Bring your dog to Filey in North Yorkshire, an underrated yet highly pleasurable seaside resort in the traditional British sense of the word. Home to a long and sandy beach and some of the best dog walks in the county, Filey is an ideal place to holiday in Yorkshire with your four-legged chum along for the ride.
The seaside town is home to some of the most scenic, dog-friendly attractions in Yorkshire, including Filey Beach, Bempton Cliffs, The Cleveland Way, and Filey Brigg. There is a whole range of dog-friendly places to eat at too; the choice is bolstered by the seafront concessions plying visitors with fish and chips, and seafood ‘to go’!
If Filey sounds like your kind of place, then why not browse our collection of holiday cottages in and around the town? We have the perfect pet-friendly accommodation in Filey waiting for you to discover.
What have we got to get tails wagging?
Top dog-friendly attractions in Filey
Filey Beach
How pooch-friendly a coastal town is can usually be gleaned from the level of restrictions at the beach. Well, at Filey, the beach is vast and there’s room for the whole population of the North East of England to stand out on the sands at low tide.
There is a small section where dogs are banned – between the Royal Parade and Cobble Landing – during the summer (1 May – 30 September) but that’s not much of a hindrance considering how much of the beach remains a dog play zone! There’s also the considerable prom to roam along if you have old dogs and/or pups. Filey Beach is nearly 4 miles in length and access to the neighbouring Cayton Bay is a few miles to the north.
Why your dog will love it: Filey Beach is sandy beach fun writ large. Despite a seasonal exclusion zone, there are still miles of space for play.
Stay nearby: Sunnycliffe, Filey | sleeps 11 + 2 dogs
Filey Brigg Country Park
At the southern end of the beach is Filey Brigg, an attractive headland that is also the northern origin point for the Cleveland Way which is a long-distance walking trail. After a bracing climb up to the Brigg from the town, it’s big sea views all the way.
Dolphin and whale spotting is a popular pursuit and the best route to take to get the best of the country park is the circular route from town via the beach and Centenary Way. Filey Brigg is an excellent place to fly kites or spot birds too; look out for the earthworks of a Roman signalling station at the head of the Brigg. Facilities include parking, a play park for kids, and a food and drink concessionary stand.
Why your dog will love it: It’s a lovely park for a run and a climb!
Stay nearby: Coble House, Filey | sleeps 6 + 1 dog
Cayton Bay
Cayton Bay is the next sandy beach up from Filey. It’s a bit of a hidden surfers' spot, with its own surf school and hire shop on the beach. There are no restrictions at Cayton Bay so you and your hounds can enjoy the full beach without hindrance.
There are many rock pools to sniff out and scamper about, some sections are good for a spot of fossil hunting too. The beach has been awarded Quality Coast Award recently and it’s a tidy beach for families and their pets to enjoy. There is even a dog-friendly beach shack to grab a snack from up on the cliffs after charging around with the beasts.
Why your dog will love it: Yet another fantastic beach to explore! What’s not to love?
Stay nearby: Sea Views Three 37, Scarborough | sleeps 4 + 2 dogs
Top dog-friendly walks in and around Filey
The Cleveland Way – National Trail
The Cleveland Way is a long-distance trail that stretches from Filey Brigg Country Park to Helmsley, 105 miles inland. The coastal section offers wayfarers some of the most picturesque sea views in England.
The whole path takes the majority of visitors three days to complete but any section is lovely, offering challenging stretches to mild and easy swathes to try out too. Officially opened in 1969, it was the second designated National Trail in England. Highlights include the resort of Scarborough, Robin Hood’s Bay,popular Whitby, and Saltburn-by-the Sea.
Why your dog will love it: The Cleveland Way provides WALKIES in capital letters.
Stay nearby: Scarborough Outlook, Scarborough | sleeps 4 + 1 dog
Filey Promenade
Filey has a long seafront and, for the most part, you and your dog can enjoy a long steady walk along it. For older hounds and pups who may find the long walking trails a bit daunting, a stroll along Filey’s seafront is the perfect day out for them.
The seafront is lined with places to grab a snack, like takeaways, fish and chip shops and restaurants, and the occasional dog-friendly pub and café (see below). With wide sea views, there are ample benches to sit and take in the scenery when your four-legged mates get puffed out.
Why your dog will love it: Well, you can’t tear around 24 hours all the time. Sometimes you just need to slow down and take in the scenery.
Stay nearby: South Crescent, Filey | sleeps 4 + 3 dogs
RSPB Bempton Cliffs
This one is for dogs that are quite happy to remain on the lead, as Bempton Cliffs is a very special outdoor attraction where you can watch colonies of birds by the thousand roosting in the cliffs. Keen birdwatchers will be able to see the half a million seabirds that converge on the cliffs between March and October every year.
There is an RSPB visitor centre with public WCs available, as well as a café and plenty of parking. Follow the nature trails and seek out the hides where you can get some seriously impressive vantage points from which to see the birds in their ministry.
Why your dog will love it: For some quality time with your dog at your heel, it’s a nice walk to bond and see the sights.
Stay nearby: Moor Farm Cottage, Filey | sleeps 12 + 3 dogs
Top dog-friendly places to eat and drink in Filey
Cobble Bar & Bistro
Dining options where your four-legged brood is welcome are generally thin on the ground anywhere you go, but not in Filey! The Cobble Bar & Bistro welcome dogs to dine with you in the bar. Bolstered by fantastic views and a wide choice of dishes, the Cobble is unmissable if you are looking for a hassle-free place to sit down and eat with your dog in tow. Meals cover all the favourites like pizzas, steaks, fish and chips and so much more.
Why your dog will love it: Just being able to stretch out and take in the wafting scents of the food cooking has to be a holiday highlight for any hound.
Stay nearby: Mitford House, Filey | sleeps 6 + 1 dog
The Bull Inn
The Bull Inn in nearby Gristhorpe is a very good pub for dinner and a relaxed pint of ale. Dogs are more than welcome to accompany you inside and the menu is deep with interesting dishes and firm favourites that are destined to fill you up. With an interesting array of ales on tap and a good wine list, a short trip to Gristhorpe is worth your effort when on holiday with your doggy in Filey.
Why your dog will love it: All dogs love the sights and sounds of a warm and welcoming pub and this one fits the bill snugly.
Stay nearby: Strathmore Cottage, Filey | sleeps 4 + 3 dogs
The Coffee Shed
For a quick bite to eat and a delicious hot drink, you can’t go wrong with a detour into The Coffee Shed on Murray Street in the middle of Filey. The selection of light meals is enhanced by the presence of gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options, and then there is a whole raft of interesting drinks and cakes to choose from too. It’s a buzzing little place, with friendly staff, so if you are looking for a mid-morning pickup, this is our choice.
Why your dog will love it: There are scents galore and sights to see if your dog loves to people-watch.
Stay nearby: No 5 – Filey, Filey | sleeps 6 + 2 dogs
Enjoy a dog-friendly holiday in Filey
Visit our range of dog-friendly holiday cottages where you and your pet will find features that are bound to make a holiday in Filey utterly memorable. For more inspiration, visit our dog-friendly guide to Yorkshire. Choose your perfect self-catering dog-friendly holiday cottage from our collection - just click the button below to have a browse.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.