Major Events in Scarborough in 2026

Scarborough isn't just a seaside resort; it's a giant, open-air history book spanning nearly 200 million years. From its iconic castle headland to the "dinosaur footprints" hidden on its beaches, the town's landscape tells a story of ancient deep oceans, tropical swamps, and dramatic landslides. The Tale of Two Bays Scarborough is famous for its two distinct bays—North and South—separated by a massive rocky promontory. This headland, where Scarborough Castle now stands, exists because it is made of much tougher stuff than the surrounding coast. The Castle Headland: This is a "downfaulted outlier" of Middle and Late Jurassic rocks. The top layer is a hard, honey-coloured sandstone known as the Corallian Group, which sits on top of the much softer Oxford Clay. Because the sandstone is so resistant to erosion, it juts out into the North Sea, while the softer rocks on either side have been carved into the bays we see today. The Bays: The cliffs around the North and South bays are made of softer clays and sandstones that are roughly 170 million years old. These were formed during the Jurassic period, a time of river channels, swamps, and deep oceans. Walking with Dinosaurs: You don't need a time machine to find evidence of Jurassic life here. Scarborough is often called the "British capital of dinosaur trackways." Dinosaur Footprints: At low tide, you can find fossilised footprints of giant sauropods and theropods (meat-eaters) on the rocks of the South Cliff. More than 50 footprints have been recorded in this area. Rotunda Museum: To see these finds up close without getting your feet wet, visit the Rotunda Museum. Opened in 1829, it is one of the world's first purpose-built museums. It was designed based on suggestions from William Smith, the "Father of English Geology," who lived in Scarborough. Inside, you'll find the Gristhorpe Man (a Bronze Age tree burial) and the Speeton Plesiosaur. A Coast in Motion The geology of Scarborough is still active today, sometimes with dramatic results. Holbeck Hall Landslide: In 1993, the nation watched as the four-star Holbeck Hall Hotel slowly tumbled into the sea. This happened because heavy glacial deposits from the last Ice Age (about 11,000 years ago) sit on top of slippery Jurassic clay. When it rains heavily, the water gets trapped, causing the land to slide. Sea Defences: To combat this erosion, you’ll see modern sea defences like those along Marine Drive. These include huge blocks of Larvikite, a beautiful, dark-grey igneous rock imported all the way from Norway because of its extreme durability. Tips for Geological Explorers Check the Tides: Many of the best geological features, including the rock pools and dinosaur tracks, are only visible at low tide. Stay Safe: The cliffs to the south are active landslide zones. Always stay on the marked paths and keep a safe distance from the cliff edge and the base of the cliffs on the beach. Look for Pebbles: The beaches are full of "erratic" pebbles—stones carried here from hundreds of miles away by glaciers during the last Ice Age.