Derwent Valley Community Library & Resource Centre

Three miles from Scarborough's busy seafront, this compact community library serves the villages scattered across the Derwent Valley with more than just books. Inside you'll find local history displays, computer terminals for internet access, and a decent selection of walking guides covering the Yorkshire coast and moors. The staff know their patch well and can point you towards lesser-known footpaths and cycle routes.

Families staying at nearby holiday parks like Cayton Bay or Scarborough Camping Club will find it handy on rainy days, especially with young children who tire of arcades. The opening hours are a bit patchy - closed Mondays and Thursdays, and Saturday afternoons - so check before making a special trip. Tuesday evenings until seven work well if you're after somewhere quiet to plan the next day's adventures.

What makes this place genuinely useful is the local knowledge. Pick up leaflets for National Trust properties within driving distance, or ask about bus routes to Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay. It's hardly a tourist attraction in itself, but for half an hour of shelter and local intel, particularly if you're staying at one of the caravan sites around Lebberston or Cayton Village, it does the job properly.