Things to do near Saltburn on Sea / North Yorkshire

[NorthernHoliday]

Staying in a cottage near Saltburn next week, we have never been to the area before so it's all new to us. Me, DH and 17-year-old ds who has autism and severe learning difficulties, he likes charity shops and car boot sales!
We haven't planned anything but would like a few days out, somewhere to wander about and have a pub lunch. Ds is ok with short visits to museums etc but doesn't like to be anywhere too long.

All suggestions appreciated.

There are quite a few charity shops there. There is an antiques hall shop as well which is really nice to wander through. There is sometimes event in in the hall which is attached to the theatre. See if there is anything in for when you go. There are a few micro pubs that also do food that are nice just to lounge in for a while.

Lots of nice places nearby Whitby, Staithes, Sandsend etc.

Thanks - Whitby is definitely on the agenda. We are happy to explore by car

Sunday Redcar afternoon car boot.. it's only 15 minutes away. On the race course .. hard ground. It's brilliant.
We go once a month.
There is only one amusement arcade in Saltburn.
There is a cliff lift for a pound or two..
A stunning Victorian pier to walk out on.
The beach is huge pebbles but easy to walk on.
A mini steam train rides.
A mini golf.
The Seaview restaurant is our favourite for fish and chips.

https://www.nationalcarbootsales.co.uk/redcar-carboot.html

I went to the Skinningrove Land of Iron museum , very different to coal mining which I’m more familiar with.
We had a good value lunch in the pub in the ex-stables below the museum.
https://landofiron.org.uk/

That looks interesting, I live very close to an old Iron Works from the 18th century - not much left there now.

Skinningrove is a tiny steep valley with a nice beach for swimming.

Seaview has delicious food, highly recommend it.

Skinningrove/ Cattersty Sands is a nice beach, a short walk heading left from the car park.

Haha, cross post at 16.29. That's how good it is OP, 😄

& @NorthernHoliday The cliff lift at Saltburn is out of action for the foreseeable future

OP I would avoid Whitby personally. I went the other day and it was a living nightmare! There's hardly any parking and so many, many thousands of people all crammed into the tiny harbour/seafront area and the shopping streets that we left 15 mins after arriving. If I hadn't had a blue badge then we quite literally would not have got parked at all. Anywhere.
Also the swing bridge is closed at the moment so you can only visit one side at a time.

I used to visit Whitby as a kid and it's nothing like it used to be.

There isn’t much at Saltburn but if you have children there is a small mini-railway that goes about 100 yards & back and a nice little park. The fish & chip shop is very nice and then of course there’s the pier which is nice.
If you’re without kids then it’s definitely the sort of place that is best to visit in the evening when the sun is setting and it’s quiet. At which point it’s beautiful 🌅

Thanks for the heads up about Whitby...........DS has a Blue Badge so we might go early and chance it

Awesome. Although for the entirety of the NY coastal area - check the signs! I live in North Yorkshire and for some reason the blue badge rules are different all over the coast, they time limit disabled spaces and charge bb holders for using car parks, even council owned ones! Def not the case further inland. I don’t agree with it at all

A bit of a random suggestion but this place is between Saltburn and Whitby and I know several teens who love it (it is utterly bonkers!)

https://www.museumofvictorianscience.co.uk/

I also went to Whitby (on the bus for an amazing £2 and to avoid parking) and stopped at the municipal art gallery/park on the way down. Pannett Park.
I went looking for a cool jet and stainless steel ring for DC1 and some earrings for DC2. Found them at Robinson’s.
I remember DGM having some jet beads and calling them “mourning jewellery”!
But yes, it was crowded.

If he likes trains the North Yorkshire Moors railway may be an option? I took autistic DS last month and he loved it.

for DS Whitby was “too peoply”

The Eden Camp is really good and not boring at all. It's a museum set in an old army barracks with lots of different themed bunkers.

Walk from Saltburn to Redcar on the beach and call in to Pacitto’s on the sea front for a lemon top ice cream.

Fish Cottage at Sandsend is excellent. Can book for inside or the ‘takeaway’ has lots of benches outside so if you time it right you can sit there. A short walk from the public car park, or there is limited customer parking outside.
Runswick Bay for a beach walk and ice cream. Car park is up the hill, not sure if Blue Badge parking available nearer to the beach.
Staithes is lovely. We had a pub lunch at the Cod And Lobster but weren’t that impressed really. There are a couple of good cafes and another pub we didn’t try. Little museum, mainly the private collection of one man, doesn’t take that long to go round.

Maybe Guisborough or Stokesley for a mooch about some charity shops and a lunch. Guisborough also has a nice forest for a walk and access to the North York Moors and a cafe at Guisborough Walkway/Pinchinthorpe.
There is a nice beach and walk at Runswick Bay (home to Hob Hole).
I’m not sure if your son is interested in swimming but there is a great water park in Scarborough called Alpamare. Our child also has autism/severe learning difficulties and loves it there. You can get one (maybe two) carers in for free with a disabled customer although you may need to contact them beforehand. I’d recommend booking of you go rather than paying at the door.

I have four ASD Grandsons and all love Saltburn for various reasons .
Whitby will be busy while the Schools are still on holiday.. but it's a fantastic place to visit and so much to see and do.
But Saltburn is also amazing for different reasons and Redcar only 15 mins away..
You said your son loves CAR boots..
I have a Blue badge and always find somewhere to Park.
Please don't be put off by the negative comments OP.
Go and see it all for yourself and have a fabulous holiday x

Whitby is generally fine, even when busy, so long as you get there early. There’s plenty of parking available, it’s just spread out around the town.

If he also has a bus pass, there is a park and ride. It would be £2 each way for you, I think.

There's a beautiful little independent bookshop in Saltburn called Book Corner.

If you walk along the beach to Redcar there are loads of fossils to be found if that might take his interest. Stop off at Marske, halfway along the walk, for fossils and an amazing cafe.

The Whitby Park and Ride is great. Whitby is incredibly busy but you could park near the abbey and look around the abbey. It's relatively quiet up there and stunning. Then if he's doing ok, you could walk down the 199 steps into Whitby for fish and chips. Even if you don't go down, go to the top of the steps for a great view.
Maybe a boat ride in the harbour. You can do 20 minutes ones which might suit your son if he doesn't like to be anywhere for long.
The Cliff Lift at Saltburn isn't running at the moment.
If you like walking, go up the steps behind The Ship Inn on Saltburn beach. You can walk for a bit on the Cleveland Way.