Holidays,Travel

Filey, fresh air and friends

Filey beach

Filey beach

After the past few weeks I felt like we really needed a break, and getting away on a Great British beach holiday in Filey seemed like the perfect option.

I am from Ilkley in West Yorkshire originally, but haven’t spent that much time on the East Yorkshire coast apart from a few days in Robin Hood’s Bay years ago. We live nearer to Wales now, so tend to take UK holidays there but I needed a change and Filey came out top. Not least because it’s a favourite destination of my oldest friend Sally, who knows the place like the back of her hand, and has a few friends who have holiday homes over there to rent. She managed to find us a gorgeous apartment right next to the park and a few minutes’ walk from the beach, so it was a perfect base for us to stay with our kids for a few days.

We both have boys around the same age, and we were joined by our friend Sarah and her three-year-old girl after a few days so the crew grew even larger. My sister visited for one of the days too, magnifying the fun the kids had on the beach together and making the adult to child ratio a little easier to handle!

Picnic in Filey

Holidays with children aren’t always that relaxing are they – shall we say they are more invigorating?! – but having friends with us was a massive help. My energy levels are seriously low, I’m feeling totally washed out with all my emotions from my husband’s illness, his passing and then the funeral. Added to that the stress of all the paperwork I’m having to wade through and general lack of sleep, I really think I needed a week just to lie in a dark room to help revive myself a bit. I really wanted to make sure our children had a break too though, after all they are having a rough time too, particularly our son, and the school holidays are nearly over.

When you have other adults to hand though, it’s the little things like having someone make your dinner, help put your kids to bed and pour you a large gin and tonic afterwards that really make the difference. Being able to spend so much time away with my close friends and our little ones has been a little silver lining for this summer break. I can’t say I have been on top form, far from it, and I can’t say I haven’t cried, because I have, but this past week has been a nice thing to happen for our family, and one we really did need.

Going on family holidays have always been so special for us, they are the times when (despite the stresses) we have made memories, had fun together and been on little adventures as a team. Knowing I’ll never have Rog with me on holiday again is heartbreaking, and a loss I’ll feel greatly for the rest of my life I’m sure.

But to know that this first time has gone well, this first break away without him has been survived, is a little milestone at least.

Since we came home the kids haven’t stopped talking about all the fun they had, the endless ‘sleepovers’, playing on the beach, crabbing, the arcades, the fish and chips… even the day of rain didn’t seem to bother them too much.

Filey is such a great place for kids, it’s pretty small, the beach has clean, soft sand and plenty of rock pools to hunt in, the park has pedalos and crazy golf and a bouncy castle stands over the prom. The seaside towns of Scarborough and Whitby are just up the coast, so if you stayed longer and felt like venturing elsewhere it would be a perfect place to stop.

Why not pop over to my instagram account for more photos of Filey?

x Julia

Paddling on Filey beach

Crabbing at Filey Brigg

Geraniums on the balcony in Filey

Rainy day in Filey

Arcades in Filey

Cousins

Body boarding

Me and my sis

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16 Comments

  • Reply
    Cath
    August 24, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    So glad you had a bit of me time Julia and managed to get away for a few days after all that you have been through the past few months chick you deserve it…thanks for sharing all your lovely holiday snaps…Filey sounds so lovely, A place I have never been to…as living on the borders of Wales I always go there for my holidays a place I am very fond of. Take Care Julia x

  • Reply
    Imogen
    August 24, 2015 at 7:55 pm

    Book me in for next year! I love it there. Glad you had a holiday. Xxxx

  • Reply
    Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely
    August 24, 2015 at 8:24 pm

    Lovely photos, Julia. I’m glad you and the kids managed to get away for a bit and have a break. It must have felt so strange without Roger xx
    Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely recently posted…Styling the Seasons – AugustMy Profile

  • Reply
    Mackenzie Glanville
    August 25, 2015 at 3:07 am

    Oh I so want to just give you a big hug, I think about you all the time. I am glad you got away and have amazing, supportive friends! I can hear the struggle in your words though and I know I can’t help, but know that my prayers include you. Great photos xx
    Mackenzie Glanville recently posted…Profound moment #mummy&usMy Profile

  • Reply
    wendy
    August 25, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    Filey sounds like a lovely place to go for a holiday. I am glad you managed to have a nice time and the kids enjoyed the break. I have not read your blog before but I am sorry to hear about your husband, it sounds like you all deserved a nice little holiday away xx #TwinklyTuesday

  • Reply
    Hayley (@hayleyfromhome)
    August 25, 2015 at 4:34 pm

    Love your photos Julia, I hadn’t really heard of Filey before but it does look great for the kids. Lovely photo of you too my dear! I guess the great things about having kids is that it forces your hand with certain things, I can’t even imagine how sad it is to think of your holidays without Rog but seeing the way the children enjoyed the break maybe makes sure you just have to do it. I hope you get your time to yourself too, you’ll have to try and get a break just you when all the paperwork has calmed down then you could really wind down xx
    Hayley (@hayleyfromhome) recently posted…Our Summer – Weeks Three & FourMy Profile

  • Reply
    Suz
    August 25, 2015 at 10:09 pm

    Aww what beautiful photos and even better memories made! Such a lovely read! Thanks for sharing! Suz x Beauisblue.com

  • Reply
    Caro | The Twinkles Mama
    August 26, 2015 at 11:54 am

    Aaah so lovely to see you smiling and the kids having a happy, lovely time. Rog would be so proud of you ๐Ÿ™‚ I would LOVE a bucket and spade holiday like this โ€” I’m so gutted the summer is nearly over again. We’ll end up (once again) on Barmouth beach in the autumn rain, at this rate!! ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday โ€” hope to see you again next week! x

    Caro | http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk
    Caro | The Twinkles Mama recently posted…Home Etc #15 รขย€ย” Home and Garden Inspired Blog HopMy Profile

  • Reply
    Katie LifeonVistaStreet Haydock
    August 26, 2015 at 10:19 pm

    LOVE the brolly shot! Looks like you had a lovley and well deserved break xxx

  • Reply
    Mini Travellers
    August 27, 2015 at 9:55 pm

    Gosh you really did have one or two kids with you on that beach didn’t you. So pleased you managed a few days away and you’ve taken such stunning photos as ever. x
    Mini Travellers recently posted…My Captured Moment – MuseumMy Profile

  • Reply
    Lisa@intotheglade
    August 27, 2015 at 11:24 pm

    Ah glad you managed to get away! It does seem to be a rather large contingent of children you were balancing there – I would have been stressed to the max doing a head count every two minutes. I love the picture of Flo with the boogie board, she is so gorgeous. Lovely picture of you too xx
    Lisa@intotheglade recently posted…My Captured Moment #20My Profile

  • Reply
    mummyofboygirltwins
    August 28, 2015 at 6:34 pm

    Well done you for getting out and about and spending time away from the house. Bet the kids really needed it too. Ahhhh lovely snaps, and the last one is lovely ๐Ÿ™‚ Jess xxxx #twinklytuesday

  • Reply
    Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk)
    August 28, 2015 at 10:13 pm

    Lovely place (sunny or gloomy) indeed! Its always nice to have friends when you are on vacation and this made me miss mine from home. #TwinklyTuesday
    Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk) recently posted…Future So Bright Got To Wear ShadesMy Profile

  • Reply
    Tracey Williams
    August 29, 2015 at 9:18 pm

    Aw Julia I am sure this was such a bitter sweet holiday for you, the first one without Rog. It looks like you managed to have fun and I am sure it was nice to be surrounded by friends. We fell in love with Filey the first time we went 12 years ago. It was the very first holiday we took our son too and holds a special place for us. Your pictures are fantastic and all the kids looked like they had a ball x
    Tracey Williams recently posted…Valley Mill Handmade Soaps โ€“ ReviewMy Profile

  • Reply
    On the Laziness of Grief - Rainbeaubelle
    September 6, 2015 at 7:30 am

    […] our holiday to Filey I managed to get a few days and nights straight all on my own, something which can’t have […]

  • Reply
    Grant Williams
    September 15, 2017 at 12:35 pm

    Hi Julia – I ran across you blog here by accident when looking up beaches and some other things.

    Very nice looking beach and vacation spot, it looks like. I always enjoy reading happy & positive things like this.

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