Britain’s Best Beach Has a Secret
- Rating: Good Beach
- Terrain: Easy
- Level: Beginner
- Dog friendly: Yes, no restrictions
- Location: Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire
- Sat Nav: TS13 5HT (Bank Bottom car park)
- Common colours: Green, brown, white
- Rare colours: Cobalt Blue, Black, Lavender
Best For:
- Sea glass hunting
- Rock pool searching
- Sea caves
- Beginners
- Storm hunting
- Sea pottery
- Family beachcombing
- Yorkshire coast adventures
Why Runswick Bay belongs on the list
The Times named it Britain’s Best Beach in 2020. It has been winning Seaside Awards and drawing artists since the Victorians discovered it. It looks, genuinely, like someone assembled all the best ingredients of a Yorkshire coastal village red-roofed fishermen’s cottages, a curved sandy bay, towering clay cliffs, caves with folk legends attached to them, and arranged them to maximum effect.
On a summer weekend, it can be busy. On a winter morning with low tide pulling the sea back across the sand and the Cleveland Way empty above you, Runswick Bay is close to perfect.
For sea glass hunters, the bay’s qualities work in your favour. The mile-long curve of beach is sheltered from the worst of the North Sea swell, which means glass gets tumbled in rather than thrown past. The rocky sections at both ends of the bay, particularly the eastern end toward Kettleness, hold pieces in crevices and pools.
The history of this coastline is centuries deep: fishing, smuggling, jet mining, alum works at Kettleness, ironstone from Port Mulgrave, all of it putting glass and ceramic into the water over hundreds of years.
It won’t produce the volume of Seaham, and it isn’t the most productive beach on this stretch of Yorkshire coast. But it’s beautiful, it’s reliably rewarding, and it happens to also be one of the best beaches in Britain for a day out with your dog, which, frankly, settles it.
What you’ll find here
Colours commonly found: Green, brown, white
Occasional finds: Blue, Aqua, Amber, Turquoise
Rare finds: Cobalt Blue, Black, Lavender
Bonus: Ammonite fossils in the Jurassic shale, jet fragments, Victorian pottery, ceramic shards, occasional wartime fragments
When to go
Low tide is when Runswick Bay opens up. The beach is sandy and wide at low water, good hunting conditions, but the most productive spots are the rocky sections at the eastern end toward Kettleness, where glass accumulates in rock pool crevices and boulder fields. These only become accessible as the tide drops.
After an Easterly storm is the best time to visit. The bay’s sheltered curve means glass pushed in by heavy swell tends to stay on the beach rather than dispersing along the coast, and the wrack line after a blow can be productive from one end of the bay to the other.
Winter and early spring are the quietest times. Summer brings families, lifeguards (June to September) and far more people on the beach all perfectly fine, but not ideal conditions for systematic hunting.
An off-season early-morning visit on a spring low tide, after a storm, is the formula.
Today’s tide times & Sea Glass Score
Runswick Bay sits on the North Sea coast of North Yorkshire, set into a sheltered curve between Kettleness to the south-east and Hummersea Point to the north-west, with a spring tidal range of around 5.5 metres, a generous range that draws the sea well back from the base of the cliffs on a big low, exposing foreshore rocks and boulder fields that are fully submerged at high water.
The widget below uses Whitby tide data to show today’s Sea Glass Score, tide curve and best hunting window. Runswick Bay’s sheltered position means you have a good window of opportunity around low water.
Aim to arrive an hour before low tide and work through to at least an hour after, paying particular attention to the eastern end, where the tide drops furthest.
Where to look on the beach
The car park at Bank Bottom Hill sits directly above the beach, and access is easy, a short walk from the car park onto the sand, with no steep steps required. This is one of the more accessible hunting beaches on the Yorkshire coast.
The eastern end toward Kettleness is consistently the most productive area for sea glass. As the tide drops, rocky platforms and boulder fields emerge from the sand. Glass that has been caught in crevices during storms sits here waiting to be found. Work slowly and get your eye level close to the rocks. Pieces tucked into gaps are easy to miss from standing height.
The strandline running the full length of the beach after a storm is always worth checking. Runswick’s sheltered curve traps floating material well, and the high-tide debris line can hold good pieces from one end of the bay to the other after a decent blow.
Hob Holes -the series of small sea caves at the eastern end of the bay are worth investigating at low tide. These caves, which, according to local legend, were home to a goblin with the power to cure whooping cough, have been collecting flotsam in their entrances for centuries. Be aware of the tide if you venture in.
The western end near the village tends to be sandier and less productive, but the area around the old slipway and boat park is worth a look, particularly for older ceramic pieces from the fishing community.
As elsewhere on this coast, stay clear of the cliff faces. The clay cliffs at Runswick Bay erode quickly, and regular rockfalls are common and unpredictable.
Key Tip:
Head straight for the eastern end of the bay as the tide falls. The rocky platforms, boulder fields and entrances to Hob Holes consistently trap more glass than the sandy central beach and are widely regarded as the most productive hunting ground in Runswick Bay.
Difficulty Level – Beginner
- Easy access from the car park directly onto the beach
- Large areas of beach can be searched without scrambling
- Productive hunting grounds are relatively easy to locate
- Suitable for first-time sea glass hunters and families
- Multiple hunting habitats provide good opportunities throughout the bay
Hunting Style – The Bay Explorer
Runswick Bay rewards hunters who investigate each part of the beach rather than focusing on a single spot. Search the strandline after storms, explore the rocky eastern foreshore as the tide drops and don’t overlook the caves and crevices where glass can remain hidden for long periods.
Beach Personality
Runswick Bay feels like a beach made for wandering. The sweeping curve of the bay, colourful fishing heritage, rocky foreshore and hidden sea caves create a coastline that encourages exploration. While many visitors stay close to the village and sandy central beach, experienced hunters know the real treasures often lie towards Kettleness, where the rocks, reefs and cave entrances quietly collect material washed in by North Sea storms.
Dog friendly?
Yes – Runswick Bay has no seasonal dog restrictions whatsoever. Dogs are welcome on the beach year-round. The village lanes are car-free, so dogs can come all the way from the car park to the sand without worrying about traffic, which is a genuine pleasure.
The beach is spacious and sandy, the rock pools are endlessly interesting, and the Cleveland Way beyond the village is excellent dog-walking territory in either direction.
The beach is lifeguarded from June to September; during these months, there may be designated swimming zones to be aware of, though nothing that affects sea glass hunting.
Looking for somewhere to stop with the dog after the hunt? Check our Yappy Places listings for the Runswick Bay area. The village café near the beach entrance is a good option in season, and there are dog-friendly options in nearby Staithes and Whitby.
Practical information
Parking: Two car parks serve the beach. Bank Bottom car park (TS13 5HT), 80 spaces, closest to the beach, minimum charge £3–4, charges apply March to October, pay by coin or RingGo app. Bank Top car park (TS13 5JF), 100+ spaces at the top of the hill, charges around £6 for 24 hours, also March to October. Both are free from November to February.
No disabled parking bays at either car park. The lower village road has a 1:4 gradient, not accessible for coaches.
Toilets: Public toilets in the lower village, near the beach entrance.
Food and drink: The beachside café near the car park entrance is excellent in season, with good coffee, cakes, and a sea view from the tables outside. The Cliffemount Hotel at the top of the hill (TS13 5HU) has a bar and restaurant. Whitby is around 9 miles south and about 20 minutes by car, with a full range of food options.
Getting there without a car: Arriva X4/X4A bus service runs between Middlesbrough and Whitby with a stop at Runswick Bay. The Cleveland Way connects Runswick Bay to Staithes (2.5 miles north) and Sandsend (5 miles south) on foot. If you’re planning a multi-beach day, both directions make excellent walking routes.
Accessibility: Bank Bottom car park has direct, level access to the beach, one of the more accessible entry points on this stretch of coast. The beach itself is sandy and reasonably flat. The eastern rocky end is uneven underfoot. No disabled parking is available in either car park.
What to bring
- Sturdy shoes with grip for the eastern rocky section, the foreshore boulders can be slippery
- A container for finds- glass in a sandy pocket gets scratched
- Layers and a windproof – the bay is sheltered, but the clifftop above is exposed
- Plenty of time- this is a beach worth walking slowly rather than rushing
- Tide times are checked before you go, particularly if you plan to explore the cave areas at low water
- Water for dogs – the beach walk is easy, but sandy paws deserve a drink
The history behind the glass
Runswick Bay’s history is old enough that any piece of glass you find here has a story behind it.
The village has sat at the foot of these clay cliffs since at least the medieval period “Runswick” itself is thought to derive from Old Norse, pointing to Viking settlement. It became a fishing community of real significance: by the 1840s, there were 20 cobles working out of the bay, and the village was entirely oriented around the sea. Fishing families knew the North Sea intimately and depended on it absolutely.
The bay was also, as most coves along this coastline were, a centre for smuggling, the inlets and caves ideal for landing contraband away from the Revenue men.
In 1682, nearly the entire village slid into the sea. The clay cliffs had been undermined by coastal erosion until they simply gave way. Remarkably, every inhabitant escaped, warned by the sounds of the cliff beginning to move and the community rebuilt on the same precarious ground. That original village is somewhere beneath the sand and the waves. Whatever was in those cottages when they fell is, in part, what the sea has been returning ever since.
The surrounding coast was rich in minerals. Alum used to fix dyes in the textile industry was quarried at Kettleness from 1727 to 1871. Ironstone was mined from the cliffs further north, with the small harbour at Port Mulgrave (a mile along the Cleveland Way toward Staithes) built specifically to ship it out. Jet, the black gemstone that became fashionable across the country after Queen Victoria wore it in mourning for Prince Albert, was cut from the cliffs along this bay.
Each of those industries brought workers, communities and the domestic glass that went with them, bottles, jars, window panes, and medicine vessels.
Shipwrecks have always been part of the picture, too. This is a dangerous coast, particularly in easterly gales, and the waters around Runswick Bay have claimed vessels for centuries. The bay received its first RNLI lifeboat, the Sheffield, funded by donations from the people of Sheffield, in 1866. The station ran until 1978, when it merged with Staithes.
Each ship that went down here carried glass. Every storm since has been putting it back on the beach.
From beach to jewellery
Found something beautiful at Runswick Bay? At Mermaid Tears, every piece starts exactly where you’re standing, hand-hunted from UK beaches and handmade into jewellery you’ll keep forever. Browse the collection →
⚠️ Disclaimer: Tide times, dog restrictions, parking charges and beach conditions change regularly. Always verify before visiting. Beach byelaws are updated annually. Check with the local council or beach authority for the most current rules.
Last updated: May 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is Runswick Bay good for sea glass? Yes- it’s a reliable Good Beach, particularly at the eastern end toward Kettleness, where rocky platforms and boulder fields hold glass at low tide. It won’t produce the volume of a site like Seaham, but the quality of finds is good and the beach rewards patient, methodical hunting.
When is the best time to go sea glass hunting at Runswick Bay? Low tide on a spring tide, ideally the morning after a North Sea storm with easterly winds. The beach is easiest to hunt in the quieter months late autumn, winter and early spring — when there are fewer people and storms are more frequent.
Are dogs allowed at Runswick Bay? Yes, all year round with no restrictions. The car-free village lanes make it a genuinely easy beach to arrive at with a dog, and the beach itself is spacious and sandy.
What else can I find at Runswick Bay? Ammonite fossils are excellent here, particularly in the Jurassic shale at the eastern end near Kettleness. Jet fragments wash up occasionally. Victorian pottery shards are a regular find alongside sea glass.
Why did the village nearly disappear in 1682? The clay cliffs that Runswick Bay sits beneath are prone to slippage, and in 1682 a catastrophic landslide took virtually the entire original village into the sea. Every resident who escaped heard the cliff beginning to move and got out in time. The village was rebuilt and has clung to the same hillside ever since.
How do I get from Runswick Bay to Staithes on foot? The Cleveland Way National Trail connects the two villages. It’s a 2.5-mile walk north along the cliff tops, with spectacular views in both directions. Allow around an hour. Buses run if you’d rather not walk both ways.
