Dog Friendly: 10 Best Things To Do In Filey With A Dog

Originally published on June 26, 2025 | Last updated on March 13, 2026

There are Amazon affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I will never promote products that me and Mabel don’t either use ourselves or fully recommend.

We recently went to The Bay in Filey for a couple of days which is in between Humanby and Filey. We enjoyed it so much that we are likely going to go back to Filey. This prompted me to research what is there to do in Filey with dogs. Therefore let’s look at the 10 best things to do in Filey with a dog based on all of my research of the former fishing village.

If you’re heading to the coast for the Easter break, why not grab a gift for the beach house? Here are our top picks for dog-safe Easter treats and toys available in the UK this year.

Dog friendly beaches in Filey

Filey Beach

In North Yorkshire, Filey beach is a 5 mile long sandy beach famous for its glorious, unbroken golden sand. Known as the jewel in the East Ridings coastal crown, it stretches from the rocks of Filey Brigg in the North to Bempton cliffs and the puffins in the South. This beach is perfect for walks, playing in the sand and throwing around a Chuck It ball with your dog. (See why we recommend the Chuck It ball in our guide to the best dog toys for staffies.

Is Filey Beach dog friendly?

Filey beach is dog friendly. However, there are restrictions on where they can go from 1st May – 30th September. They are banned from Royal parade to Cobble landing. This isn’t a problem due to the 5 mile beach and large promenade which they are allowed on.

Are dogs allowed at Filey beach?

Filey beach dogs exclusion zone map during 1st May – 30th September

Filey beach parking

Thera are 4 pay and display car parks with various sizes ranging from 12 spaces to 3014 spaces. All pay and display car parks use cash, card or the Ring Go app. Parking is pay and display between 1st March and 31st October during the tourist and summer season. After 31st October it is free. They are all Monday to Sunday 24 hours. 

The closest parking to the beach is Coble landing, however due to there only being 12 spaces, it is likely to fill up fast. Station avenue is closer to the town centre than the beach, so maybe more suitable if you plan activities around the town centre. We would likely go to the Country Park due to the large number of spaces and close proximity to the beach.

Car park	No of spaces	Distance walk to beach	Parking charges	Map link
Country Park	3014	5 minutes	Country Park car park charges	Country Park Google maps link
West Avenue	967	5-10 minutes	West Avenue car park charges	West Avenue Google maps link
Station Avenue	96	10 minutes	Station Avenue car park charges	Station Avenue Google maps link
Coble Landing	12	5 minutes	Coble Landing car park charges	Coble landing Google maps link

On street parking

There are 3 common locations for free on street parking such as on Filey Seafront in front of the cottages, up Cargate hill and on Ravine Road. However, unless you plan on leaving super early in the morning to try and beat the crowds, we would likely recommend one of the pay and dispay car parks.

Some people may recommend to park in the town center or at the Tesco. However both of these have time restrictions such as 1 hour, no return within 2 hours and 1 hour 30 mins. 

Walk the Filey Beach Promenade and sculpture trail

If rock pools are not your thing, you can walk the large historical promenade and enjoy the local sculpture trail of art work by Russ Coleman. Inspired by the local wildlife and heritage of the town it is approximately 5 miles long. The promenade is perfect for older dogs or those with any mobility/joint issues due to the lots of close areas for breaks. I am particulary excited about a metalwork seal which is designed as a plastic bottle recycling depository.

Make sure you also visit the 12ft steel “Filey Fisherman” or “Finlay” for short. The formal name is “High Tide and Short Wellies” by Ray Lonsdale who overlooks the crazy golf course and out to sea.

He was gifted to the town by local philanthropic pensioner Maureen Robinson and makes a powerful statement about the decline of the fishing industry. He is also the main image on the Yorkshire Crisps flavour Oyster, Chilli and Lemon.

Swimming and rock pooling

If you do want to go for a swim in the summer, you are likely to have calmer waters, due to the Filey Brigg peninsula. The Brigg shelters the beach from the full force of the open sea, reducing wave action and making it safer to swim. You are also safe in the knowledge that a RNLI life guard service operates during the summer.

At low tide, there is also a quarter mile of sand with plenty of good rock pools to explore. Just make sure to check the tide times, wear appropriate footwear and make sure you safely put back any animals you find.

With an array of potential shells and animals to find such as :-

• Masked crabs
• Swimming crabs
• Hermit crabs
• Razor clams
• Anemones
• Starfish
• Limpets
• Sea potatoes
• Lug worms
• Brittle stars
• Sea scorpion fish

Things to know before you go to Filey beach

• Filey beach is likely to be busier than the other beaches on this list
• Go to Wilson ice cream on the beach front for fantastic ice cream
• If rockpooling, buy telescopic fish nets as they fold up nice and small

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Cayton Bay beach

Nestled between Filey and Scarborough, Cayton bay is the next beach up from Filey Beach. A 10 minute drive away, it is dog friendly all year around without any restrictions on where your dog can go, with great facilities including toilets, cafe and parking.

The sheltered Cayton Bay beach is an expansive sandy beach. The rugged cliffs and woodland spilling onto the beach give it a wild and unspoilt natural beauty.

It is great for the following activities :-

• Surfing and wind surfing
• Fossil hunting
• Bird watching

Is Cayton Bay Beach dog friendly?

Cayton Bay beach is dog friendly all year around with no restrictions on where your dog can go.

The Cayton Bay beach has been awarded the following due to the clean water :-

• Marine society recommended
• Seaside award (Only 144 sites achieved this in the UK.)

Things to do at Cayton Bay beach

Surfing, wind surfing and paddleboarding with Scarborough surfing school

Home to one of the oldest surfing schools in the UK, Scarborough surfing school offers classes and equipment rentals if you fancy trying something new. Typically running surfing lessons at 10AM or 1PM 7 days a week for all levels including kids, both in groups and 1 to 1.

Hunt fossils

Cayto Bay is a favourite among fossil hunters, as the cliffs formed in the jurassic period 150 million years ago.

With the Oxford Clay on the foreshore yielding a large array of fossils in scouring conditions (after stormy weather) such as :-

• Gastropods
• Bivalves
• Brachiopods
• Belemnites
• Ammonites

Bird watching

A large amount of birds make their nests in the cliffs overlooking Cayton Bay, so this is a great place for the enthusiastic birdwatcher.

Things to know before you go to Cayton bay beach

• Just be aware of the challenging steep walk back up from the beach. It may not be suitable for those who are unsteady on their feet or have limited mobility as there is no railing to hold onto.
• Book a surfing/windsurfing/paddleboarding lesson in advance with Scarborough surfing school
• Park on the top road for free if you can
• Make sure you are back on time if using the car park to avoid a £100 fine
• Grab beach supplies or food from The Salty Dog
• Great quiet beach for anxious pups if they found Filey beach too busy
• The North of the beach is an unofficial naturist/nudist spot, so avoid if you that isn’t your scene
• If you are wanting something more substantial food wise, The Farrier is recommended in Cayton although this is a 30 minute walk away from the beach or 5 minute drive

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Humanby Gap Beach

Humanby gap beach is a 5 mile long, relatively quiet sandy beach just south of Filey beach and north of Reighton gap. It is unspoiled and known as a hidden gem due to the relative quietness, even during the summer months. It is a great beach to come to if you are finding Filey beach too busy, as it is only about 3.1 miles or a rough 1 hour walk from Filey beach.

Is Humanby Gap beach dog friendly?

Yes, dogs are allowed on Humaby gap beach all year round. However, from May to September they must be on a lead. During the rest of the year they can run free and use up their boundless energy exploring the beautiful sandy shores.

Things to do at Humanby Gap beach

Look at the world war 2 pillbox bunkers

Visit the two world war 2 pillbox bunkers which are on the North of the beach. They have been used for the defense of the UK against a possible invasion. Both interiors were accessible and clean.

Visit the beach cafe

To the south of the beach is the Beach cafe. Perfect for relaxing after the walk from Filey, this place serves a great Full English with views overlooking the beach. The dog sausage was particularly good and kept Mabel’s attention. as we walked back along the beach.

Have a pint at the dog friendly John Paul Jones pub in Filey Bay

If the beach cafe isn’t open. You can always rest your weary limbs at the dog friendly John Paul Jones pub in The Bay Filey. Walking up the slope, take a left until you come into The Bay. There you can either sit in the generous amount of outdoor seating or go inside to eat some classic British pub food.

We particularly enjoyed the fish and chips and milkshakes. The waitress who served us actively fussed Mabel and got her some dog treats.

Things to know before you go to Humanby Gap beach

• The car park is not open from November to March
• The Beach Cafe is not open from November to March. So, if you plan on visiting check they are open, if not go to The John Paul Jones in The Bay, Filey.
• The only toilets around the beach are the portaloos at the top with the car park which cost 20P. Use them before you go on the beach

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Dog friendly walks in Filey

Filey and Filey Brigg circular walk

A long narrow peninsula shelf which pokes out into the sea, Filey Brigg boasts magnificent red tapering cliffs which are 20 meters high. This is Filey’s version of the red rock canyon in Las Vegas. The Brigg stretches into Filey Bay to the North and has picturesque views of Filey beach.

The Brigg is composed of 2 parts, the Brigg itself, which is the long stretch of rock which pierces the bosom of the sea for a mile, with the furthest point of the Brigg being called Brigg End. The inland part is named Carr Naze.

This moderately challenging 4.5km walk from Filey beach to Filey Brigg and back again shows off the cliffs, wildlife and is an amazing walk for dogs. A great way to visit Filey Brigg, it is a designated as site of specific scientific interest (SSSI) due to the geology of the cliffs and a local Nature Reserve.

Is Filey Brigg dog friendly?

Yes, Filey Brigg is dog friendly as long as they are on a lead and don’t disturb the local wildlife.

Things to do at Filey Brigg

See the stone sculpture depicting the end of the Cleveland Way and Yorkshire Wolds Way

Whilst exploring the Brigg, you will come across a sculpture depicting the end of 2 National trails. These are the Cleaveland Way and Yorkshire Wolds Way. This includes the places on each trail and an engraving of the National Trust acorn.

Visit a Roman jetty called The Spittals and the earthworks of the roman signal station above i

The Spittals

Filey Brigg has a rock built underwater structure on the south side known as The Spittals.Built out of huge square stones and concrete, running out at right angle to The Brigg. The generally held belief is that the rocks form a man made pier built by the Romans due to finding a coin in one of the oak pile holes.

Roman signal station

It is also near some roman earthworks which were the remains of a signal station. One of 5 signal stations in Yorkshire, it was first discovered in 1857 when escavated by Dr William Cortis. Giving a lecture, he mentioned a painter from Filey called Wilson, who had found pottery, bones and charred wood in Carr Naze.

In further excavations, 5 large stones were found which were believed to be alters or the base of pillars. After further investigation in 1920, they were found to be the foundations of the watch tower. They are currently on display in the Filey Crescent Gardens.

Look for harbour porpoises, grey & common seals, bottle nose dolphins and minke & sei whales

Filey Brigg is the perfect place to take an animal lover, with a high chance you will be able to see seals and porpoises. If you are lucky you may spot some of the rarer bottle nose dolphins and minke whales.

Animal	Species type	Best time to see them	Rarity
Porpoise	Harbour porpoise	All year around	Common
Seal	Grey Seals or Common Seals	Autumn	Common
Dolphin	Bottle nosed dolphins or White beaked dolphins	?	Rare
Whale	Minke whales or sei whales	Late Summer	Rare

The porpoises and the seals are generally seen more commonly. With Autumn a particularly good time to see them. With both of them typically being on the North side of The brigg.

Bottle nose dolphins whilst not common, have been reported coming past Filey Brigg in 2024. With some white beaked dolphins reported in June 2025 on Seawatch. Generally, bottle nose dolphin sightings in Yorkshire have been increasing since 2018 due to an increasing population and the availability of food further North. There were 303 sightings in 2022.

Expert Stuart Baines, the regional coordinator of SeaWatch says The Brigg is one of 5 places in Yorkshire to have the highest chance of seeing them. The others are Cowbar at Staithes, Whitby in the north, Scarborough Marine Drive, Long Nab Burniston, Filey Brigg Bempton, and Flamborough Head to the south.

Fossil hunting

Due to the geology of the cliffs being made out of 3 different types of limestone and 3 different types of sandstone, Filey Brigg is rich in fossils.

Search the foreshore. boulders and screw scopes around The Brigg for bivalves. With the north tending to to be less fossiliferous, and only yielding trace fossils. 

Whereas the south cliff and the boulder clay containing belemnites, ammonites and brachiopods which are called erratics. This means they travelled via glacial ice in the last ice age. With fossils also being found near the cliffs next to The Brigg.

Birdwatching birds such as purple sandpipers , puffins 

The rocks and internal zone attract a number of different birds such as purple sandpipers, puffins, cormorants, shags, red knots, brent goose and common elders, gulls and terns.

Things to know before you go to Filey Brigg

• Don’t walk too close to the edge as clay cliffs can collapse, although the last one was in 1867, you still need to be careful
• Be aware of the slippery rocks and path if it is covered with weeds or slime
• If you take the shore path make sure to check tide timings to give you plenty of time to get back over to Coble landing 
• Stay clear of the base of the cliffs as rock falls are common
• Hammering the bedrock for fossils is not permitted
• Check the recent sightings of birds on Filey Bird Observatory and group and dolphins, porpoises, whales and seals on Sea watch.

RSPB Bempton Cliffs

Bempton cliffs managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is perfect for the nature lovers, bird watchers and walkers. The RSPB nature reserve is on a 5-6 miles stretch of coastline between Flamborough head and Filey.

Half a million birds flock to the area between March and October each year to raise a family. Their distinctive calls can be heard throughout. Catch the 4000 pairs of puffins or “clowns of the sea: in between April and mid July and enjoy the sights of sleek gannets diving into the sea for their dinner.

If you visit when the birds are not around the breathtaking chalk cliffs still provide fantastic sea views. It has also recently become England’s first Shorewatch site, which will see 28 trained volunteers conduct structured watches for minke whales, dolphins, grey seals, harbour seals and harbour porposies as part of a nationa effort to protect and converse these animals.

See the recent highlights as to what birds have been seen recently by Flamborough bird observatory here. 

Animal	Season
Puffins	Spring
Razorbills	Spring
Kittiwakes	Spring
Herring Gulls	Spring
Shags	Spring
Porpoises	Spring
Roe deer	Spring
Linnets	Spring, Summer
Rock Pipit	Spring, Summer
Reed bunting	Spring, Summer
Corn bunting	Spring, Summer
Skylarks	Spring, Summer
Fulmars	Spring, Winter
Guilletmots	Spring, Winter
Tree sparrows	Spring, Summer, Winter
Gannets	Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Rock Pipit	Summer
Whitethroats	Summer, Autumn
Lesser whitethroats	Autumn
Willow warblers	Autumn
Reed warblers	Autumn
Sedge warblers	Autumn
Yellow browed warblers	Autumn
Chiffchaffs	Autumn
Goldcrests	Autumn
Stonechats	Autumn
Whinchats	Autumn
Wheatears	Autumn
Redstarts	Autumn
Red backed shrikes	Autumn
Short eared owls	Autumn, Winter

Is Bempton cliffs dog friendly?

Yes, however your dog needs to be kept on a short controlled lead at all times.  There are dog friendly routes and the visitor centre is dog friendly too with water bowls at the front and back off the centre.

Things to do at Bempton cliffs 

Go on one of the self guided trails

You have the choice to go on 3 self guided trails such as The Nature Trail, Staple Newk Trail or The Jubilee corner trail.

See the RSPB trail PDF here.

Unleash your inner photographer with a beginners photography workshop

My partner often says I’m not very good at taking photos, therefore the chance to both see many species of birds and get better at something I’m bad at is a great mix!

Allow experienced photographer of 14 years Stu Brown to unleash your creativity with theory, practice and workshop activities to help you understand what makes a compelling photo.

Things to know before you go to RSPB Bempton cliffs

• If you want to see the puffins, make sure you go between April and mid July
• Make sure you keep your dog on a short controlled lead
• Book walks, workshops and cruises in advanced here

Filey Bird Garden and Animal Park

We have written a detailed review of Filey Bird Garden and Animal park here. So, the below is a quick summary of why it is great to visit a rare dog friendly zoo in Filey.

Is Filey Bird Garden and Animal Park dog friendly?

Yes, it is clearly stated on their website that all dogs are welcome in the park. They are allowed everywhere except for the childrens play park, as long as they are :-

• On a short lead
• Controlled at all times (We use the Ezy dog chest plate harness to help with this.)
• Cleaned up afterwards

Things to do at Filey Bird Garden and Animal Park

See the 35 different animal types

We didn’t quite know what to expect from a smaller dog friendly zoo in Filey. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the 35 different animal types on display at the Filey Bird garden and Animal Park.

Mabels personal favourites were the meerkats, Zelda and Ziggy the Zebus and Oona the tanuki.

Attend a talk on one of the animals

Around each of the animals was a sign showing a time for when they were either going to be fed or when a talk was going to be given around the animals. We would loved to have stayed for one of these, however as Mabel is quite restless, she likely wouldn’t have sat through one of these without wanting to lick the person talking.

Relax at the cafe

There is a small cafe with a larger outdoor seating are for dogs, I would describe it as basic as it tended to serve pre packaged food such as sandwiches, sausage rolls, cakes, biscuits and crisps. There did not appear to be the facilities to cook and eat fresh food at the time of visiting.

Things to know before you go to Filey Bird Garden and Animal Park

• Would suggest going on a day where no rain is forecast, whilst some of the park is sheltered if it rains you would need to wait it out in the cafe
• Go on a weekday if you can to avoid crowds
• Bring comfortable walking shoes
• Be careful with some of the animals, if your dog approaches them they may try to bite or head butt them. (Ostrich, pygmy goat etc.)
• Go in the morning, as this is when most of the animals are supposed to be at their liveliest
• If going around Halloween, Easter or Christmas, check for seasonal activities
• Use blankets/towels to cover your car seats, the car park is made out of large loose gravel/stone and your dog will make a mess of your car by leaving footprints!
• It may be worth checking Groupon to see if you can get a discount. However, when I checked there wasn’t one on

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Dog friendly Pubs & Cafes in Filey

When researching this post, I found that a lot of the places mentioned previous posts had closed down. Such as the Sugarcube tearooms, Mrs Bishops doggy deli and The Bronte Vinery has been merged and become The Glasshouse at Charlottes

The Station (The Top House)

Roughly 10 minutes away from the main Filey beach, The Station or “The Top House” as known to the locals is a dog friendly pub with fantastic food 5 regular cask ales and two beer gardens. Reviews mention the scampi, steak pies, and home made lasagna as the menu choices to look for. It is also known for it’s excellent vegan menu offering more than one choice.

This dog friendly pub in Filey has an active live events time table including karaoke, live music, bingo, quiz nights and a host of live sports events including rugby, darts, football, golf, Formula 1 and horse racing.

So, if you want to just chill and catch the game or race this is the perfect spot to do it!

Is The Station dog friendly? (The Top House)

Yes, The Station is a dog friendly pub as shown by the multiple references on their website and as mentioned in their reviews. Whilst you check out the menu, your pup won’t miss out though with dog biscuits and water bowls on hand and a fuss from the staff.

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Bonhommes Bar

Bonhommes bar is a unique award winning real ale and dog friendly bar in Filey. It is more reminiscent of a private members club in London due to the elegant regency architecture. It is slightly hidden away on Royal Crescent Court side street and combined with it’s traditional decor leads to it not feeling overly touristy.

It has been around for 26 years. Previously it was part of the Crescent Hotel and has been known as The Lily Langtree, Yorkshire Rose and The American bar before being called Bonhommes. Named after John Paul Jones’s ship, the Bonhomme Richard was involved in the Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779 against the HMS Serapsis. 

A CAMRA 3x winner of Rural pub of the year and 3x runner up with 4 ale hand pumps during summer and 2 during winter. It has a weekly quiz on Saturday at 4pm and live music on Sundays at 4pm. Seaside Danny Wilde also performs here every third week. 

Is The Bonhommes Bar dog friendly?

Yes, Bonhommes Bar is dog friendly. This is evidenced by the dog friendly attribute on the CAMRA website, multiple reviews talking about the staff giving dogs dog treats from behind the bar and bringing out water bowls and I also messaged them to ask if they were dog friendly.

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The Boat Shed

Literally next to The Coffee Shed, the Boat Shed offers you the classic combination of pizza gin and cocktails. It does not describe itself as a bar or a restaurant, but as something in between. Which to me, is pretty much a pub as you can get a drink, eat or both. The reviews on Tripadvisor include lots of mentions of we book here everytime we are in Filey suggesting it is a great experience.

Is The Boat Shed dog friendly?

Yes, The Boat Shed is dog friendly in their outdoor seated terrace which fits 4 tables. Make sure you book a table and say you are bringing your dog though. If it is on a chillier night,the heaters will be on and blankets dotted around to stay warm!

If it is a quiet night, you might get lucky and be invited inside with your dogs as has happened to some people.

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The Coffee Shed

Nestled in the heart of Filey, the coffee shed is a coastal coffee gem if you look closely beneath the arches. This cosy dog friendly coffee shop is not just limited to barista made coffee. Serving a locally sourced breakfast menu, home made cakes, soups and fresh sandwiches. The Yorkshiremans lunch, a platter style ploughmans looks fantastic.

Is The Coffee Shed dog friendly?

It’s dog friendliness is evident by the door with water bowls and dog biscuits by the entrance. With it being stated on the menu as well just in case it had been missed.

Other dog friendly places