Motorhome Hire in Scarborough

Scarborough holds a unique place in English history as the country's first seaside resort. In the 1620s, a spring of mineral water was discovered on the beach, and by the Georgian era, visitors were flocking here to take the waters and bathe in the sea. That heritage is still visible today in the elegant crescents and terraces that climb the cliffs between the town's two bays. At approximately 65 minutes from our Pontefract depot via the A64, Scarborough is a thoroughly rewarding destination for motorhome hire.

The town is divided by the dramatic headland on which Scarborough Castle stands. The castle, maintained by English Heritage, has watched over the coast since the 1130s and offers commanding views along the coastline in both directions. North Bay, the quieter of the two, is home to Peasholm Park, a beautiful Japanese-themed park with a lake, pagoda, and the famous miniature naval warfare display held on summer afternoons. The North Bay Railway, a vintage miniature train, runs along the seafront from Peasholm to Scalby Mills, passing the Sea Life Scarborough centre.

South Bay is the livelier side of town, with the harbour, the Spa Complex, and the traditional seaside amusements. The harbour is one of the most attractive on the Yorkshire coast, with fishing boats, crab pots, and fish and chip shops lining the quayside. The Rotunda Museum, one of the oldest purpose-built museums in the country, houses a fascinating collection of geology and local history. The Stephen Joseph Theatre, long associated with the playwright Alan Ayckbourn, hosts world premieres alongside a varied programme of drama and film.

Scarborough's Open Air Theatre, set in Northstead Manor Gardens, is one of the largest open-air performance venues in Europe, hosting major concerts and events throughout the summer. The South Cliff Gardens, stretching along the clifftop south of the Spa, are a series of beautiful Italianate gardens with views across the bay. For walking, the Cleveland Way runs through Scarborough in both directions, heading north toward Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay, and south toward Filey and Flamborough Head.

The North York Moors National Park begins just a few miles inland from Scarborough. The Dalby Forest, part of the North Riding Forest Park, offers outstanding mountain biking, walking trails, and a night sky discovery trail in one of the darkest areas in England. Pickering, the southern terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, is just 18 miles away, and the steam train ride from Pickering through Goathland to Whitby is one of the great railway journeys of England.

The coast south of Scarborough is equally impressive. Filey, a quieter resort just eight miles down the road, has a magnificent five-mile beach backed by Filey Brigg, a natural breakwater of rocky reef. Flamborough Head, further south, is one of the finest seabird colonies in England, with thousands of gannets, puffins, and guillemots nesting on the chalk cliffs during the breeding season.

From our Pontefract depot, the drive to Scarborough follows the A1(M) north before joining the A64 east through the Vale of York. The route is straightforward and takes you through pleasant countryside, with the Wolds rising to the south and the moors to the north. Scarborough and the surrounding coast have excellent campsite provision, making it an ideal base for a coastal motorhome holiday.