There are few quicker ways to wake yourself up than getting into the North Sea.

Living on the Yorkshire Coast means cold water is never very far away, whether it’s an early morning swim from the beach, a quieter dip somewhere along the cliffs or — increasingly — a sauna followed by a plunge into the sea or river.

These are the places we'd choose near The Lodge, including two of our favourite spots to swim independently and a couple of options if you’d quite like a hot sauna waiting for you afterwards.

Scarborough South Bay // The easy one

For an uncomplicated sea swim, we’d choose South Bay in Scarborough.

Tucked beneath Scarborough Castle and curving around towards the harbour, South Bay is generally more sheltered than North Bay, which is why it’s often our first choice when we fancy a straightforward dip.

INSIDER TIP>> Head for the Spa end of South Bay. There’s an underground car park just after the roundabout, so you can park close to the beach and be in the water within a few minutes.

Afterwards, warm up with a walk along the seafront and head to Brewed for excellent coffee and something to eat. Cold swim followed by good coffee is pretty hard to beat.

Scarborough South Bay and beach beneath Scarborough Castle. — Looking across Scarborough South Bay from the Spa towards the old town and Scarborough Castle — one of our favourite spots for an easy morning sea swim.

Stoupe Brow // The wild one

For something altogether wilder, head towards Stoupe Brow.

Park at the top near Stoupe Bank Farm and make your way down towards the coast, where the cliffs open onto a much quieter stretch of shoreline.

It takes a little more effort to reach than North Bay, which is precisely why we like it. There are no colourful beach huts or busy promenade here — just cliffs, sea and a beach that can feel wonderfully removed from everything else.

If the tide is right, you can combine your dip with the coastal walk towards Boggle Hole and Robin Hood’s Bay.

This is a much more natural, exposed stretch of coastline, so check the tide and conditions carefully before setting off and don't assume that because you've swum here before, it will be suitable today.

INSIDER TIP>> Check the tide times, park at Stoupe Brow and walk down to the beach. From there, follow the shoreline to Boggle Hole and stop for coffee + breakfast at the YHA café. One of our favourite ways to start a morning on this stretch of coast.

Coastal view of Stoupe Brow on the Yorkshire Coast. — The view towards Stoupe Brow — a quieter stretch of shoreline and one of our favourite places for a wild dip and walk.

Whitby Wellbeing // Sauna + dip

If getting into cold water sounds considerably more appealing with the promise of a sauna afterwards, have a look at Whitby Wellbeing.

They run mobile sauna and cold-water experiences at different locations along the coast, with sessions incorporating dips in the sea and river depending on where they're set up.

It takes something that can feel fairly hardcore on your own and turns it into much more of a ritual: heat up, head into the cold, then retreat to the sauna again.

Locations and sessions change, so we'd check what's coming up during your stay rather than heading for one particular spot.

For us, this is one of the nicest ways to experience cold water on the Yorkshire Coast — particularly when the weather turns cooler.

Seacret Sauna // Wykeham Lakes

You don't have to go to the sea, either.

At Wykeham Lakes, you'll find Seacret Sauna, where you can combine the heat of a sauna with a cold-water dip in the lake.

Surrounded by water and countryside rather than the bustle of the coast, it offers a completely different experience to swimming at North Bay or Stoupe Brow.

It's a lovely option if you want to try cold-water dipping as part of a more intentional wellness experience — and knowing you can climb straight back into the heat certainly makes getting into the water easier.

Cold water + hot sauna //

There's a reason this combination has become so popular.

Part of the pleasure is the contrast itself: getting properly warm, stepping outside into the Yorkshire air and then committing to the cold.

You don't have to stay in for ages for it to feel like an experience. In fact, you shouldn't.

Take your time, listen to your body and enjoy the ritual rather than treating cold-water swimming as an endurance challenge.

And if you're staying at The Lodge, there is another option waiting when you get home.

A hot outdoor bath among the trees.

A note on swimming safely //

The North Sea — and open water generally — deserves respect.

Always check the weather, tide and water conditions before swimming. Stay well within your ability, avoid swimming alone and know how you're getting both into and out of the water before you enter.

Cold water can affect the body extremely quickly. Enter gradually, don't stay in simply to reach a particular time, and have warm, dry clothes ready for afterwards.

Avoid swimming after drinking alcohol and, if something about the conditions doesn't feel right, don't get in.

There will always be another day.

THE DETAILS>>

EASY DIP //
Scarborough South Bay

WILDER DIP //
Stoupe Brow

SAUNA + SEA //
Whitby Wellbeing

SAUNA + LAKE //
Seacret Sauna · Wykeham Lakes

OUR PICK //
South Bay for an early morning swim + coffee at Brewed. Or walk from Stoupe Brow to Boggle Hole and stop for breakfast at the YHA.

GOOD TO KNOW //
Always check tides, weather + sea conditions before getting in. Conditions can change quickly.

Cold water swimming // Our favourite places for a dip