Bridlington

The waves crash with proper Yorkshire grit against towering chalk cliffs that stretch for miles along this dramatic coastline. Bridlington sits at the heart of one of England's most spectacular cliff landscapes, where the famous Flamborough Head juts defiantly into the North Sea like a giant's fist.

Walk the cliff-top paths and you'll understand why YWT Flamborough Cliffs draws birdwatchers from across the country. Puffins nest here in summer, along with gannets and guillemots that wheel endlessly above the white chalk faces. The views from Breil Nook are absolutely cracking on a clear day - you can see the Spurn Peninsula stretching into the distance.

Down at sea level, adventure beckons. North Landing offers a proper taste of Yorkshire's wilder side, where fishing boats still launch from the pebbly shore just as they have for centuries. The limestone caves along this stretch tell their own stories - Robin Lythes Hole and the aptly named Mermaid Hole have been carved by millennia of pounding waves.

Thornwick Bay provides gentler pleasures. This sheltered cove feels almost Mediterranean on a sunny day, though the Yorkshire accent of fellow visitors soon brings you back to reality. The rock pools at Thornwick Pools are brilliant for kids, while golfers can test themselves against the sea breezes at Flamborough Head Golf Club.

Getting here is straightforward enough - the A165 runs straight up from Hull, taking about 45 minutes. Staying at one of the nearby parks puts you right in the thick of this magnificent coastline, with miles of cliff walks literally on your doorstep and Bridlington's traditional seaside pleasures just a short drive away.