Cayton Bay Beach

A Wild and Rugged Stretch of Coast

Just south of Scarborough, Cayton Bay unfolds in a vast sweep of golden sand framed by towering cliffs, offering an untamed and atmospheric shoreline shaped by the relentless North Sea. A favoured spot for surfers and windsurfers, the bay is home to one of the UK’s longest-established surf schools. The dramatic cliffs, formed during the Jurassic period, attract fossil hunters and bird watchers alike, revealing traces of ancient life in their rugged layers. Toward the northern end, wartime pillboxes remain as quiet echoes of the past, while a more curious legacy lingers—Johnny Finton’s Harbour, a name with origins lost to time. The beach has also gained an unofficial reputation as a naturist spot, though signs make it clear this is not officially permitted.