Charming UK fishing village by beaches and waterfalls 'flies under the radar'

Brits planning a staycation may want to check out a former fishing village that 'flies under the radar' despite being right by some gorgeous beaches, woodlands and waterfalls.

Runswick Bay in North Yorkshire wouldn't look out of place on a postcard with its red-roof cottages, sandy beach and lush green surroundings, but it's often overlooked by tourists who flock to nearby holiday hotspots such as Whitby instead.

Still, the small village has plenty to offer for those after laidback UK holidays, from the charming B&Bs and tea rooms just a short walk away, to the quiet beach from which you can take in the views. (Keep an eye on the waters too as the likes of dolphins, seals and even whales have been known to make an appearance!).

The beach itself is quite small, but at low tide you can find plenty of families exploring the rock pools. However, the peaceful and empty nature of the shoreline has proven to be a hit with visitors who do stumble upon it.

"Beautiful little seaside coastal bay, fossil hunting, no commercial places as in amusements, rides etc," one happy holidaymaker wrote on TripAdvisor. "Just a lovely quiet day at the beach."

Another added: "Absolutely stunning! Well worth a walk along the beach and doing a bit of fossil hunting, glass spotting, shell collecting. Lovely ice cream."

Meanwhile intrepid explorers will be spoiled for choice thanks to the surrounding coastal walks. For example, the Cleveland Way National Trail passes through the village, while North York Moors National Park's website includes an easy 1.3-mile route that offers up some unrivalled views of the coastline. There's good news for history buffs too as Runswick Bay sits on the Jurassic coast which means there's plenty of opportunity to go seeking out fossils.

Adventurers may also want to head out to nearby Hayburn Wyke, which looks like it belongs in a fairytale thanks to the dense woodlands hiding a boardwalk route straight to an ethereal waterfall.

It's easy to see why the team at Simply Sea Views named it one of the UK's top 10 hidden gems that are well worth having on your radar. They explained: "Runswick Bay is a picturesque former fishing village with red-roofed cottages and a quiet curve of beach, just a few miles from Whitby. Popular for fossil hunting and rockpooling, it still manages to fly under the radar. For a wilder escape, head further along the coast to Hayburn Wyke, where a woodland waterfall heads straight into the sea."

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