Scarborough Family Week. July 2023.

Normally we take our Grandsons to Stonehaven, but a change of location was called for after quite a few visits to the  Scottish seaside resort and Scarborough seemed the ideal place offering plenty of activities to keep them occupied for a week, as long as it does not rain to much!

According to the Lonely Planet guide for England, Scarborough is where the tradition of English seaside holidays began. It goes on to explain that in the 1660's the first batch of visitors came to the site of a local spa for its health giving properties this was followed by the belief in the health giving properties of the sea and in the 1730's Scarborough witnessed the appearance of wheeled bathing carriages on its beech. The railway arrived in 1845, which brought in many visitors and to this day this picturesque seaside resorts popularity has never waned. 

The nearest campsite to the resort is Scarborough Camping and Caravan Club Site at Scalby. Although the site has 300 pitches its very well laid out, well kept and very quiet. The facilities are first rate and the camp staffs are very helpful and friendly.

From the campsite you can walk out to the coastal cliffs above the town part of which includes the final part of the 109 mile Cleveland Way, probably a little too ambitious for this holiday? 

The use of our daughters car was quite handy, as the shoreline is split by the Scarborough Castle with the harbour fish and chip restaurants, and slot machine arcades along with the cheap gift shops situated in the South Bay whereas the North Bay has beach chalets, the Sea Life and Marine Life Sanctuary, the Northway Railway and as i said  access to the Cleveland Way cliff walk.

South Bay was very popular with the boys, providing what we used to call ‘penny arcades’, of course the slot machines are a  lot more expensive these days and pocket money soon disappeared. 

The North Bay offered a far quieter experience, with a vast clean sandy beach to build sand castles and play boules. 

Also located at the North Bay is Dexters Surf Shop and School which offers surf lessons for beginners. We managed to book two afternoon sessions which consisted of the basics, which is carried out on the beach before entering the surf. The school provided all the equipment needed including changing facilities and wetsuits and various sizes of boards.

Obviously our youngest, Archie did not take part, he was happy to play on the beach, but Charlie and Joey were more than happy to take part who by the second lesson were getting the hang of it.

 

As just reward we took all the boys to Peaches n Cream for some delicious ice cream, with plenty of flavours to choose from, more than one visit was called for.

 

Close to the campsite was the Alpamere Waterpark which was obviously a another enjoyable experience for the boys.

Making the most of the last full day it was decided to explore the park above the south bay, which included the Italian Garden, stopping for refreshments at the Clock Cafe , before giving the boys one last go round the amusement arcades. Fish suppers at the Welcome Inn was followed by further helpings of ice cream before driving back to the campsite.

All in all a grand week, some rain but not enough to spoil the fun.