Crook Ness

The shale cliffs at Crook Ness drop straight into the North Sea, and the beach beneath them is one of Scarborough's quieter stretches - which is saying something. It's a working geology lesson, really. The layers of Jurassic rock tell their story if you know how to read them, and the foreshore is scattered with fossils for anyone willing to crouch down and look properly.

This isn't a destination beach for sunbathing or building sandcastles. The shale is sharp underfoot, the pebbles unforgiving, and the whole place has that bracing, no-nonsense Yorkshire seaside feel. What it does offer is space - genuine elbow room compared to the main Scarborough seafront - and the kind of dramatic coastline that makes you remember why you bothered coming to the coast at all.

Walkers and geology enthusiasts will find it worthwhile. Families with young children might get restless after twenty minutes unless they're keen rock-poolers or fossil hunters. The cliffs themselves are unstable, so keep clear of the base. Access is straightforward from the main Scarborough area, making it an easy add-on to a longer coastal walk.

If you're based at Scarborough Camping and Caravanning Club or Prospect House Farm Glamping, both nearby, this works well as a half-hour detour on a day exploring the Yorkshire coast. Low tide is your friend here - more foreshore to explore, better light for photography. Go on a clear day and you'll see why people bother with this corner of Scarborough at all.