Family-friendly things to do on the Yorkshire Coast

A rainbow across the beach at Robin Hood's Bay — What will you find on your rockpooling adventure? | © Heather Tennant

There’s always something new to discover on a family day out on the Yorkshire Coast. Explore rockpools and hunt for fossils, spot wildlife, follow a coastal path or get on your bikes and discover miles of countryside together.

From Robin Hood’s Bay and Ravenscar to the beaches, woodland and clifftops beyond, there are plenty of ways for families to get outside and enjoy this special stretch of the North Yorkshire coast.

Rockpooling and beachcombing at Robin Hood's Bay

Wait for the tide to go out at Robin Hood’s Bay and a whole new world appears.

Explore the rockpools and you might discover crabs, limpets, periwinkles and other marine wildlife hiding among the rocks and seaweed. Beachcombing is another simple way to explore, with every tide bringing something different onto the shore.

The beach is easily reached from the slipway at the bottom of the hill in Robin Hood’s Bay.

Remember to check tide times before setting out, keep an eye on the incoming tide and leave wildlife where you find it. If you turn over a rock, carefully put it back afterwards - it could be somebody’s home.

Go fossil hunting

The Yorkshire Coast is one of Britain’s great places to search for fossils, with rocks dating back to the Jurassic period exposed along its cliffs and bays.

Keep your eyes on the stones and shingle and you could find ammonites, belemnites and other traces of creatures that lived here millions of years ago.

There’s no need to hammer into the cliffs – the best finds are often among loose material on the beach, particularly after rough weather.

Always keep well away from cliff faces and check tide times before heading onto the shore.

Winter scene of family beachcombing at low tide on beach at Robin Hood's Bay — Explore the beaches along the Yorkshire coast at low tide | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Explore Ravenscar

High on the cliffs between Scarborough and Whitby, Ravenscar is a great starting point for a family adventure.

Follow one of the walking routes through the surrounding countryside, look for wildlife in the woods and ponds, or discover clues to Ravenscar’s past as ‘The Town That Never Was’.

You can also find the remains of a Second World War radar station and the historic Peak Alum Works nearby, giving families the chance to uncover some of the stories that have shaped this part of the Yorkshire Coast.

Cycle the Cinder Track

Once the railway line between Scarborough and Whitby, the Cinder Track is now a traffic-free route through some of the Yorkshire Coast’s most impressive countryside.

The Whitby to Hawsker section offers relatively easy cycling on a good surface for families, while the Robin Hood’s Bay to Ravenscar section has more challenging terrain and is better suited to more confident cyclists.

For younger riders and beginners, our four-mile Ravenscar easy cycle loop offers a family-friendly introduction to exploring the countryside on two wheels.

Walking and cycling on the Yorkshire Coast

Roe deer at the Yorkshire Coast in autumn | © National Trust Images/Zoe Frank

Spot wildlife

Slow down and see what you can find.

The Yorkshire Coast is home to a huge variety of wildlife, from seabirds soaring around the cliffs to butterflies, dragonflies and woodland birds. Depending on where and when you visit, there’s always something different to look out for.

Make wildlife spotting part of your walk: listen for birdsong, look for tracks and signs, or see how many different creatures you can find without disturbing them.