A guide to Filey Beach

Beaches, Coastal, Days out

Posted by Stephane Lawes on 27th February 2024

Filey Brigg peninsula at Filey Beach, reaching out to sea on a sunny day

The popular town of Filey was once a quiet village known for its fishing and maritime trade, but over the years this seaside settlement has grown, and now stands as one of the most charming beach towns in Yorkshire

Filey Beach is no doubt the jewel in East Riding’s coastal crown, stretching 5 miles from Filey Brigg to the dramatic Bempton Cliffs. With family-friendly attractions, plenty of natural beauty, and opportunities for water sports, walking and wildlife watching, it’s no surprise that Filey Beach attracts so many visitors. 

Whatever your Filey plans are, we’re on hand to make sure you get the most from your visit. To enhance your seaside getaway, why not book a night in one of our holiday cottages nearby? Click the button below to explore our collection of properties. 

Holiday cottages in Filey


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Filey Beach FAQs

Yes, Filey Beach is safe for kids. Between May and September, lifeguards patrol the beach and fly beach flags, so you know when it’s safe for little ones to play in the water. It also boasts a gentle slope towards the water, and plenty of space for your children to play safely.

Yes, you can swim safely at Filey Beach. Thanks to the Filey Brigg peninsular that protects the waters from the open sea, you’ll find calm waters. Adding to the beach’s safety, visitors can swim safe in the knowledge that RNLI lifeguards patrol the shoreline.

Filey Beach offers plenty of facilities, including ample parking, public toilets along the promenade, and RNLI lifeguards. Find a good choice of cafes and kiosks, as well as deck chair and parasol hire.

When it comes to accessibility, Filey Beach parking offers several disabled spaces at the West Avenue and Coble Landing car parks. Coble Landing offers a slope to the beach, while the promenade boasts a flat surface for wheelchairs. Also find three public toilets, all offering disabled access.

You’ll find several options when it comes to Filey Beach parking. Closest to the beach, Coble Landing only offers 12 spaces, but great beach proximity with a charge. Further down the beach, West Avenue is one of the largest Filey Beach parking options, with charges in the high season. Other Filey Beach parking options include Station Avenue and Country Park.


Things to do at Filey Beach

With plenty of adventures awaiting on the shoreline, couples, families and even dogs will find a whole host of things to do at Filey Beach.


The promenade behind Filey Beach on a sunny day, including a public swimming pool and parked cars

Filey Promenade and Sculpture Trail

Scattered along the promenade, Filey’s Sculpture Trail is a celebration of the town’s history, coastal heritage, and local wildlife. A gentle amble along this trail leads visitors past towering fishermen and oversized lobsters, all inviting memorable holiday photos. 

Designed by the artist Russ Coleman, no trip to Filey is complete without a stroll along the trail. Along the way, dive into local cafes, take an ice cream break, or stop for a 9-hole round at Ocean Drive Crazy Golf Course where some of the sculptures are found.
A traditional and freshly painted blue and white beach hut on a sunny day at Filey Beach

Rent a Filey beach hut

No day out is complete in East Riding without a visit to one of the many Filey beach huts on offer. Whether you fancy a beach base or need shelter from the British weather, memories are waiting to be created in these freshly painted huts. Thanks to the various Filey beach huts available, you’ll have a wide choice of scenic spots to choose from. 

Baker's Beach Chalets offer weekly hire between June and September, with each chalet boasting folding chairs, kettles, worktops, and storage. With upstairs chalets that offer wonderful bay views and downstairs options giving easy access to the beach, weekly rates start at £145.  

If you’re only in town for the day, why not explore Filey Chalets’ collection? Open between March and September, these Filey beach huts offer the ideal base for your beach day. Surrounded by amenities and offering easy beach access, day rates start at £25. 


A mother and daughter go rock pooling on a sunny day with fish nets and buckets in hands

Rock pooling and fishing

With nets in hand, head down to Filey Brigg at the far end of Filey Beach to discover a haven for hidden ocean gems and mysterious rock pools. As a long peninsula known for its rocky outcrops, this part of the beach couldn’t be more suited for rock pooling. 

Make sure to check the tide table before walking out at low tide, when the many sandworm trails along the beach will hint at the hidden ocean artifacts that await, including abandoned shells, starfish, crabs, and plenty more.

The silhouette of a woman kayaking in the sea on a sunny day

Water sports

Filey Bay is known for its calm waters, making Filey Beach the perfect spot for paddleboarders and kayakers. The gently sloping shoreline makes taking to the water a breeze, whilst more experienced paddlers will enjoy heading out a little further, taking in unique views of the town.  

If you’re visiting in the colder months, there’s a good chance you’ll find rougher seas at Filey Beach. Although smaller than other beaches near Filey, these waves are consistent, offering the ideal conditions for easy surfing in Yorkshire.

A mother and son bird spotting at a nature reserve with binoculars in hand

Wildlife watching

If Filey Beach’s rock pools don’t satisfy your thirst for nature, then the town’s range of local wildlife certainly will. The beach’s salt marshes and grasslands host many species of flora and fauna, while the town’s seal community can often be seen basking in the sun on the beach’s rocky outcrops. 

If bird spotting is your thing, then get ready for a surprise at Filey Dams Nature Reserve, just a mile inland from Filey Beach. As the region’s last remaining freshwater marsh, it’s a hot spot for migratory birds, so expect to see all things spoonbills, little egrets, and greenshank. 

An aerial shot of a fishing boat on calm, turquoise waters with a seagull flying overhead

Coble Landing 

For an insight into the town’s fishing heritage, visit the slipway at Filey Coble Landing. Originating from the traditional fishing boats that were known as ‘cobles’, this area of Filey Beach makes for a pleasant pause during your seafront walk. 

Amble past the refreshment and gift stands that line the slipway, and perch on the rocks to watch local fishermen tend to their boats. Using the various informational displays, learn all about Filey’s maritime history, or stop with a picnic to take in the fabulous views of Filey Bay. 

Filey Beach walks

Filey’s scenic beauty, made up of sandy shores, rocky outcrops, and twisting coastal paths, is what makes this area one of the best spots to walk in Yorkshire. With a wide choice of trails that promise panoramic views of the North Sea, walkers of any level of experience are spoiled for choice.


A walking path on the Yorkshire coastline, looking down at the calm blue sea from the clifftops

Filey to Primrose Valley

Suitable for most walkers, this 4-mile trail leads away from the town, along the promenade, and onto the cliff-top coastal path. Along here, take in the fabulous views of the town and ocean, stopping at one of the scenic benches for a pause or picnic. 

Keeping an eye out for local wildlife, as well as the odd golf ball that members of Filey Golf Club may want to forget, there’s plenty here to stimulate the senses for both humans and hounds.

Filey Brigg peninsula on a sunny day, with the tide out at Filey Beach revealing rock pools

Filey to Filey Brigg

Lovers of nature will be captivated by this 2.5-mile circular trail that leads walkers away from the town to the magnificent Filey Brigg peninsula. Slightly more difficult thanks to the cliff steps, walkers are rewarded with a haven for wildlife and panoramic North Sea views. Perfect for family picnics, wildlife spotting and photography, the peninsula boasts hidden caves, sea stacks, and rock formations that beckon fishermen, climbers, and adventurers.


Food and drink near Filey Beach

Just as you’d expect a popular seaside town to offer, Filey boasts a pleasant choice of local eateries and pubs to satisfy tourist tummies, and below are just some of these friendly spots. For more details on the town’s foodie venues, check out our Filey pubs and restaurants guide.


A fork stands in a battered fish and chips takeaway box sat on a pebbly beach with the blue sea behind

Fish and chips 

Less than 500 metres from Filey Beach, Inghams Fish Restaurant stands ready to host your traditional chippy experience, with a wide range of battered delights awaiting. For a memorable meal, eat in the restaurant, or to enjoy your food on the town’s sandy beach or scenic benches, use their popular takeaway service.


A Mr Whippy ice cream with a chocolate flake with the blue sky behind

Ice cream

No day by the sea is complete without an ice cream, so get ready to recreate those childhood memories of dripping Mr. Whippys, watching out for diving seagulls along the way. Found at Coble Landing on Filey Beach, Scoops Filey promises a wide range of real dairy ice creams, with flavours to suit all taste buds.


Filey Beach for dogs

If you’re a family of animal lovers, you’ll know all too well just how hard it can be to leave Fido at home when you set off for an action-packed day out, especially by the sea. The good news is that your pooch will be welcomed with open arms at Filey Beach and the surrounding town.


A woman walking her dog at the water’s edge on the beach, with the blue evening sky behind

Filey Beach dog restrictions

Filey’s stretch of golden sand offers one of the best dog-friendly beaches in Yorkshire, with endless opportunities for frolicking in the waves and burying treasure in the sand. There’s only one small dog restriction here, and that’s between Royal Parade and Cobble Landing, between May and September.

This small seasonal restriction leaves heaps of space for Filey Beach dogs to run wild, and they’ll love what they find here. The open space means that dogs will leave all their energy out on the sand, and if they don’t, a scenic coastal walk with Fido leading the way is sure to do the job. 

Filey Beach dogs will bark with joy at the range of pet-friendly pubs, cafes, and bistros that await. For a refreshing pint and bowl of water, head to The Bull Inn, or for a slice of cake, head to The Coffee Shed where Fido is sure to beg for a morsel of your crumble.

More Yorkshire beaches

If you’re on the hunt for more beaches near Filey, then you’ll be pleased to hear that the Yorkshire coastline boasts several stretches of golden sand, most of which are within 20 miles of Filey. 


An aerial shot of Scarborough town and beach on a sunny day, with the tide out and people on the beach

Scarborough Beach

Just 9 miles north is the resort town of Scarborough, known for its golden sands, Victorian promenade, and traditional seaside attractions. Popular amongst northerners seeking a day by the sea, this is one of the best beaches near Filey.


Robin Hood’s Bay Beach with the tide out on a sunny day with the village in the background

Cayton Bay and Robin Hood’s Bay

Another nearby option is Cayton Bay, nestled just 4.5 miles up the coast. Secluded and surrounded by greenery, this is a great option if you want to get away from the crowds. Further afield is Robin Hood’s Bay, home to fossil-rich cliffs, hidden smuggler caves, and a soft beach.


Stay at one of our holiday cottages in Filey

If you fancy extending your visit to Filey, then why not book a night in one of our cottages nearby? With properties that are perfect for family gatherings, quirky getaways, and romantic weekends, you’re sure to find the seaside retreat you’ve been looking for. Just click the button below to explore the collection. 

Holiday cottages in Filey

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.