Yorkshire Coast Walking Break: Seabirds, Smugglers & Seaside Strolls

A small-group, fully guided walking break exploring the Yorkshire Coast, with coastal paths, wildlife, fishing villages and a relaxed, sociable feel throughout. Based in Scarborough, this car-free trip makes it easy to join and enjoy a few days by the sea.

Experience Type: Weekends & Short Breaks
Location: North York Moors
Duration: 3 nights
Group Size: 8

Walking Grade: Leisurely

Steady-paced, sociable walking with manageable distances and varied terrain, allowing time for breaks and to enjoy the surroundings.
See our full walking grade guide.

Accommodation: Hotel
Transport:Car Free Trip
Meals: Breakfasts are included
Price: From £445 per person

Dates, Prices & Booking

Choose your date below to view availability, room options and pricing.

A Good Fit for You If…

You enjoy coastal walking at a steady pace, with time to stop, take in the views and explore along the way.
You like the idea of joining a small group, even if you don’t know anyone yet.
You want a short break where everything is organised for you.
You enjoy a mix of walking, local history and time in seaside towns.

Probably not for you if…

You’re looking for long, fast-paced or mountain-style days.
You want a self-guided trip.
You’d rather not be part of a sociable group.

Explore the Yorkshire Coast – Car-Free Walking Break

Enjoy a three-night sociable walking break along the Yorkshire Coast, staying at a sea front hotel in Scarborough's North Bay. With fully guided coastal walks, fascinating local history, and seasonal wildlife highlights – this is a car-free experience with collection from Scarborough Train Station at 6pm on the first night and all transport included.

Discover stories of smugglers and fishing legends, puffins and gannets, dinosaurs and alum mines – all while walking with like-minded people in one of England’s most iconic coastal landscapes.

The Drinking Dinosaur Rock at Flamborough on the Yorkshire Coast — *The Drinking* Dinosaur Rock at Flamborough on the Yorkshire Coast

Suggested Itinerary

Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!

Check-in to the hotel is from 3pm, with your guide meeting you in the hotel from 6pm. We’ll head out together for a welcome dinner at 7:30pm in a nearby local restaurant.
Arriving early? Scarborough offers plenty to do. Take a walk along the promenade, visit Scarborough Castle for sweeping sea views and centuries of history, or explore the Rotunda Museum with its fascinating display of fossils from Yorkshire’s Jurassic Coast.
Mileage: 11 miles
Today’s walk takes us to the chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head and the famous seabird haven of Bempton Cliffs. Our Spring dates are timed to catch the puffin season – so fingers crossed for sightings!
Bempton Cliffs is an RSPB reserve and one of the best places in the UK to see gannets – enormous white seabirds with striking yellow heads and a wingspan of up to two metres.
Our walk takes us out and back along the coast path, with plenty of time to stop for wildlife watching, including possible sightings of seals, razorbills, and kittiwakes. We’ll visit North Landing, the dramatic lighthouse, and the so-called 'Drinking Dinosaur Rock'.
Afterwards, we return to Scarborough for a social pub dinner and the chance to relax.
Mileage: 10 miles
We start with a visit to Staithes – a historic fishing village with narrow streets and ties to Captain Cook. From here we walk south along a stunning stretch of coast towards Whitby.
The route takes in high cliffs and wide sea views, with stories of shipwrecks, fossils, and industry along the way.
Once we arrive in Whitby, there’s time to explore this lively seaside town – whether you fancy climbing the 199 steps to the Abbey ruins, browsing quirky shops, or wandering the harbour.
Dinner is proper coastal fare: fish and chips from one of Whitby’s famous chippies before we return to the hotel.
Mileage: 8 miles
Our final walk takes us from Robin Hood’s Bay to Ravenscar and back.
Robin Hood’s Bay is a picturesque village with a rich history of smuggling – narrow alleyways, hidden doorways, and tales of goods passed from cellar to cellar unseen by customs men. Ravenscar, once tipped to be a major resort, now offers a peaceful clifftop spot with remnants of the old Alum works that once fuelled dye production.
We finish with refreshments in Robin Hood’s Bay before returning to Scarborough mid-to-late afternoon for homeward travel.

The Yorkshire Coast – Walking, Wildlife & History

The Yorkshire Coast is rich in natural beauty and human stories. From Jurassic rocks to smuggler’s coves, fishing villages to Victorian resorts – there’s so much to explore on foot.
Expect dramatic cliffs, fossil-rich beaches, and headlands teeming with seabirds. Inland are rolling moorland views and traces of early industry, from alum mining to railway viaducts.
Walking here offers a real sense of place and the ever-changing rhythm of the sea.

Bempton & Wildlife Watching

Bempton Cliffs is one of the UK’s top seabird colonies – home to over 200,000 birds during the nesting season. Puffins are the stars of the show, but you’ll also see gannets diving, razorbills nesting, and fulmars soaring.
Spring and summer bring the cliffs alive with sound and activity.
Keep your eyes on the sea too – this stretch of coast is known for sightings of dolphins and even minke whales from the cliffs.

Robin Hood's Bay — Robin Hood’s Bay – Myths and Legends

Despite the name, there’s no evidence that Robin Hood ever visited. Some say the name comes from old ballads where Robin Hood repels a French invasion on the Yorkshire coast. Others think it may link to Norse or local traditions.
What’s certain is that the village became a notorious smuggling hub in the 18th century. Tales of secret passageways and goods passed from cellar to attic fill the local folklore.

Essential Information

Meeting Time: Check-in from 15:00.
The Large Outdoors host will meet you in the bar from 18:00.
Meeting Location:
Premier Inn Scarborough (North Bay)
26 Burniston Rd,
Scarborough
YO12 6PH

Free Station Collection:
We will be offering a free collection from Scarborough Train Station at 18:00. This is free but must be booked in advance, either during your booking process of by contacting the office in advance.
Parking:
On-site parking is available at the hotel. The car park is owned by Scarborough Borough Council and is £6 between the hours of 9am to 6pm. Outside of these hours the car park is free of charge. This can be paid for via the pay and display machine in the car park which accepts card and cash or via the Ringgo app using code 44646.
Finish Time:
We aim to finish on the final day between 1pm and 3pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen activity, group dynamic, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or lunch together during/after, etc. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.
We'll be staying at the Premier Inn Scarborough (North Bay) hotel, located on Burniston Road in Scarborough's North Bay. The hotel offers comfortable rooms and is conveniently situated less than a mile from Scarborough Beach and Scarborough Castle.
Accommodation Address:
Premier Inn Scarborough (North Bay)
26 Burniston Rd,
Scarborough
YO12 6PH
Room Types:
Single Rooms (en-suite bathroom) are for one participant.
Double Rooms (en-suite bathroom) sleep up to two participants booking together, in a Double bed.
Twin Rooms (en-suite bathroom) for for two people sharing and will have two single beds.
Shared Male / Female Rooms (en-suite bathroom) ideal for those happy to share with another participant.
Included:
- 3 nights’ bed & breakfast accommodation.
- A hearty cooked breakfast each morning, prepared by the accommodation.
- A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you, deal with the logistics for your experience.
- Guided walks on three days (Days 2, 3 & 4).
- The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
- Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not included:
- Travel to and from the meeting location or train station collection.
- Dinner on each evening - we’ll book a table at a local pub to enjoy dinner as a group and you can purchase whatever you fancy from the menu available.
- Packed Lunches - for these we will stop at a local bakery and you can purchase what you wish for lunch.
- Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.
- Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation. There are also a couple of pubs in the village for a post-walk pint or two!
- Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
- Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed.
- What level of fitness is needed?
  This trip is rated ‘Leisurely’ Plus. The longest walk will be around 11 miles at a sociable pace.
- Can I attend on my own?
  Absolutely! In fact, the majority of our attendees are solo travellers.
- When should I arrive?
  You are welcome to arrive from 15:00 onwards on Friday evening. Dinner will be served at the accommodation at around 19:30. If you intend to arrive after 22:00, please let us know.
- I’d prefer vegetarian or vegan meals - can this be arranged?
  Yes, absolutely! We will always supply a vegetarian or vegan meal, but please note this must be requested well ahead of the trip - the remote location of our accommodation means we can’t pop out to buy additional ingredients. Complete the dietary section during the booking process and if your dietary needs change ahead of the trip please email the office and we’ll update your booking.
- I’d prefer gluten-free meals - can this be arranged?
  We will provide meals using gluten-free ingredients, but due to the shared nature of the kitchen we cannot provide strictly gluten-free meals. Please let us know you’d like gluten-free ingredients ahead of time by completing the dietary section during the booking process.
- I am allergic to a specific ingredient - can you provide meals for me?
  Due to the shared nature of the kitchen we are unable to provide meals suitable for those suffering from many allergies. Please contact the office before booking to discuss your requirements.
- What transport is provided during this trip?
  We do not provide transportation during this trip.
- Can I bring my dog?
  Dogs are not allowed on this trip, except for registered assistance dogs.

Dates, Prices & Booking

Choose your date below to view availability, room options and pricing.

Booking FAQ’s

Can I book with a deposit?

Yes, if the trip is more than 12 weeks away you can secure your place with a 20% deposit. The balance is due no later than 10 weeks before travel. You will receive a series of reminder emails when the balance is due. If the trip is less than 12 weeks away, the full balance is due at the time of booking.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes – although our system doesn't have a function to do this automatically. If you'd like to split your payments, simply email us (hello@largeoutdoors.com) when you'd like to make a payment. Please don't forget to tell us how much you'd like to pay off the balance and your order number. We'll then send you an email with a secure online payment link.

Yorkshire Coast Walking Break: Seabirds, Smugglers & Seaside Strolls