Scarborough

A castle was established on the headland in the Norman era, and the town first grew up along the more sheltered South Bay. There was fishing and sea trade, but it wasn't much of a harbour, and Scarborough mostly owes its existence to the strange course of the River Derwent. This arises nearby, but instead of flowing to the coast it turns inland, carving a broad valley between the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Wolds. So this was a natural transport route: for traders heading to Scarborough Fair, for marauding armies including the Normans, Scots and Royalists alternating with Parliamentarians, and above all for holiday-makers. In 1626 one of the springs that bubbled out of the cliffs, staining the rocks with its mineral content, was claimed to have medicinal properties. People flocked for spa cures, from the springs and from sea-bathing. The railway arrived in 1845 and there was a spate of building grand hotels, expanding into North Bay and creating the townscape you see today. Leisure fashions have evolved but Scarborough remains a popular resort because of its ease of access from the industrial cities.

Visitor North Yorkshire is the visitor information centre within Town Hall, open Mon–Fri 9AM-4:30PM.

By road:

All routes to Scarborough get very congested on summer weekends. The main approach is along A64, which forks off A1(M) to pass York and Malton. Expect to hit tailbacks just east of York where the dual carriageway narrows to single.

Other routes are to leave A64 at York for A166 via Stamford Bridge and Bridlington; along A170 (for light vehicles only) from Thirsk and Pickering; from eastern England either via M18 then A614 or via Humber Bridge, Hull and A165; and from the north use A19 past Middlesbrough onto A171 then along the coast through Whitby.

Tune in to This is the Coast on DAB radio for travel reports to confirm that what you are stuck in is indeed a traffic jam.

Parking in town centre is ample much of the year but fills up quickly in summer. For day trips use the Park and Rides, both south side: on A64 Seamer Road and on A165 Filey Road.

By train:

TransPennine Express trains run hourly from Manchester Victoria, via Huddersfield, Leeds, York and Malton. From London and the Midlands change at York. Reservations are needed for bicycles.

Northern Rail trains run every two hours from Hull via Beverley, Bridlington, Bempton (for Flamborough Head) and Filey.

On summer weekends these trains are packed with families heading to the seaside.

1 Scarborough station is next to the main bus stand in West Square. It has a staffed ticket office and machines, a waiting room and toilets. Lots of cafes nearby. There is step-free access to all platforms.

By bus:

From London Victoria change at Leeds for the Coastliner, 10 hours in all.

Yorkshire Coastliner 843 runs hourly from Leeds via Tadcaster, York and Malton.

East Yorkshire Bus 41 runs every 30 min from Hull via Beverley and Driffield to Bridlington. Change there for the hourly 12 / 13 via Filey to Scarborough.

East Yorkshire Bus 128 runs across the North York Moors from Helmsley via Pickering, Thornton-le-Dale, Brompton and Seamer. It runs hourly Mon–Fri, every two hours Sat, no Sunday service.