16/06/2026
Could this be Yorkshire’s top beach for surfing, paddleboarding, and coastal adventures? 🌊🏄
Cayton Bay, just three miles south of Scarborough, is the place to go if you want to leave the busy seafront behind and enjoy waves, cliffs, fossil hunting, and real coastal adventure. At the centre of it all is Scarborough Surf School, one of the longest-running surf schools on the Yorkshire Coast.
The centre is open all year from its spot above the beach, offering surf lessons, coasteering, kids’ clubs, and stand-up paddleboarding. All sessions are run by local instructors who are fully qualified professionals.
The school started at Cayton Bay in 1985 and later teamed up with Secret Spot, combining years of Scarborough surf history. Today, it still teaches beginners, families, and experienced surfers, always focusing on safety, building confidence, and helping everyone improve in the water.
Many people consider Cayton Bay one of the best places to surf in the area because of its steady waves, striking cliffs, and the fact that you can surf at any tide. If the waves are calm, you can try paddleboarding or join a coasteering session at Thornwick Bay, which is famous for its sea cliffs, caves, gullies, and deep-water jumps.
There’s more to the bay than just the water. Families, dog walkers, and wildlife fans love it for fossil hunting, spotting seals and puffins, handy beach facilities, and its clean, award-winning shoreline.
Whether you want surf lessons, paddleboarding, kids’ clubs, or a full coastal adventure, Scarborough Surf School makes Cayton Bay one of Yorkshire’s top spots for a fun day at the beach.
