Firm favourite

HERE'S a suggestion for your trip to Filey. Don't go.

This small seaside town is a hidden treasure. Its undiscovered feel is part of the charm. While big brother Scarborough is partying away up the coastline, Filey has a quieter, more exclusive feel.

And if everyone heads there, well, it'll get all crowded and lively.

Frankly, my stay-away plea comes too late. During Easter the place was packed. The same is true on most sunny weekends.

It seems more and more people are chancing upon this fantastic family day out, and that, I grudgingly concede, can only be a good thing for its future.

What is there to do in Filey? Enough, or nothing, depending on how you feel. Like life itself, the best Filey experiences are free - or will at least give you change from a tenner.

In a sedentary mood? Park yourself on the beach, or beach yourself in the park. It is dangerously relaxing. You hardly need bother to breathe for yourself. The fresh air whips round the Brigg and shoots up your hooter.

Filey is blessed with many open spaces. Nowhere is better for watching the resort go by than Crescent Gardens. Here families of all shapes and sizes make their way to and from the beach.

In stiller moments, visitors can simply enjoy the work of art which is the Crescent Gardens floral display. Filey's civic gardeners have greener fingers than most, and throughout the spring and summer it is a riot of colour.

Just to the south is the family park, Glen Gardens. This offers a host of activities for children young and old.

Five-year-old Jack can spend hours in Glen Gardens. First he lures his dad and grandad on to the boating lake. While he sits in the middle of the pedalo with his feet up, the knees of his grandad and me are up and down like pistons, as we endeavour to power the boat away from the sharks Jack insists are chasing us.

As soon as we dock at the water's edge, he's off to the electric dodgems. These mini motors whizz round a tiny circuit giving many a small boy their first speed thrill, and all for 20p a shot.

There are also trampolines and crazy golf, and a play area with slide, seesaw and swings. Mercifully the friendly caf offers brief respite for grown-ups.

From here it is a short, steep trot down to the bay. The paddling pool should be open soon, but there's nothing to beat hopping about in the North Sea itself. When your toes can't take any more, there's plenty of flat wet sand for everyone, perfect as football pitch or sandcastle foundation.

A word of warning: check the tides. The sea comes in quickly all the way to the front, and can possess the bay for an afternoon.

It doesn't matter much, though. You can still stroll along the seafront looking at the sculpture trail, which includes fishing coble names captured in mosaics, a fountain, and most impressively Owen Cunningham's giant lobster, looming over another crazy golf range,

You can tour the lifeboat and, if you're lucky, watch the RAF rescue helicopter undertake a simulated emergency. In the old town, seafaring adventures are recalled at the Filey Museum, within two fishermen's cottages.

Our Filey day out has settled into a happy routine. After park and beach, Jack takes a turn on the bouncy castle and merry-go-round on the front. We then wander further along to look at the fishing boats, before emptying all our tuppences into the amusements, in a vain attempt to grow rich.

Then it's back to Jolly Jack's on the seafront for tea, coffee and milk all round. The perfect moment to reflect on our good fortune at having discovered Filey.

Fact file:

Filey Tourist Information Centre, John Street, Filey. Telephone 01723 518001/373333.

Filey's Edwardian Festival in June is a week-long look at life in bygone days. Strawberry teas served by women in period costume, Punch and Judy shows, brass bands and processions.

Filey Museum, Queen Street, open 11am-5pm Monday to Friday and Sunday, 2pm-5pm Saturday. Adults £2, children £1.

Updated: 09:17 Saturday, May 15, 2004