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Seaside trip is more than a step back in time

Filey Bay

AH, holidays to the seaside take you back don’t they? Donkey rides on the beach, ice creams on the promenade, sticks of rock -– it brings childhood memories flooding back.

There was a time when a holiday involved no airports, baggage queues, coach transfers and immunising injections. And if you found yourself among the crowds in the beautiful Yorkshire coastal town of Filey, you could be forgiven for thinking you had gone back in time 40 years.

Yes, British seaside holidays may have fallen out of fashion in the jet-set age, but in these days of economic belt-tightening, they are making a comeback. But leave any thoughts of the past just there – in the history books.

The traditional British getaway is back, and better than ever. My wife, two small children and I experienced just how good it can be ourselves when we travelled to Filey to stay in the ultra-modern new development The Bay.

Set in 100 acres of coastal splendour, The Bay offers a holiday retreat with a difference. You could be fooled for thinking you had stumbled across a new housing development, with its pristine high-quality apartments and cottages.

There are eight different styles of accommodation in all, ranging from two to three-bedroomed cottages to one-bed apartments. All are furnished in impeccable style, with modern kitchens, bathrooms and many bedrooms with en suite.

We stayed in a Chatham-style three-bed, and struggled to find fault. Spotlessly clean and spacious, it was ideal for a young family. And with direct access to a Blue Flag status beach and acres of countryside to explore, the kids simply loved it.

On site already is the John Paul Jones pub, which serves all the traditional pub fare in a welcoming atmosphere, plus a chemist and a café/grocers. But there is plenty more planned at this growing venue. Among the developments scheduled for opening soon are a spa and restaurant, which should add the finishing touches to what is already an impressive site.

As a base to see the sights of the area, it takes some beating. Filey itself is a picture-postcard town that really knows how to draw the crowds. From The Bay, it’s just a five-minute drive to the town centre, or if you’re feeling energetic, you can always walk along the beach – making sure you’ve checked the tide times first of course.

It was in Filey that Charlotte, she’s nearly four you know, met and fell in love with Charlie . . .the donkey. Donkey Rides

Yes, you can still have a donkey ride on the expansive beach – and judging by the queues of eager youngsters, they are more popular than ever. With a modern sea-front, offering cafes, amusements and stunning views of the imposing white cliffs further down the coast, you really could spend all day relaxing and winding down.

The town is bustling with residents and visitors alike – making parking somewhat tricky – but the narrow streets boast an array of shops and eating places to tick most boxes. Filey is just a 10-minute drive from the glorious town of Scarborough, where elegance and splendour mix comfortably with good old seaside fun.

Scarborough is known as the “Queen of the Yorkshire coast” and you can really see why. It was full of holiday makers enjoying the kiss-me-quick fun of the South Bay, and the more refined style of the North Bay.

You can spend hours strolling through the narrow streets of the town, or if you’ve got a three-year-old who really needs (another) ice cream, then head to the beautiful Peasholm Park. The fantastic miniature railway is a must for kids and adults alike, and the new open air theatre offers a variety of games and entertainment for the kids.

If you prefer things a little slower, then take a walk through the excellent and varied Oriental gardens. It’s been a long time since I last visited Scarborough – but I can guarantee I will be back a lot sooner.

Further down the coast from Filey is the town of Bridlington, and it was to here that we headed one cloudy morning to really take a step back in time. The whole area may be built on rocky cliffs, but rock of the sweet variety has brought in huge amounts of income to the town over the years. And you can see exactly how it’s made at John Bull’s Rock Factory.

Visitors can tour the factory, watching how the stuff that’s sold around the world is made, and for a small charge, even roll your own piece of rock with your initial in it. OK, it’s not good for the teeth, but you’re on holiday. Attached is a shop where you can buy all the mouth-watering confectionery you’ve just seen made, a café and excellent soft play, so the kids can at least burn off some of that sugar.

Back to The Bay, and what better way to round off a busy day than a walk through the fields to the lake to feed the ducks? We are lucky here in the North, to have some of best coastline in the country – and Yorkshire is no exception.

While you can’t guarantee the weather – but where in the UK can you do that? – there aren’t many places that boast so much to do so close at hand. While you could easily spend your time enjoying the coastal delights, just a short drive away you have the excitement of the Flamingo Land, and the varied attractions of towns such as Pickering, Whitby and York itself. So The Bay at Filey is an ideal base to centre your holiday around.

You couldn’t ask for much more.

Newcastle Journal, 28 August 2010