Filey Bay
A five-mile Yorkshire bay sheltered at both ends — unusually clean water for the east coast.
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● Spot · shaded: the wind directions that work here. It is not a riding area or a permitted kite zone. Two fingers to move the map.
Location & launch
Know before you go.
- Launch
- Five miles of sand in a bay sheltered by Filey Brigg to the north and Flamborough Head to the south.
- Wind
- N · NNE · NE · ENE · E · ESE · SE · SSE · S winds work here.
The shaded area shows the wind directions recorded as working here. It is not a permitted kite zone or a safe launch boundary. Check local signs.
Local rules, hazards & spot guide
Need to know
The things that catch people out here.
- Filey Brigg is a long rocky finger at the northern end. It shelters the bay and it will destroy your gear.
- Sheltered at both ends by Filey Brigg and Flamborough Head, which makes the water unusually clean for the east coast.
- Five miles of beach and rarely crowded outside high summer.
Conditions
- Best
- Works
- Offshore
- Works in
- N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S
- Best in
- NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE
- Offshore (careful)
- SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW
- Wind quality
- clean
- Water
- Flat to choppy
- Depth
- standing
- Best tide
- Low to mid
- Spring range
- 5.1 m
Filey Brigg shelters the northern end from a hard northerly and knocks the chop down.
- Beginner
- Good
- Intermediate
- Ideal
- Advanced
- Good
Hazards
Most serious first. The level is in words as well as colour.
- high
rocks Filey Brigg is a long rocky reef running out from the northern headland — sharp, extensive and exposed at low water.
- medium
current Streams run hard round the Brigg.
- medium
cold water North Sea temperatures.
Access & rules
- Launch
- Five miles of sand in a bay sheltered by Filey Brigg to the north and Flamborough Head to the south.
- Permit
- Not required
- Insurance
- Third-party liability expected
- Tuition
- Permitted
- Facilities
- toilets, cafe, shop
Parking
- Filey seafront and Country Park
paid
Seasonal restrictions
- Jun–Aug
Bathing zones on the main resort beach in peak season.
Safety
Who is around if it goes wrong. None of it makes the water safe.
- Lifeguards
- Seasonal RNLI cover.
- RNLI
- Filey RNLI
- Nearest A&E
- Scarborough Hospital, Scarborough (~20 min)
- Water quality
- Designated bathing water — excellent
The spot
Filey Bay runs five miles between Filey Brigg to the north and Flamborough Head to the south. Sheltered at both ends, the water here is noticeably cleaner and flatter than the open Yorkshire coast. It works from north round to south; westerlies come gusty off the cliffs and are offshore.
Filey Brigg is the hazard: a long rocky reef running out from the northern headland, exposed at low water, sharp and extensive, with strong streams running round it. Stay well south of it and the bay is one of the better spots in the north.
Links & local
Clubs, forums & groups
- North East Kitesurfing Club · club
Sources
Where this record came from, and how confident we are in it.
- Windfinder — Filey
Checked 2026-09-07 · coordinates, wind
- Kitesurfing UK (archived) — Filey Bay
Checked 2026-09-23 · wind
- UK Windsurfing beach guide — Filey Bay
Checked 2026-09-23 · wind
Verify locally. Coordinates 54.2102, -0.2835. Conditions, access arrangements and beach rules change; check them on the day before you rely on anything on this page.