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Scarborough South Bay

North Yorkshire, North East
Poor Water Quality
Data last verified: 08 Aug 2026

Situated along the North East coast in North Yorkshire, Scarborough South Bay offers bathers a sandy environment. Environment Agency monitoring has evaluated the location since 1988, giving it an official annual rating of Poor. In addition, dogs are permitted during winter months.

16.1°C
Air Temp
8.6 mph
Wind Speed
High Tide
in 4h 15m
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Live Water Quality

30
Poor
Not advised
Updated 10 mins ago
Today's Conditions Updated 10 mins ago

Lifeguards

Unknown
Help us verify

Air Temp

16.1°C
Comfortable

Weather

Clear sky
16.1°C

Tide

High Tide
in 4h 15m

Water Quality

Poor
Not advised

Pollution Alerts

None
No alerts today

Quick Overview

Sandy beach
Family friendly
Dog friendly
(winter)
Parking nearby
Toilets
Café

Beach Information View all details

Beach Type
Sand
Water Quality
Poor
Avg. Air Temp
16.1°C
Swimming
Highly recommended

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Rowntree Cafe
cafe
4.8 • 120m away
Grind Coffee Shop
cafe
4.8 • 120m away
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Reference Information

Full Tide Times
Low 06:17 -1.2m
High 12:30 1.3m
Low 19:04 -1.3m
High 01:14 1.3m
Sediment Type
Sand

The shoreline consists primarily of sand. Sediment type dictates underfoot comfort, wave energy absorption, and the water's clarity when currents stir up the seabed.

Annual Rating
Poor

Water quality regularly fails to meet safe bathing standards. Swimmers face an elevated risk of stomach infections or skin rashes due to high bacterial loads.

Rainfall Impact
Low Risk

This bathing water is generally resilient and has a low risk of quality degradation after heavy summer storm events.

Monitoring Authority
Environment Agency

Tested weekly by the Environment Agency England for bacteria levels (E. coli & Intestinal Enterococci) between May and September.

Water Body Type
Coastal Beach

Monitored as a coastal beach. Coastal beaches are subject to tidal flows and marine dilution, whereas inland lakes/rivers suffer from low water circulation, meaning bacteria can linger longer.

Sewerage Provider
Yorkshire Water Services Limited

Yorkshire Water Services Limited is the regional utility responsible for waste water treatment, sewage infrastructure, and storm overflow management in this catchment area.

Designated Year
1988

Officially designated as a protected bathing water site in 1988. This designation mandates regular public health monitoring.

County / District
North Yorkshire

Governed under local district sanitation and environmental safety regulations in the North Yorkshire area.

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