Walk 2 - Esplanade & South Bay

Start

This walk begins at the Holbeck Car Park next to where Holbeck Hall once stood. The hotel famously fell into the sea in the 1993 landslide. We will visit the bottom of the landslip towards the end of the walk. We start by following the road out of the car park, turning right onto Holbeck Hill then right again onto Esplanade Crescent. Before reaching the Clock Tower, cross the road and head into the Shuttleworth Gardens for a walk around them...

Shuttleworth Gardens

The gardens feature a sensory garden, old wooden shelter, lawns, flowerbeds and a favourite with children; the Fairy Garden. Bring letters with you to post and if you include your address, expect a reply from the fairies. Once you've walked around the Shuttleworth Gardens, exit and cross over the road. Walk under the Clock Tower and turn immediately right between the palm trees and flowerbeds. At the end of the flowerbeds turn left to the southern end of the putting green and follow the path round (wheelchair signed) as it runs along the putting green and down towards the Italian Gardens...

Italian & Rose Gardens

Walk through the Italian Gardens, enjoying the variety of flowers, friendly inquisitive squirrels and pond. Head up the other wide and follow the climbing paths following signs around the corner to the Rose Garden. Head through the garden and at the end turn left back onto the Esplanade...

Along the Esplanade

From here we turn right and walk along the Esplanade and here it's postcard view after postcard view of South Bay. Immediately after the famous Cliff Lift, the UK's first, we turn right and follow the first zig zag down to the path one level down from the Esplanade. Here we walk northward passing various historic chalets. Follow the path as it slopes down towards Spa Bridge...

Spa Bridge and Promenade

Once the path reaches the bridge, turn left and follow the wide path down through the trees to the road below. Walk under the famous Spa Bridge and turn right. From here, follow the promenade as it passes Scarborough Spa and the Clock Cafe. Walk around the old South Bay Pool site and eventually reach the Holbeck landslip. Walk up past the benches but instead of following the steep track up to the car park, carry straight on and follow the path back around the landslip by the rock armour. Once back round head up the steps immediately opposite and follow the winding path up through the valley always keeping left when there are options to turn right. This eventually brings you back onto Holbeck Hill and two left turns back to the Holbeck Car Park.

Visit Scarborough Tip

Try this walk in reverse if you want to have the climb up the cliff half way along the walk rather than the end. Early morning and evening will be much quieter, especially in the high season.