel far.
Fish and chips and seaside food
Food is part of the Scarborough experience, whether that means fish and chips by the seafront, ice cream on the promenade or a more relaxed lunch stop between attractions. This is one of those destinations where eating by the coast feels like part of the day rather than just a practical stop.
Scarborough’s food appeal also works well alongside Filey. You can enjoy the livelier seafront atmosphere in Scarborough, then slow the pace later in the day with a quieter coastal walk further south.
For more food-led ideas during your stay, explore our food and drink experiences in Yorkshire.
Events and festivals in Scarborough
Scarborough is not only a summer beach destination. Its live venues, sporting events and seafront celebrations help make it a year-round coastal destination with a busy events calendar. That is useful for guests who want to plan a short break around something specific rather than just hope for good weather.
For current dates and event details, check the official Scarborough events listings.
Oliver’s Mount road racing
Oliver’s Mount is one of Scarborough’s most distinctive attractions for event-led visitors. Its motorcycle race weekends give the town a specialist motorsport identity and attract a loyal audience from well beyond the Yorkshire coast.
Even if you are not visiting specifically for racing, Oliver’s Mount adds another side to Scarborough’s appeal and helps explain why the town can feel especially lively on certain weekends.
Armed Forces Day and seafront events
Scarborough’s seafront events also add a big seasonal atmosphere. Celebrations such as Armed Forces Day bring parades, displays and extra energy to South Bay, helping the resort feel even more vibrant during major summer weekends.
Alongside headline events, Scarborough often feels at its most lively during weekends and holiday periods, when the seafront becomes part of the attraction in its own right.
Scarborough Cricket Festival
The Scarborough Cricket Festival adds another long-running event tradition to the town’s calendar. Held at North Marine Road and closely linked with Yorkshire cricket, it gives Scarborough a different kind of summer atmosphere and attracts visitors who enjoy sport as part of a coastal break.
It also shows that Scarborough’s appeal goes well beyond the beach. Alongside the seafront, live venues and seasonal attractions, the cricket festival brings another reason to plan a visit around specific dates during the summer.
Concerts and live events
Between Scarborough Open Air Theatre and Scarborough Spa, the town has two strong venues for live entertainment. That makes it easier to build a stay around music, comedy, touring shows or other event dates rather than only around beach weather.
For guests at High Oaks Grange, this can work particularly well on a short break: a day on the coast, an evening event, then time elsewhere in North Yorkshire on the following day.
Visit Filey for a quieter coastal experience
Filey makes an excellent contrast to Scarborough. Where Scarborough feels lively and varied, Filey is often chosen for its gentler pace, broad beach and more relaxed atmosphere. Including both in the same break gives you two very different versions of the North Yorkshire coast.
Filey Beach
Filey Beach is one of the town’s biggest draws: long, sandy and particularly good for traditional family beach time. It has a more open and calmer feel than Scarborough’s main bays, which is part of what makes it so appealing for slower coastal days.
For guests who enjoy beach walks, paddling, simple seaside time and a less hurried rhythm, Filey is often one of the most satisfying places to visit on this part of the coast.
Filey Brigg
Filey Brigg adds a natural feature and a more scenic walking option to the day. It is a good place for coastal views, a bit of exploration and a side of Filey that feels more landscape-led than resort-led. For more information, see the Filey Brigg visitor page.
That mix of beach and natural coastline is one of Filey’s strengths. You can keep things easy and family-friendly, or make the visit a little more walk-focused depending on the mood of the day.
Slower pace and coastal walks
Filey suits couples and guests looking for a calmer coastal stop during their break. It is also a good choice if you want to balance busier attractions with somewhere that feels quieter and easier to explore at a slower pace.
This is one of the reasons Scarborough and Filey work so well together. You do not have to choose between a classic seaside day and a more relaxed coastal outing when both are within easy reach during the same stay.
Combining Scarborough and Filey in one trip
- Morning: Scarborough beach, harbour and attractions
- Afternoon: Filey for a quieter walk and coastal views
This is one of the easiest ways to get more variety from a coastal day. You can start with Scarborough’s main seafront atmosphere, then enjoy a calmer finish in Filey. If you are also exploring more of the coast during your stay, our Whitby guide is worth reading too.
Why stay just outside Scarborough?
Scarborough is a lively and popular seaside town, especially during weekends and summer months. Staying just outside the town can give you a little more space and flexibility, while still making it easy to visit the coast during the day.
During major events, including race weekends at Oliver’s Mount and seafront celebrations such as Armed Forces Day, staying nearby gives you the flexibility to enjoy the atmosphere while returning to a more relaxed setting afterwards.
For many guests, that balance works well. You can enjoy Scarborough and Filey as part of a wider break, while also keeping easy access to Pickering, the North York Moors and the surrounding countryside.
Getting to Scarborough and Filey
Scarborough and Filey are both straightforward to reach from High Oaks Grange, usually around 35 to 45 minutes by car depending on your route and final destination.
The journey works well as part of the break too, especially if you are combining the coast with scenic drives through the North York Moors or using the A170 for an easy cross-region route.
Visiting on a short break
- Day 1: Arrival and time in Pickering
- Day 2: Scarborough and Filey, with attractions or events depending on the season
- Day 3: The North York Moors, Dalby Forest or another relaxed day out
This kind of itinerary works well because it mixes coast, countryside and town visits without making the break feel rushed.
Why visit Scarborough and Filey from High Oaks Grange?
- Scarborough offers classic seaside atmosphere, beaches, attractions and major live events.
- Filey provides a quieter coastal option with a long sandy beach and scenic walks.
- Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Scarborough Spa, Scarborough Cricket Festival and Armed Forces Day add variety through the year.
- Scarborough and Filey are easy day trips from High Oaks Grange near Pickering.
- The coast works especially well as part of a wider North Yorkshire break that also includes the moors and surrounding countryside.
FAQs about visiting Scarborough and Filey
Is Scarborough worth visiting?
Yes. Scarborough is one of the best-known places on the North Yorkshire coast, with beaches, family attractions, live venues, food and a strong year-round events calendar.
Is Filey quieter than Scarborough?
Yes, in general Filey has a calmer and more relaxed feel than Scarborough, which is one of the reasons the two work so well together on the same break.
Can you visit both in one day?
Yes. Scarborough and Filey are close enough to combine in one coastal day, with Scarborough offering the busier seaside attractions and Filey providing a quieter finish.
Are there events in Scarborough?
Yes. Scarborough hosts concerts, sporting events, shows and seafront celebrations through the year, with major dates linked to venues such as Scarborough Open Air Theatre and Scarborough Spa, as well as events including Oliver’s Mount race weekends, the Scarborough Cricket Festival and Armed Forces Day.
Where should I stay near Scarborough?
Many guests choose to stay near Pickering at High Oaks Grange so they can enjoy Scarborough and Filey as part of a wider North Yorkshire break that also includes the moors, countryside and other coastal towns.
How far is Scarborough from Pickering?
Scarborough is usually around 35 to 45 minutes by car from High Oaks Grange near Pickering, making it an easy and popular day trip during a short break.
Plan your stay near Scarborough and Filey
If you want to include Scarborough and Filey in a wider North Yorkshire break, High Oaks Grange offers a convenient and comfortable base nearby. Stay in lodges, cottages or glamping near Pickering, with easy access to the coast, the North York Moors and surrounding countryside.
