Runswick Bay
named Britain’s Beach of the Year in 2020
Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire, TS13 5HT
Visit WebsiteNamed Britain’s Beach of the Year by the Sunday Times in 2020, Runswick Bay is a charming fishing village perched on the North Yorkshire Coast. The tiny settlement is home to a stretch of sandy beach where there is something for everyone: hunt for fossils, go rock pooling, or if you’re feeling brave, take a dip in the sea to try your hand at surfing or stand up paddle boarding.
- By The Beach
- Children Welcome
- Multiple Dogs Allowed
- Parking
- Rural Walks
Good to know
Overview
The village of Runswick Bay has weathered the elements where land meets sea for hundreds of years. A traditional fishing village, these days you are as likely to see families playing in the waves as fishermen out at sea. Look out for the series of caves along the beach, the largest of which is named Hob Hole after the ‘Hob’, a household spirit said by local folklore to inhabit the cave.
The beach is dog friendly all year round: your canine companions are guaranteed to love the spacious sandy beach and splashing in the shallows. Swap sticks for seaweed and you can spend hours happily playing fetch in the surf.
If you are feeling energetic, the Cleveland Way runs through the area, so why not climb up to the cliffs to enjoy panoramic views along the coast. For a relatively easy morning’s stroll, follow the Cleveland Way to the neighbouring hamlet of Kettleness. When you’ve finished soaking in the views, head back to Runswick Bay inland along the Cinder Track, where enclosed lanes offer further opportunities to let your dog explore off the lead.
Take a picnic to enjoy on the beach or on one of the occasional benches along the Cleveland Way. We love enjoying a flask of tea on the bench in Kettleness, looking back over the bay to Runswick. If you can’t resist the siren call of seaside fish & chips, Whitby is only 5 miles away, where you are more than spoiled for choice.
For The Dogs
Take some extra water if you plan to be at the beach for a while.
Opening Hours
There are no opening hours as such but access to the beach is dependent on the tide.
Parking
Head to Bank Bottom car park TS13 5HT or Bank Top car park (parking charges apply).
The Area
Runswick Bay is one of many quaint fishing villages on the North Yorkshire coast. For more sandy beaches head a few miles along the coast to Skinningrove, or visit the smuggler’s haven of Robin Hood’s Bay, where many of the shops and cafés are dog friendly. The larger town of Whitby will delight literary fans as well as beach combers, with the gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey serving as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula (dogs on leads welcome, entry fees apply).
For more walks, pubs and places to stay, see our guide to dog friendly Yorkshire.
