Unfortunately, the husband was working, but this meant I could arrange a babe date with a couple of my friends and a pup. This was a good idea as it was a long drive - the longest I'd done at the time - so doing it on my own was not going to be an option. It also meant I had someone else in the car to Google car parks as it seemed that most of Yorkshire had the same idea as me and descended on Scarborough on the same day.
Once we had cooled down a bit, we walked through the town toward the beach. We didn't stop off in any of the shops but there were quite a few, including some cute local ones that I may need to explore on another day. There were also plenty of places for fish chips, with the prices increasing the closer you get to the beach, so its worth grabbing a portion before hitting the seafront if you fancy a fish supper at the seaside.
It didn't take too long to get to the beach, although the route we took was fairly steep. However, we then had to get to the dog-friendly section of the sand, which is a fair trek as it is right at the end of the beach. It's well sectioned though, so it is reasonably easy to find, as well as being easy to make sure your dogs stay in that area to avoid a fine.
Unfortunately, the bathing area on the beach is a bit away from the dog section, and while there were people in the water in the area we were in, there was also a lot of seaweed and no lifeguards. As I wanted to get in the water, I then had to walk back over to a different part of the beach in order to swim between the flags.
I actually felt totally recharged afterwards, especially considering I'd been in a hot car for hours. I'm pretty sure this proves that I am at least part mermaid as I instantly felt at home in the water and felt so relaxed afterwards. Swimming in the sea is definitely different to a few quick lengths in an indoor pool and I'm determined to do it more often now I'm driving.
When it came time to head back to the car, we took a slightly longer route, walking up a path through some vertical gardens, which gave us some fantastic views across the coast. It's a fair trek, but definitely worth it if you want to make the most of how pretty the beach and sea look. We did need a bit of a rest by the time we got to the top, but there is a seating area that also has fantastic views. Alternatively, you can go up the cliff lift, but it's far too quick to really take in the sights.
In fact, I'm already planning my next seaside trip, although I may head to Whitby instead so I can explore more places. Watch this space.