Crows Nest Caravan Park

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what? I wasn’t expecting much from a caravan park when I first pulled into Crows Nest – honestly, the name had me picturing something a bit rough around the edges. But this place actually surprised me in the best way possible. It’s tucked away in Gristhorpe, which if you’re not familiar with this stretch of Yorkshire coast, sits just inland from Filey Bay with these lovely rolling fields that make you forget you’re only a few minutes from the seaside chaos. The whole setup feels more like a proper holiday park than your typical static caravan site – there’s clearly been some serious investment here, and it shows in all the little details that matter when you’re trying to unwind.

What really gets me about Crows Nest is how they’ve managed to keep things peaceful without being stuffy. The pitches are generous (no awkward bumping into your neighbors when you’re trying to enjoy your morning coffee outside), and there’s this nice mix of families and couples without the place feeling overrun by screaming kids or being so quiet it’s boring. The facilities block is actually spotless – I mean, properly clean, not just “clean for a caravan park” – and the showers have decent pressure, which honestly makes or breaks a camping holiday for me. They’ve got this small shop on-site that stocks the essentials plus some local bits and pieces, so you’re not constantly driving into Filey for milk or forgetting you’ve run out of gas for the barbie.

The real win here is the location, though – you’re far enough from the A165 that you don’t get the constant traffic noise, but close enough to Filey that popping down to the beach or grabbing fish and chips on the seafront is no big deal. Filey Brigg is literally a ten-minute drive, and if you’re into walking, the Cleveland Way passes pretty much on your doorstep. I spent ages just wandering the footpaths around Gristhorpe – proper countryside rambling without having to drive miles to find it. The staff seem to actually live locally too, which makes a difference when you need recommendations or directions. They pointed me toward this brilliant little pub in Muston that I never would have found otherwise. Sure, it gets busy during school holidays and the pitches aren’t massive if you’ve got a huge setup, but the atmosphere stays relaxed and the management clearly knows what they’re doing. For a caravan park that manages to feel both well-run and genuinely welcoming, Crows Nest delivers exactly what you want from a Yorkshire coast break.