Surge of interest in Filey, Whitby and Pickering as house hunters look for coastal escapes during lockdown

House hunters in Yorkshire are dreaming of escaping to the coast rather than the country.
WhitbyWhitby
Whitby

Rightmove has reported that searches for properties in Whitby, Filey and Pickering have remained fairly buoyant during the lockdown, despite slow market conditions.

Whitby has long been one of the most sought-after addresses on the coast, while Filey, near Scarborough, is seen as an up-and-coming hotspot. Pickering, in the North York Moors National Park, is inland but a short drive from Whitby.

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Towns and cities with more affordable property markets such as Bradford, Rotherham, Doncaster, Halifax, Barnsley and Castleford also saw the smallest falls in search traffic.

Pickering CastlePickering Castle
Pickering Castle

Nationally, there were jumps in searches for other idyllic rural locations such as the Scottish Highlands and the Shetland Isles.

While two luxury properties for sale in Leeds and Wakefield have been among the most viewed listings in the UK during the lockdown.

Coachgates, a six-bedroom mansion in the village of Flockton, between Wakefield and Huddersfield, has its own private car showroom, a cinema room, indoor pool, spa and bar, and is for sale with a guide price of £3million. It's been on the market since March, and was added to Rightmove just days before the lockdown began.

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The Manor in Alwoodley, north Leeds, has grounds which back onto the prestigious Alwoodley Golf Club, seven bedrooms, a separate apartment, swimming pool and gym. It's valued at nearly £4million, and has been for sale since September.

Filey BriggFiley Brigg
Filey Brigg

In Filey, there are a range of properties for sale in a small town that is fast becoming a more popular alternative to Whitby and Scarborough. They include holiday lodges and apartments with sea views, as well as more substanstial properties such as a four-bedroom European-style villa, a luxury apartment inside a former convent school, and Church Cliff House, an 18th-century landmark property that is priced at £895,000. The former gentleman's residence has six bedrooms.

In Pickering, there are two properties on the market ideal for buyers looking to run a business in the picturesque market town. They include a 50-cover restaurant with six letting rooms and owners' accommodation that is being sold after 30 years due to the owners' retirement. Pudding House and Pudding Barn, a two-storey cafe with three-bedroom house attached, is also on the market.

In Whitby, three guesthouses are up for sale, including an eight-bedroom Georgian property on St Hilda's Terrace, the most beautiful historic terraced street in the town, a 10-bedroom guesthouse on Bagdale overlooking Pannett Park, and The Sandbeck, an historic B&B with 10 bedrooms.

There's also a five-bedroom period property right beside the famous 199 Steps on the market that is said to have the best views in Whitby.