Naturist / Nudist Beaches in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland

Fraisthorpe Sands

Yorkshire

nuff-beach
nuff-fraisthorpe

Large sandy beach with low clay cliffs south of Bridlington.

Fraisthorpe is a long sandy beach located about two miles south of Bridlington's main beach in the large sweep of Bridlington Bay below Flamborough Head. There has been nude bathing here for 40 years or more. However from the early 90's problems lead to the official designation being withdrawn and some council / police opposition. This is in the past now, naturist use continues, but less than before.

Jan 2022: Naturists continue to use the beach, though fewer than in the past. The biggest problem now is the parking.

Getting There

Satnav: YO15 3QU

From Bridlington take the A165 southwards until you reach Fraisthorpe in about three and a half miles. Go left through the village and find your way to Auburn Farm. There is an unmetalled lane which leads to a car park.

Parking is £1 (1 hour), £3 (3 hours), £5 (all day). Many online complaints about fines and parking enforcement. The car park uses cameras. Once in the car park, you have to pay to avoid a ticket (by phone or cash) even if you leave straight away - no grace period. Pay straight away and make sure you keep your receipt in case you get a ticket anyway! The road to the car park is single track - no chance of parking on the verge. See Auburn Farm, then 'car park'. [Jan 2022]

Walk from here to the shore and then turn right and walk southwards towards a stream - Earl's Dyke. The nudist area starts about 500 metres south of the Auburn Farm car park, and continues to Earls Dyke.

Alternatives

  • you could park south of Fraisthorpe, at Barmaston Beach (some free parking, YO25 8PJ), and walk 2km north along the beach to Earls Dyke. There is also a public footpath (not tested) which starts in Barmaston village, near the church, and leads north for 2km, then east to Earls Dyke.
  • you could park north of Fraisthorpe in south Bridlington, around "Hilderthorpe", a street or so back from the sea, then walk south along the beach. This would be a 4.5km walk each way. There is a park and ride car park further south, which isn't free. It would be 3.5km from there.

Description

This is a large sandy beach with low clay cliffs behind, which offer shelter from the wind. Clean sand, with pools around the bases of old anti-invasion defences. 'Good swimming and ideal for children'.

Historical problems with the local Council

In May of 1998 notices were erected by the local council announcing that: 'naturism is prohibited on all East Riding of Yorkshire beaches...'

At least one attempt to enforce this prohibition took place in July 2003:

"On Saturday, the force helicopter hovered above the beach and officers went down the beach taking the names and addresses of all beach users despite having no evidence of indecency".

It is also said that naturists had been warned by someone who saw them arriving at the car park and, consequently, most beach users were dressed by the time the Police reached them.

John Wymark-Hoar from Ryedale Naturist Club commented:

"Their behaviour last July was not only illegal but intimidating to the 200 or so beach users present that weekend (including I am reliably informed an Inspector of the Humberside police, himself a naturist and present with his family - he beat a hasty retreat!) Those people had gradually built up the confidence to ignore the notices put up by the Council, only to have their day spoiled and an understandable wariness renewed."

The legal enforceabilty of the nudity prohibition was challenged in 2004 by members of Ryedale Naturist Club.

"Fraisethorpe beach looks to be back in the naturist domain, the signs have all gone. A group from Rydale club, having a BBQ on the beach, were approached by the coastguard and told they were not allowed to be naked there; they asked why, and said that they couldn't stop them. The coastguard contacted his superior, who said they were correct and that they were not doing anything against the law. It was soon after this that the signs were removed."

The campaign by East Riding of Yorkshire Council to prevent law-abiding naturists from using this beach can be contrasted with the attitude of other local authorities - such as East Devon District Council at Budleigh Salterton - who have found the erection of signs advising "nude bathing beyond this point" to be very effective in managing sections of beach traditionally frequented by naturists.

Other Council signs have stated: "The beach is not a designated naturist beach. Any person committing an act of indecency will be liable to prosecution." Fraisthorpe United Naturists complained to the Council that the wording of the signs was insulting and intentionally links naturism with indecency. These particular signs were removed.

'Ownership', i.e. management, of the beach has passed back from the local council to the crown estate.

Facilities

The Cow Shed at Fraisthorpe Beach - dog friendly cafe with terrace and beach view. Toilets by the farm car park.

Links

  • Fraisthorpe Beach - Facebook group, little about naturism, but lots of complaints about parking fines

Update

Jan 2022

Map

Comments

Please leave a comment via the email address below. (Facebook comments no longer work in Europe, incl. the UK)

Photos

Tag and share your photos to the UK Naturist Beaches group on Flickr.

Photos should be of the beach, or show the way to it. They should NOT have people in them.

nuff-beach
nuff-fraisthorpe