From enchanting cliff-top fishing villages to bustling seaside resorts, North Yorkshire boasts a coastline that is diverse and brimming with natural beauty. Its beaches are some of the finest the UK has to offer. If you’re planning your self-catering holiday in North Yorkshire this year, make sure these coastal gems are firmly in your itinerary:

Filey Beach

Recently named the best beach in the UK for children for its pristine sands and clear waters, Filey Beach is the only UK beach to make it into Tripadvisor's international '6 Travelers’ Choice Beaches that are Great for Kids' alongside Australia's famous Bondi Beach! Filey Beach has a wonderful sculpture trail, promenade with cafes and children's playground plus the remains of an ancient Roman signal station to explore. If you’re looking for a picturesque stretch of unspoilt, traditional sandy beach, you’ve found it in Filey. Slightly less commercial than some of its competitors, Filey is a clean, accessible and quiet seaside resort. The five-mile beach is particularly good for young families who will enjoy playing in the sand and rock pooling, with plenty of space to run around, fly a kite or organise the annual family cricket match.

The beach stretches from Filey Brigg peninsula, a hotspot for birds and wildlife, to Bempton, home of the RSPB nature reserve. Filey’s historic promenade and colourful beach huts line the seafront and visitors can follow the town’s unique Sculpture Trail.

There are plenty of family-friendly attractions nearby, such as Filey Bird and Animal Park and Filey Museum. The town itself has ample souvenir shops and places to eat. Filey’s fish and chips are reported to be some of the best North Yorkshire has to offer!

Please note that dogs are restricted to certain areas on this beach.

Scarborough: South Bay and North Bay

Typically referred to as the world’s first seaside resort, Scarborough is a spa town with two of the most glorious North Yorkshire beaches.

South Bay, the busier and more commercial of the two, is the place to go for good old-fashioned seaside fun. Flanked by ice cream parlours, cafés, shops and all manner of entertainment, families flock to this sunny stretch of sand for a traditional seaside experience.

The beach is spacious and sheltered, making it ideal for building sandcastles, swimming in the sea, rock pooling or sunbathing. There are even donkey rides to add to its quaint seaside charm.

Easily accessible and with parking, toilets and other amenities all within walking distance, South Bay makes for a fun and hassle-free day out for all the family.

Scarborough’s historical Victorian promenade joins South Bay to the wilder, quieter North Bay: a Blue Flag beach and one of the cleanest in Europe. Here, shops and theatres are replaced by hills and cliffs, overlooked by the impressive ruins of Scarborough Castle which sits on a rocky promontory between the two bays.

If you’re looking for water sports, rock pooling, swimming or just a beautiful stretch of clean, sandy beach, North Bay is well worth a visit.

Robin Hood’s Bay

Said to have been the busiest smuggling village of the 18th century, Robin Hood’s Bay claims a fascinating history and stunning landscapes. This attractive old fishing village perched on the Heritage Coast of the North York Moors transports you back in time to an age when sailors, smugglers and fishermen roamed the enchanting cobbled streets and lived in the traditional, cliff-top North Yorkshire cottages that span the length and breadth of the bay.

The breathtakingly beautiful sandy beach provides one of North Yorkshire’s most scenic and natural stretches of coastline. There are rock pools to explore, and as part of Yorkshire’s Dinosaur Coast, it’s a fine spot for fossil hunting (though be aware of the dangers of rock falls and incoming tides). There are a variety of coastal walks as well as cycle-paths and bridleways.

In the village itself, plenty of shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants provide all the refreshments and souvenirs you may need.

If you’re travelling by car, park on the cliff-top and make your way down on foot to the village. The beach is dog friendly.

With these beaches in mind, you’ll be sure to make the most of the endlessly stunning coastline when you plan your North Yorkshire holiday.