Discover Redcar: beach, Beacon and horse racing

Redcar combines an extensive sandy beach with water sports, scenic views and horse racing. The features below provide specific pointers for planning your trip. Coastal activities, views and historic sites are distinct themes that you can prioritise according to your interests.

Beach and coastal activities

Redcar’s award-winning, gently sloping sandy beaches stretch for eight miles to the southeast and northwest. Their gentle slope, sand and expanse shape the character of the coast. Windsurfing, fishing, sailing and diving are popular leisure activities along the coast at Redcar Beach. These four options offer different experiences: windsurfing, sailing and diving are water sports, while fishing offers a different way to enjoy the coast. You can tailor your seaside stay to the landscape or to one of the activities listed.

Getting there and practical beach planning

Redcar Beach is a five-minute walk from Redcar Central station. This is a useful reference point if you want to combine a beach visit with a train journey. Two Hippocampes and a Debug wheelchair are available to borrow free of charge at Redcar Beach; a hoist is available for transfers to the wheelchairs. If you plan to use one of these aids, please check availability in advance.

Views from Redcar Beacon

Redcar Beacon offers 360-degree views of the surrounding area, including the sandy shores of Majuba Beach. This panoramic view complements the beach and its leisure activities with a scenic viewpoint. The Beacon is accessible to wheelchair users via a ramp, and the top can be reached by lift. If you include the viewpoint in your plans, you can take these accessibility details into account.

Horse racing with a variable schedule

Redcar Racecourse hosts horse racing on around 18 days from April to November; the specific race days may vary. If you want to attend a race during your stay, check the individual dates before you travel. At the racecourse, both the Grandstand and the Course Family Enclosure offer views directly onto the track. Both areas share this trackside view, so the variable factor for planning is the right event date.

Local history: Town Clock and Zetland

Redcar’s Town Clock is a memorial clock tower designed by John Dobson in 1913 in honour of King Edward VII. The Zetland also points to the town’s history: it is the world’s oldest surviving lifeboat. The two names represent distinct historical points of interest: a memorial structure and a lifeboat. If you want to include cultural history in your trip alongside the beach and racing, these are two clearly defined subjects to explore.

Discover more destinations: Grassington, West Witton, Skipton, Felixkirk, Thixendale, Crayke, Great Broughton, Monk Fryston

For the broader travel guide: North Yorkshire.