South Cliff Gardens | Scarborough

1/04/2021

If you take a walk on the Esplanade you�ll come across the various South Cliff Gardens which are somewhat of a hidden gem in Scarborough. They stretch from Holbeck, where Holbeck Hall Hotel famously slipped into the sea in 1993, down to the Spa Bridge.

One of the gardens is Shuttleworth Gardens. It is home to a sensory garden, sheltered gardens, fairy garden and lawns. Little ones can post their letters to fairies when visiting the gardens.

A little further on, and you will find the Italian Gardens, hidden down a woodland path. This garden boasts formal terraces, shelters and a lily pond. There are frogs inhabiting the pond and there is even a frog ramp so you may come across the pondlife amongst the lawns. You would be forgiven for thinking you were in Florence rather than Scarborough whilst taking a stroll around these pretty gardens.

Taking the woodland path down, you will be greeted with some spectacular sea views too. The path winds itself down to the Star Disk. This star map is the largest in UK and possibly Europe too. It sits where the South Bay pool once occupied. The 42 stars, which glow at night as fibre optic light points, show the brightest stars always visible in the northern sky above Scarborough’s distinctive headland, with the Pole Star almost at the centre.

If you don’t fancy walking down to the star disk, then you can continue along the Esplanade, passing the clock tower. A little further down, you will find a little rowing boat and plenty of palm trees until you come across the Rose Garden. The Victorian rose garden has recently been restored with the benefit of £49,800 heritage lottery funded project. Nearly 1100 traditional roses were planted including varieties such as floribundas and hybrid teas.

If you are looking for a pleasurable walk in nearby Scarborough, then South Cliff Gardens are definitely worth a visit.