Our Filey Holiday Cottages by the Sea
Filey is smaller than neighbouring Scarborough and Bridlington, but its beach is one of the largest in the area. Around five miles of sand stretch along Filey Bay, with the town and promenade towards the northern end. The seafront has beach chalets, cafés, a seasonal paddling pool and access to the sand, while Crescent Gardens sit above the bay.
At the northern end is Filey Brigg, a narrow headland extending into the North Sea. The Brigg is a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest, with rock pools around its base and opportunities for birdwatching along the headland. Tide times need to be checked before exploring the rocks below.
Filey’s fishing history is still visible around Coble Landing, where traditional coble boats are kept close to the beach. From the seafront it is only a short walk into the town centre, where there are independent shops, bakeries, cafés, pubs and restaurants.
Filey Sea View Cottages Close to the Beach and Promenade
Where you stay in Filey can affect how easily you reach the beach. Properties around The Crescent and streets behind the seafront are well placed for the promenade, while accommodation closer to the town centre puts shops, places to eat and the railway station within easy reach.
Sea view apartments and houses can overlook Filey Bay from the higher ground above the beach. There are also traditional cottages and family holiday homes farther back from the seafront, where private parking and gardens may be easier to find.
For families planning to spend most days on the beach, the walk to the nearest access point is worth checking. Some routes descend from the town to the promenade, so a property that appears close to the sea on a map may still involve a slope or steps.
Larger Filey holiday homes provide space for families travelling together, with several bedrooms, additional bathrooms and bigger dining areas available at selected properties. Other cottages have enclosed gardens for dog friendly holidays, private hot tubs or outside seating.
Filey is also served by rail, with direct services along the line between Scarborough and Bridlington. This can be useful if you want to visit neighbouring resorts without finding somewhere to park.
Coastal Walks from Filey Brigg and Around Filey Bay
Filey has an unusually strong connection with two long-distance walking routes. Filey Brigg marks the end of the 109-mile Cleveland Way, which follows the North Yorkshire coast through Scarborough, Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby before heading inland across the North York Moors. The Yorkshire Wolds Way also finishes in Filey after crossing the chalk countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.
You do not need to tackle either trail in full. From Filey Brigg you can follow the coast north towards Cayton Bay and Scarborough, while easier walks can be taken along the promenade or beach.
Walking south provides a completely different route. At lower states of the tide, the beach continues for miles towards Reighton and Hunmanby Gap. Farther along the coast are the chalk cliffs around Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs, where large colonies of seabirds gather during the breeding season.
There are places to explore away from the coast too. Filey’s Crescent Gardens overlook the bay, while Glen Gardens has open space and family facilities. Scarborough is around eight miles north and provides a castle, harbour and two main beaches, while Bridlington lies farther south.
Sandy Beaches and Dog-Friendly Stays in Filey
Filey Beach is the obvious focus for a holiday here. The main section in front of the town has a promenade, public toilets, cafés and other facilities nearby, and RNLI lifeguards patrol the beach during the summer season.
The amount of space is one of its main advantages. Walk away from the central seafront and the beach becomes much less developed, particularly as you head south towards Hunmanby Gap. To the north, the sand eventually gives way to the rocks around Filey Brigg.
Dogs are prohibited from a designated central section of Filey Beach between 1 May and 30 September. The restriction does not cover the entire bay, so dogs can still use sections towards Filey Brigg and south towards Hunmanby Gap during the summer. From October to April, dogs are permitted across the beach.
Hunmanby Gap provides another access point to Filey Bay and is useful if you want to visit a less central section of the beach. Cayton Bay, north of Filey, is another option and is particularly popular with surfers, walkers and fossil hunters.
The size of Filey Bay means you do not necessarily need to drive to a different beach each day. You can use the central beach when you want cafés and facilities nearby, walk towards the Brigg for rock pooling, or head south when you want a longer walk along the sand.
