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  • Writer's pictureKittiwake Cottage Filey

Things to do in Filey with the Children

Updated: Apr 3, 2022

Filey Bay Beach

Filey is a lovely, traditional seaside resort, with a children’s paddling pool, crazy golf course and donkey rides on the beach in high season. There are some amusement arcades on the Coble Landing down by the lifeboat station and a small

children’s fairground along the promenade. With its fabulous award-winning Beach Filey is perfect for families, the beach is so big it’s never crowded. Perfect for Kite flying, building sandcastles, chilling in a deckchair or maybe bird watching. In early spring you may be lucky enough to see a seal sunbathing on the beach and in the summer the sight of porpoises are regular.





Filey Brigg

Filey Brigg is a long low head land jutting far out into Filey Bay. A great walk for families along the top of the Brigg as it is fairly level and offers extensive views

across the bay towards Bempton Cliffs and to Scarborough and Robins HoodsBay in the opposite direction.

Perfect for Birdwatching and seals, dolphins and whales can also visible throughout certain months playing in the sea.

On the brigg you will see a stone sculpture. This marks the end of two National Trials : The Cleveland Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way.

Parking is available at Filey Country Park (Pay & Display) on the north east side of the town, here there is also a café, shop and toilets





Glen Gardens Filey, West Avenue, Filey.

A perfect place to let children play ball games and families to enjoy open space and have picnics. Glen gardens were built around 1830’s and were part of the private estate of Ravine Hall. Although the hall no longer exists a café stands in its place, a perfect place to stop for light refreshments. With plenty of seating to

enjoy the view and beautiful flowerbeds to admire, along side children’s playground, small boating pond, putting green and crazy golf Glen gardens is perfect choice for a day out with the kids. The gardens are open all the time, dogs are welcome and there are also public toilets at this venue.


How to get to Glen Gardens:

Directions By road: Follow signs for Filey town centre. Pass Bus Station on Station Avenue and turn right onto West Avenue. Glen Gardens is at the very end of West Avenue on the left hand side.




Foot golf and Pitch and Putt West Avenue, Filey, YO14 9BQ.

07935 281772

Filey Pitch and Putt and foot golf is situated on West Avenue in Filey. Part of the Green Flag award winning Glen Gardens the course offers breathtaking cliff top views over Filey bay alongside peace and quiet.

The Parkland style course is great for families and offers 18 holes of pitch and

putt golf and foot golf with many challenging hazards that will entertain and challenge all including seasoned golfers, it is widely regarded as the best Pitch & Putt/ Mini Golf course on the Yorkshire coast and is maintained and kept to a good standard.

For parking: There is a large Pay & Display car park within 30 seconds walking distance of the course and it is within walking distance of Filey town centre 

Clubs are available to hire for right, left and junior golfers and helpful and friendly staff on hand to assist where necessary.



Filey Bird Garden & Animal Park Ltd. Scarborough Road, Filey, North Yorkshire Y014 9PG

This award-winning family run attraction is a special mixture of animals, nature, exotic birds and gardens. The park is situation over 5 acres and is a fantastic way to spend a day out with the kids in Filey. The amazing surrounding countryside

it a stunning place to visit for everyone. The park has a zoo licence and has been able to add to its range of animals over the years. Wallabies, Rheas, Alpacas, Chipmunks, and Skunks are all residents, alongside meercats, corn snakes and bearded dragons. For the more traditional farmyard lovers, Del Boy and Rodner Trotter Pigs, greedy goats, sheep, donkeys and rabbits are also on the park to see. Children love to see birds and there is no shortage at the park, from turkeys, ducks, waterfowl, owls, rheas to parrots. There is a small café serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, sausage rolls, cakes and biscuits. Picnic Areas are also present ideal for you to bring your own food to give the kids a snack when they need one.


Directions to Filey Bird Garden and Animal Park

• The nearest railway station is Filey, which is 1mile away (a 20-30 minute walk). Taxis are available at the station.

•There are regular buses that pass the main entrance from both the north (Scarborough) and the south (Hull); the 120 and the more direct 121. If travelling from the north please ask for the first stop in Filey.  From here you need to return back up the road (away from Filey) for approx. 0.3 miles (480m) until you reach the Brown sign, and then cross the road into our entrance.  If travelling from the south please ask for the last stop in Filey.  From here you need to cross the road to access the continuous footpath and turn left (away from Filey) for approximately. 0.2 miles (320m) until you reach the Brown sign, and then re-cross the road into the entrance.  Both bus stops have shelters and seating.

Car Parking and Arrival

There is free parking on site for 50 cars, with 3 clearly marked Blue Badge parking spaces situated on the left as you enter the car park.

For more information visit www.fileybirdgarden.com



Filey Dams Nature Reserve Wharfedale, Filey, North Yorkshire, YO14 0DP

This is the last remaining freshwater lagoon surrounded by marsh and cattle grazed grasslands. Don’t forget your binoculars as Filey Dams is a magnet for migratory birds and birdwatching. A perfect place for a free family day out.

Situated over 6 hectares, the nature reserve is a chance to see tree sparrows, dragonflies, water vole and three species of newt from the pond dipping platform. Further along the boardwalk you will find Eastpool where wood sanpipers, greenshank and grebe maybe spotted. There is wheelchair access to the main hide and the pond dipping platform. The reserve is open all year round is a short walk from the free car park or just a 10 minute walk from Filey railway station. https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/filey-dams-nature-reserve



Playdale Farm Park, Carr Lane, Cayton, Scarborough

YO11 3AT

The farm is packed with things to entertain the children whatever the weather. Situated near Scarborough and Filey in the village of Cayton it’s a perfect place to

visit with the kids. The animal Barn and interactive paddocks are designed so the children can see animals in a natural farm environment. A large range of animals including Chipmunks, ponies, alpacas, llamas, rabbits and guinea pigs are awaiting to be petted and fed.

Playdale Farm offers picnic and great outdoor play areas perfect for sunny days. The summer sledge run can add a bit of competitiveness between siblings and friends. Who will be the first to the bottom? The Zip wire is great fun flying through the air. A real challenge for the whole family is the frisbee golf course, throwing a frisbee through the farms picture boards is not an easy task.

The pedal Go-Kart track is a great place to race around the track and being first over the finishing line.

What to do when its wet? Well at Playdale there are plenty of undercover areas including a picnic area and barn where the whole family can run amongst the straw bales. A large sandpit with buckets and spades and sit on diggers, a soft play area with astro slide giving you so may options if it’s raining.



Bempton Cliffs, Cliff Lane, Bridlington, YO15 1JF

Bempton Cliffs is an RSPB bird reserve located near to Flamborough Head. It was awarded a TripAdvisor certificate of excellence for 2014 and is a great place to visit. The RSPB reserve has over half a million seabirds and has spectacular views

of the Yorkshire coastline. From April to October it supports the largest population of seabirds in England. Gannets, Guillemots, Puffins, Barn Owls, Kittiwakes, Goldcrests are just a few of the species that are available to see. The bird calls are fabulous to hear and visiting the cliffs gives you an experience second to none. Remember your binoculars, but if you forget they are available to hire at the visitor centre.

Along the cliffs, you can walk in either direction from the visitor centre taking in the epic Yorkshire coastline, viewing points are along the wat and seals and porpoises can sometimes be spotted swimming in the sea. Dogs are

welcome as long as they are on a leash and it makes a lovely family day out with the kids. Picnic tables and a small café are situated outside the visitor centre, which allows visitors to get hot drinks and cakes when visiting.

Every year from May to August a number of seabird cruises from nearby

Bridlington Harbour are ran. The cruises enable you to get close up views of puffins, guillemots and more.


Woldgate Trekking Centre, 4 Woldgate, Bridlington YO16 4XE 01262 673086

Situated near Bridlington on the Yorkshire Coast and 2 miles from the beach,

Woldgate trekking centre offer a series of superb treks through woodlands and over dales for both beginners, advanced, and disabled riders. All levels, from novice to more experience can enjoy treks on a team of friendly horses and ponies. Nervous beginners can be lead if desired and riding hats are provided for all riders. The trekking centre offer 1 and 2 hour treks. They are open 7 days a week and they are licensed but the Association of British Riding schools and by the local council.



North Bay Railway, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO12 6PF

01723 368791

This railway is situated in Scarborough in North Bay is a unique attraction and recreates the main line in miniature, with tunnel, bridges, signal box, turntable and station. The 20 inch gauge railway starts near Peasholm park, past Scarborough Open Air Theatre and out to the

Scarborough coastline ending up near the sea life centre. The train is then turns on a turn table at Scalby Mills and returns back to Peasholm Park. Dogs are welcome to travel on the train free of charge, but they must be kept on a short lead. The railway holds special events such as the illuminations train, Santa trains, Easter eggspress and Teddy bear express.

For train timetables and more information visit https://nbr.org.uk/





Scarborough Sky Trail North Bay, North Yorkshire, Scarborough, YO12 6PF

01723 368791

Situated on the same site as the North Bay Railway, is the sky trail, Scarborough’s alternative to Go Ape, a great place for kids and adults to be adventurous on ropes and beams up high.

Children must be at least 5 years old and 1m tall to use the Sky Trail Adventure. Adventurers less than 1.2m tall must be accompanied by someone aged 18 or over, 1 Adult can accompany 2 Children maximum under 1.2m.

For opening times for the Sky Trail visit


Sealife Scarborough Centre, Scalby Mills Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO12 6RP

Sea Life's magnificent ocean tunnel holds 156,000 litres of seawater. Walk beneath its to see tank to see dazzling reef fish sharing quarters with turtles and tropical

sharks. With zones including penguins, turtles, sea horses, otters, and Sting rays Scarborough see life centre is a great day out with the kids. Learn what it takes to rescue, rehabilitate and release turtles back into the wild. Visit the seal pool and see the resident male seals whilst listening to the seal talk to find out all about them. Be prepared to be amazed when you come face to face with sharks, especially the Zebra Horn Shark whilst learning about conservation of these wonderful creatures.



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