Runswick Sands

The beach at Runswick curves along the North Yorkshire coast like a proper crescent moon, all golden sand and dramatic cliffs that rise up behind you as soon as you step onto the shore. It's the sort of place where you can actually breathe - no theme park noise, no crowds fighting for space, just the sound of waves and the occasional seabird.

You'll find rock pools if you time it right with the tides, and the sand itself is firm enough for a decent walk without that sinking-in feeling you get on some northern beaches. The cliffs are striped with layers of geology that scream 'hire a geologist for the day' if that's your thing, though honestly just looking up and realising how old everything around you is does the job fine.

Families get good mileage here - toddlers can potter about safely on the sand, older kids can scramble over the rocks, and there's enough of a walk along the bay to tire everyone out without anyone complaining. It's maybe a two-hour visit maximum before you've covered the main stretch, but that's the point. It doesn't outstay its welcome.

Runswick sits a short drive from Whitby, so you can easily base yourself at somewhere like Broadings Farm Caravan Site and spend a day here without it eating your whole afternoon. Summer weekends will bring families, but even then it never feels rammed. Go early if you can, bring a packed lunch, and don't expect facilities - there's a café nearby but nothing beachfront.