27th March 2024
Spring Holidays on The North Yorkshire Coast
Shake off the wintertime chill with a staycation on the stunning North Yorkshire coast this spring. When nature bursts into life, bringing wild daffodils, bluebells, birds and bees.
Walking experiences are must-do activities at this time of year, as the forests fill with birdsong and our iconic moorland wildlife reveal their extravagant mating displays.
Common Seal colonies also come ashore to nurture their young. While the beautiful North York Moors are scattered with new growth.
Spring Wildlife Watching
Bempton, Scarborough, Whitby
Take a whale-watching tour from Whitby (not exclusively whales, of course, you can also spot porpoises, dolphins and seabirds), or head down the coast to RSPB Bempton for one of the UK’s great birdwatching spectacles of guillemots and razorbills. Scarborough’s SEA LIFE Centre also brings you up close with some fascinating denizens of the deep.
Spring is also a good time to find goshawks and migrant birds in the forests and moorland of the National Park. While over on the coast, gannets and puffins make an appearance at Bempton.
Don’t know where to look? Join guides from North York Moors Wildlife Tours for a memorable day out on a nature safari, with the chance to see some of the area’s most iconic wildlife.
Find out what wildlife is around at this time of year with the NYMNP nature calendar, full of tips, seasonal walks and ideas on the best places to spot birds, animals and wildflowers.
Glorious Springtime Gardens
Filey, Scarborough, Whitby
A visit to the North Yorkshire coast isn’t just about sand and sea; we have some wonderful gardens to explore, which will be bursting into life.
Make the most of Filey’s glorious Glen and Crescent Gardens; Scarborough’s Peasholm Park and heritage South Cliff Gardens, with unparalleled sea views; and Whitby’s beautiful and tranquil Pannett Park.
Fish and Ships Festival, Whitby
In love with Whitby and its remarkable maritime heritage? Head to the annual Fish and Ships Festival (May 18th and 19th) for a weekend of food, music and history. There will be live music, cookery demonstrations, heritage activities and all-round family fun, and don’t forget to enjoy some fish and chips while you’re there.
With no fewer than six medieval monastic ruins set in peaceful locations, the North York Moors is the perfect place for spiritual refreshment. Head to the iconic ruins of Whitby Abbey, set on a dramatic headland with stunning coastal views, which, long before any Dracula associations, played a pivotal part in the setting of today’s date for Easter.
In 664, following disagreements on when it should be celebrated, a Synod was called by the Northumbrian princess Hild, the founding abbess of Whitby Abbey. The Synod finally agreed to follow the Roman calculations for Easter, bringing together the traditions in England for the first time. The calculations agreed are still in use today.
There’s an interactive visitor centre with digital reconstructions and audio tours to accompany you on your wanders. A walk down the 199 steps takes you into town for cobbled streets, museums and a sandy beach.
The Scarborough Fair
Look out for a series of new festivals under the banner of The Scarborough Fair, starting in May with a street art event. June brings an art trail and fringe festival, while September will blend music and sports at Scarborough Extreme. The line-up is completed in November and December by Scarborough Lights, a magical spectacle of illuminations.
Are you searching for a self-catering holiday on the North Yorkshire coast this spring?
Browse our Thirley Cotes Farm collection, close to Scarborough, sleeping 2 – 10 guests across 8 pet-friendly cottages, each with an enclosed garden and private hot tub.
