Fraisthorpe Beach: A Gorgeous Afternoon

‘Fraisthorpe Beach is where I’m going to get some fresh sea air after six months in the city!’

I remarked to my mother, determined where I would go. After all, it was still in ‘summer season’ and I wanted a beach where I could exercise the dog. Many beaches in East Yorkshire doesn’t allow dogs in this season and Fraisthorpe was a destination on the North Sea yet not too far away from my home city of Hull.

It had been a long six months of lockdowns and social-distancing while I was looking after my family. I hadn’t travelled outside of 30km radius of the city and I could feel my feet itching. My plans to explore Europe even further laid in tatters back in March when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK and Europe. No longer would I be exploring Albania, Montenegro, Estonia and Poland throughout the summer months.

However, as I always say, with every difficulty, there’s an opportunity.

My opportunity was to explore my own city and its surrounding area of East Yorkshire. I’m so pleased that I did it, allowing me to find out and connect further with my roots.

A highlight has definitely been Fraisthorpe Beach – proving to be one of the best afternoons I’ve spent in 2020.

Fraisthorpe Beach

Fraisthorpe Beach forms part of Bridlington Bay, a beautiful sandy beach that joins with the coastline that stretches to the River Humber. You can see Bridlington to the North and Hornsea to the South. It’s very flat, which perfect for walking, exercising dogs and even horse-riding!

I did note when I checked in on my Instagram that Fraisthorpe Beach is a popular beach for kite-surfing – no surprise with the bracing breeze that whipped above the flat sandy surface!

In the height of summer, it’s a great place for swimming in the North Sea if you are looking for a quiet area to take a dip in. Although, please remember there is no lifeguard service.

For me, it’s a place of wild beauty – full of low lying cliffs and history to explore with dilapedated war-time beach bunkers still in effect now acting as surf breaks to combat coastal erosion.

Getting to Fraisthorpe Beach is easy. All you need to be on the A165 by car heading to Bridlington and you will see a sign saying ‘Fraisthorpe Beach.’ At the turn, it’s a five minute drive down a single lane track, but with passing places should you encounter another car coming through. Once you arrive on the beach, you can park up, after paying at the entrance to the beach, on a raised level that leads down to the beach itself.

It’s a gorgeous place for all ages to spend a couple of hours exploring. There is a farmhouse with a cafe, shop and restaurant up the track should you get a thirst or need some food.

Once you have finished frolicking in the surf, walked along the stunning beach (I think I channelled the Hoff in Baywatch as I ran in my swim shorts) and relaxed on the sand, you may want to check out the village of Fraisthorpe about a mile away from the Beach inland or spend the rest of the day in Bridlington about 4 miles away to sample its popularity in shellfish.