Scarborough Castle and Holbeck Hill Coastal Walk
North Yorkshire
Scarborough Castle stands high on the headland between North and South Bay, and this dog friendly circuit links the castle ramparts with the sheltered Esplanade cliff gardens at Holbeck. The walk drops from the old town down to the harbour, follows the promenade past the Spa, climbs the Esplanade gardens to Holbeck, then loops inland and back to the castle headland via St Mary's churchyard.
Dogs are welcome on lead on all pavements and promenade sections and throughout the Esplanade gardens year round. The South Bay dog ban runs 1 May to 30 September on the main stretch of beach, but you can still walk the promenade above. Paths are entirely surfaced pavement, tarmac promenade and garden path, so it is an easy one for older or shorter-legged dogs, with one flight of steps up to the castle gate if you want to include it. Parking is pay and display at numerous town car parks, and Scarborough is packed with dog-friendly cafes and pubs.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 6.8 km (4.2 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 2 hr 20 min
- Walk Type
- Coastal, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Low
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Public toilets, cafes and pubs throughout Scarborough; Holbeck clifftop gardens has benches and shelters.
- Parking
- Multiple pay and display car parks in town; try Vine Street or the seafront bays near YO11 1TN for the easiest start.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Scarborough Castle and Holbeck Hill Coastal Walk, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
The Old St Johns Church
Sleeps 10 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £2,071 / 7 nights
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What’s Nearby?
Attraction0.4 mi awayScarborough Castle
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Three thousand years of history on a headland between two bays, and one of the largest open sites here, so your dog gets real room to roam.
Beach1.1 mi awayScarborough North Bay
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The quieter of Scarborough's two beaches with more off-season appeal and a less congested atmosphere than South Bay.
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A breezy Cleveland Way finish that loops out along Filey Brigg's rocky spit before returning through country park and town.