Climb the steps to the Spa balcony and from there walk up the espalier staircase to stroll through the gardens. Turn right at the top of the espalier steps to take either of the gently sloping paths towards the Spa bridge.

Accessibility Note. Access to the spa gardens for wheelchair and buggy users is via the spa bridge. Across Valley Road, near the Rotunda museum is an accessible slope to access the bridge. Alternatively, ride up to the Grand Hotel on one of the cliff lifts, a few hundred yards north of the Spa.

On a clear day, you'll get a magnificent view of the South Bay looking toward the Castle headland. The gardens are rich with natural, cultivated, and vagrant species of plant. Flying insects, butterflies in particular, are frequent visitors here. You may also see the much dreaded Japanese Knotweed in this area.

Just before you reach the bridge, you'll see Swiss Cottage on your left, and great views on your right. As you cross the bridge, the views up the valley to your left are almost as impressive as the coastal views. Walking straight ahead, below you to the left you will see the Rotunda Museum with the Grand Hotel in front of you.

Around 160 million years ago, this area was a massive river delta, similar in size to the Mississippi. The climate was much warmer and more humid then, lush forests lined the banks of the river and large plant eating dinosaurs roamed the area.

Pass the Grand Hotel and follow the road as it bends to the right. Ahead is the Town Hall with a statue of Queen Victoria in the gardens. Follow the path through the gardens and along the side of the town hall into King Street.

The Grand Hotel was the largest purpose built hotel in Europe when it was completed. Certainly a peep round to the back of the building will confirm that the local gulls and pigeons think it works well as an artificial cliff face.

In the Town Hall gardens flowering shrubs attract butterflies and moths, including the Humming Bird Hawk moth, a creature so like a humming bird in hover mode that it sparks off dozens of calls to the local council every year.

The Market Hall is on the site of what used to be a Shambles, or medieval meat market, but by the 19th century the area had become unpleasant slum housing. Behind it you'll cross from one borough to another, an unusual opportunity in a single town.

The old town of Scarborough has a great deal of charm. Cobbles, secretive dark alleyways and small but well tended gardens.

Continue down St Sepulchre Street and onto Princess Street. At the end of the road turn left and head up the hill. Follow the road to the left on to Paradise.

In Princess Street you'll catch glimpses of the sea between houses on the right, without noticing, you've already climbed high enough for good view. That's the good news.

The bad news comes at the end of Princess Street. The T junction takes you onto a really quite steep hill and you need to turn left, uphill. But it will take you to Paradise.

Follow Paradise to St Mary's Church. Our route takes you past the church, and then up toward the castle. However it's worth having a look around St Mary's, where refreshments are also available.

Now the sea is to your left and a long way below you. But before you rush off to higher levels for a good vantage point, stop a while at St Mary's.

Turn right after the graveyard and head up the hill to the castle. This historic building is open to the public, but there is an entry charge. Our route follows the path that runs below the castle walls.

In the graveyard opposite the church you'll find Ann Bronte's grave. Meanwhile, all around you are chances to catch sight of interesting birds and plants.

The other good news is that we've almost reached the high point of the walk, in more ways than one, we're getting to the most exciting part of the trip: fossils, history, earthquake, flowers and all!

Carry on strolling along Quay Street until it rejoins Foreshore Road. At the next right hand turn, follow it into The Bolts. At the end of The Bolts, turn back toward the sea front and turn right into Foreshore Road.

Quay Street has a fascinating history, and possibly the oldest alehouse in town.

By the way, the ground beneath your feet used to be part of the harbour. Only a few hundred years ago you'd be standing in the sea at this point.

This bit is easy! Cross Foreshore Road, and stroll, either on the path or the beach, according to your whim, shoes and the prevailing weather, back to the Spa complex

It's a whole new frontier at the water's edge, but the need for food brings seals and even sharks close to the beach, and of course you might catch sight of some unusual gulls and wading birds.