Interviews can be both boring and adulty, so when my photographer had to attend one in Scarborough, I decided we should turn it into an adventure. After all, who doesn’t love a beach holiday in February?
I had never visited Scarborough before, as I always associated it with a huge mass of tourists and crowds. Although, I enjoyed visiting Whitby and Thornton Le Dale, a village made up of scarecrows. So, I was very excited to discover what the area’s biggest town had to offer. Surprisingly, the cost of an apartment with an ocean view was less than that of a basic hotel. So, I treated myself to panoramic views over the North Yorkshire Coastline. I was hoping to spot some dolphins during my visit, as they are known to swim up and down the North Eastern coastline (but only when I’m not looking).
My breakfast view was a panorama of North Bay. I watched the sunrise next to my binoculars, hoping to spot one of the many species of dolphin or whale as the sun rose. The bay window allowed me to see the cliffs which mark the beginning of the Cleveland Way around North Bay towards the infamous Scarborough Castle. Sitting on the windowsill with a coffee was so serene. I enjoyed watching the boats floating by and the humans getting soaked by the giant waves splashing over the promenade.
My morning began with a walk along North Beach Promenade past the sculpture of Freddie Gilroy, who sits on a bench looking out to sea. I like this sculpture; it is an understated memorial to the Holocaust and those who helped to liberate the concentration camps. When the sea is calm and the tide is out, it is probably the best time to visit. Freddie often gets soaked by huge waves in bad weather!
A short walk along the flat promenade led me away from Scarborough’s centre and towards the rugged North Yorkshire Coastline. After 10 minutes, I finally reached the incredibly coloured beach huts. I love these tiny houses, though I am unsure what they are for. Humans were staying in some of the huts, so I managed to peek inside a couple. They are a bit like Dr. Who’s TARDIS and are massive inside. My favourite one was the blue one, but I loved how they were painted in many different colours so it looked like a rainbow.
Strangely, the February weather was hot, and humans were sitting on the beach. I decided to continue walking to the end of North Bay to try and climb the hill at the end, marking the beginning of the Cleveland Way. I passed the Sea Life Center and a mini-golf course, which I decided would be fun to try out later. I crossed a small wooden bridge to get to the bottom of the hill. I began walking up, but unfortunately, by the time I reached the top, it was a mud bath and I could go no further.
The views were incredible; I could see for miles as it was so clear. I had been hoping to make it to the next beach, which was deserted. The North Yorkshire Coastline is renowned for fossils, and as a Jurassic creature, I wanted to see if I could find any of my distant cousins. Scarborough Castle was clear in the sunshine and stands proud over the town. The hike was tough because of the mud, but the views made it worth the struggle.
Hiking is hungry work, so I decided to head back along the coast to a small café I spotted at the beginning of my walk. Watermark Café is a small establishment overlooking the water on North Bay. I had a late lunch consisting of a huge vegetarian burger and salad, followed by a slice of homemade white chocolate and blueberry cake. I never say no to cake, especially when it is homemade!
After enjoying a delicious meal, I strolled around the harbour, passing by the castle. It was a sunny day, and I was surprised to see a seal swimming in the water. I sat watching the seal for a while before returning to my apartment as my furry blue toes were going numb.
The next day, the weather was even better, so I decided to visit Peasholm Park to see the Japanese-themed garden. The park is expansive with a lake, pagodas, and an island, and it felt like spring despite it being February. Ducks were roaming around, and visitors were feeding them. I also enjoyed watching the playful squirrels jumping through the trees, the cheeky creatures are my favourite animal in the UK (after dinosaurs, of course).
Peasholm Park offers various activities, including riding a small train, but I chose to return to North Bay to challenge my photographer to a game of pirate mini-golf. The course was challenging, and at one point, I had to play golf in a boat (on dry land). It was a challenging 9-hole course, and I even beat my photographer, making the game even more enjoyable.
After winning at mini golf (maybe I should go pro), I decided to climb the steep hill leading to Scarborough Castle. Although, I don’t know much about the castle’s history (mainly because it doesn’t involve dinosaurs). I found some ancient graffiti on the path through the gates. My photographer wanted to visit Anne Bronte’s gravestone in the churchyard below the castle entrance, as they are a fan of the Bronte sisters. The gravestone is situated overlooking the South Bay and is adorned with pens left by fellow authors. After leaving the graves, we headed towards the South Bay harbour, passing a gap in the wall that supposedly led to Paradise. Instead, I took a slightly less steep coastline route back to my apartment to relax after a long day of exploring.
The third day brought bad weather, I won’t complain because February is winter in the UK. So I decided to head away from the beach and go into the town. My photographer was scoping out a route for their interview and I was happy to get away from the tourist areas. Scarborough is a lovely town with much to offer. I enjoyed walking through the high street before turning off in the direction of Scarborough Spa.
Scarborough Spa is located in a very upscale area with large houses and a grand hotel. Instead of going into the spa, I headed to the beach to fulfil a long-time desire of mine. I finally managed to build a sandcastle using my new blue bucket. It was hard work and took some time, but I’m pleased with how it turned out. I hope it stays there for a long time so everyone can see my masterpiece.
As I walked back towards Scarborough Castle along the beach, I was relieved to see no donkeys on the beach. While I know they are well taken care of, I hate seeing the animals paraded up and down the beach to entertain humans. South Bay wasn’t as pleasant as the North due to the presence of arcades and touristy items. Since the weather was worsening, I decided to treat myself to some food from Marks and Spencer before heading back to my apartment to cosy up on the windowsill and watch the huge waves.
On my final morning, I enjoyed coffee and cake whilst my photographer handled the interview questions because my photographer wouldn’t allow me to help for an unknown reason. I spent a wonderful couple of hours at Waterhouse cafe, indulging in another slice of white chocolate and blueberry cake. On our way home, we drove through the North York Moors and were treated to a stunning view of the coast and moors stretching for miles. Some parts of the moors were covered in smoke due to the annual burning of the heather. British beach holidays are always a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to see where my next one will take me!
For all the avid readers who have been waiting, I want to clarify that the last point on the “30 before 30 list” is still a secret – this is not the answer. All will be revealed soon.
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