Scarborough to Filey, North Yorkshire UK

• 5-star hike
• 8.0 to 9.6 miles each way
• Medium difficulty | Gain 950 to 1,150ft (290-350m)
• Scarborough, North Yorkshire | United Kingdom
• Driving Directions: Scarborough, Filey


Scarborough's South Bay and Spa Theater.

Popular as a seaside resort since the early seventeenth century, Scarborough still thrives today, with visitors flocking to the North Yorkshire town for its beaches, parks, history and many attractions. Things to see include Scarborough Castle, North Bay's Peasholm Park and miniature railway, South Bay's beach and harbour, combined with a well-regarded theater and a couple of museums. This coastal hike connects Scarborough with the smaller resort town of Filey, which also marks the start of the 109 mile Cleveland Way path.

We chose to begin our walking journey from the center of Filey, picking up the start of the Cleveland Way by Filey Brigg and walking north in the direction of Scarborough. Tackling the route in the opposite direction is likely to be just as rewarding and involves around the same amount of elevation gain.

Cleveland Way Section, Station to Station, Expand ↓ Map

Cleveland Way Section 5★
8.0 miles each way, Easy, Gain 950ft (290m)
Trailspotting Map: AllTrails

Station to Station 5★
9.6 miles each way, Easy, Gain 1,150ft (350m)
Trailspotting Map at AllTrails

A one-way hike of this route is easy thanks to public transit. We've included an extended version of this trail that connects the railway stations of Scarborough and Filey, though you can also use a public bus or a taxi service instead. Here's a link to the Rome2Rio website that describes the options available to you.

Surrounded by wildflowers and various seabirds, the narrow trail leads along cliff edges past panoramic North Sea views, beaches and diverse landscapes. A mid-way stop at Cayton Bay and its long sandy beach is a great way to catch your breath and enjoy a cup of tea from the cafe next to the trail. Watch out for the boxy concrete structures on the beach - these are the remains of several World War II defense structures, including pillboxes, gun emplacements and the remains of tank traps.


Cleveland Way coastal views.

We were tempted to rate this trail as easy because most of the walk is over relatively flat terrain, though there are several brief hilly sections to tackle, which may leave some folk out of breath. Just north of Cayton Bay we've shown a diversionary route in blue that avoid one of these short hill climbs, but it does mean you'll be walking on a paved footpath adjacent to a road, instead of trail.

Free car parking can be found in residential neighborhoods of Filey and Scarborough and paid parking is also available at both resorts. Our driving directions above link to free Scarborough roadside parking, and a paid lot by Filey Brigg. Blue dots on our map show several parking opportunities close to the trail.

The Cleveland Way Coastal and moorland landscapes along this world-class 109 mile trail that includes Scarborough, Whitby and the North York Moors National Park. Links: Official, AllTrails, The Guardian

Saint Oswalt's Church, close to Filey.


The coastal walk, with Scarborough in the distance.

Tangents:
• Trail Links: Official, Public Map at AllTrails
• Facebook Group: More photos & Comment on this article

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