Filey is a quieter, more genteel resort than its neighbour Scarborough, with Victorian terraces and gardens above five miles of sandy beach. At its northern end the bay ends in Filey Brigg, a long rocky reef good for rock-pooling and birdwatching.
Filey is where two long-distance paths meet: the Cleveland Way ends here and the Yorkshire Wolds Way begins. The coast to the south leads to the seabird cliffs of Bempton and Flamborough Head.