As the weather becomes distinctly summery this week you may be looking for a spot to cool off.

If you're lucky enough to have some time off work the middle of the week is the best time to go; temperatures are expected to reach a balmy high of 21°C on Thursday. Plus as it's term-time you'll have more space to enjoy yourself and relax.

While Huddersfield is one of the most inland towns in northern England, our country is only a small island where you're never too far from the coast.

And God's Own County has plenty of beaches within a two-hour drive of Huddersfield.

As well as serene scenery and a choice of sand, shingle and pebble surfaces many of these beaches descend into seas with excellent water quality, according to The Beach Guide.

Here is a selection of some of the guide's best Yorkshire beaches from last year. We've also added a few other honorable mentions.

- Hornsea

Hornsea beach
Hornsea beach

Hornsea is a classic seaside resort with a large sand and shingle beach.

Its long promenade has newly landscaped gardens and the water quality is excellent for paddling and swimming.

Distance from Huddersfield by car: 84 miles (1hr 45min)

- Bridlington

Bridlington beach
Bridlington beach

This traditional seaside destination is a bit rundown but its wide and sandy South Beach still has plenty of appeal.

There are plenty of activities to do such as fishing and kite surfing and the quality of the water isn’t bad.

Distance from Huddersfield by car: 87 miles (1hr 55min)

- Filey

Filey beach
Filey beach

With its long sandy beach and less commercial feel Filey is a great family spot, ideal for walks and even horse riding.

It has excellent water quality and a promenade decorated with art inspired by local heritage.

Speaking of local heritage, Filey is still a fishing town where you can watch fishermen repairing and casting their nets.

Distance from Huddersfield by car: 90 miles (1hr 50min)

- Whitby

Beach huts in Whitby
Beach huts in Whitby

The town of Whitby needs little introduction.

It also has two beaches on either side of the River Esk: a sheltered sandy beach to the east and to the west a large, sandy beach with colourful beach huts, deck chair and wind break hire and donkey rides.

The water quality is excellent.

Distance from Huddersfield by car: 95 miles (2hr)

- Sandsend

Sandsend
Sandsend

Three miles up the coast from Whitby is Sandsend.

It’s an unspoilt, picturesque bay with a sand and shingle beach and excellent water quality.

Distance from Huddersfield by car: 97 miles (2hr)

- Runswick Bay

Runswick Bay
Runswick Bay

If you’re looking for a beach that offers stunning views, Runswick Bay is the perfect hideaway, around a 20-minute drive from Whitby.

The sweeping, sheltered bay offers a sandy beach dotted with rock pools and is popular with surfers and sailing fans; water quality is OK.

The beach is sheltered from high winds by Lingrow Knowle, which towers over the bay and offers stunning views of the coast and Kettleness.

Distance from Huddersfield by car: 105 miles (2hr 10min)

- Staithes

Staithes
Staithes

A picture postcard village where the North Yorkshire Moors meet the sea, Staithes is one of the prettiest locations on the Yorkshire cost.

If you’re a parent of young children you may recognise it from the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat starring Bernard Cribbins.

Sadly the water quality is poor so you’re best limiting the water activities to a paddle.

Distance from Huddersfield by car: 106 miles (2hr)

- Saltburn

Saltburn-by-the-sea
Saltburn-by-the-sea

Saltburn-by-the-Sea was a popular resort for Victorians and the town retains much of its historic charm.

It has a funicular lift up and down the 40m (120ft) cliff and some formal Italian gardens.

The beach is sand and shingle and is particularly popular with surfers although the water quality isn’t great.

Distance from Huddersfield by car: 100 miles (1hr 50min)

- Marske Sands

Marske Sands
Marske Sands

Once Marske Sands was where land speed records were broken in the early 20th century.

Nowadays you won’t hear any roaring engines or much other than the crash of waves and the whistle of the wind.

Marske near Saltburn is a great, quiet stretch if you’re after a bit of solitude. And solitude is what you’ll get as there isn’t much else there.

The water quality is excellent.

Distance from Huddersfield by car: 93 miles (2hr)

- Redcar

Redcar beach
Redcar beach

With its proximity to the old industrial North East you wouldn’t think of Redcar as a beach resort – but you’d be wrong.

Granville Beach to the south of the town has a large sandy beach and the water quality is good too.

Distance from Huddersfield by car: 95 miles (1hr 45min)

And if none of these take your fancy go back and watch the video to see the best beaches in Yorkshire.

- Other Yorkshire beaches worth a mention

Cayton Bay
Cayton Bay

Barmston - a long sandy beach just south of Bridlington which is rarely busy.

Cattersty Sands Skinningrove - a long sand and shingle beach, not far from Staithes.

Cayton Bay - a large sweep of sand three miles south of Scarborough. It's not usually busy but very windy, hence its popularity with surfers.

Danes Dyke - a pebble beach, near Flamborough Headland, with rock pools perfect for searching for crabs and other marine wildlife.

Fraisthorpe - a flat sandy beach, near Bridlington, that's great for dog walking.

Mappleton - a wide, sandy beach three miles south of Hornsea

Reighton - a long, sandy beach just northwest of Flamborough Headland.

South Landing - a sheltered shingle and pebble beach on the south side of Flamborough Head.

Wilsthorpe - a long and sandy, if rather exposed, beach two miles south of Bridlington.