Whitby and the North East Coast

 Whitby is a delightful working fishing town in Yorkshire on the North East coast. This is a dramatic coastline of huge cliffs and vast expanses of beach, lapped by the North Sea and fringed by the North Yorkshire moors. An evocative landscape; wild and bleak in winter, beautiful and refreshing in summer. Whitby will ever be synonymous with the legend of Dracula; inspiration coming from the gothic Abbey on the cliff top overlooking the town. The town itself is a busy, bustling and lively place with hotels and guest houses lining the cliff tops and a huge choice of restaurants, pubs and fish and chip shops around the harbour and pier.

The coast is stunning, and along the cliffs runs the 109 mile Cleveland Way National Trail. Starting in Helmsley and finishing in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, there are many pretty little towns and villages along the route, such Robin Hood’s Bay to the south of Whitby and Runswick Bay and Staithes to the north. Further south still, you have the grand old seaside resorts of Scarborough and Filey.

Within a short drive inland is the North Yorkshire Moors National Park which has one of the largest areas of open heather moorland in the UK. It is characterised by deep valleys with dense woodland and rolling farmland. Walkers, cyclists and horse riders are catered for in abundance, with miles of beautiful country to wander. Roseberry Topping at 320 metres is a stunning vantage point to see over the rolling countryside.

Whitby has a long history and there are some interesting museums, notably to its maritime past, to Captain James Cook who served his apprenticeship here and to the Jet jewellery industry for which the town is famous. There are also art galleries, the Whitby Pavilion and a programme of arts, theatre and music events throughout the year for all tastes and ages.