From the unspoilt beaches of Scarborough, to charming coastal towns and villages to explore including Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay and Sandsend (amongst many others), a visit to Yorkshire allows you to make your break just what you want it to be.
If a Yorkshire getaway is on your list of things to do for 2020, carry on reading for 8 reasons to visit its glorious coast:
1. YOU CAN FOLLOW IN DRACULA’S FOOTSTEPS
Bram Stoker found inspiration and found the name for his horror classic Dracula while staying at Whitby. You will find nods to the town throughout his famous novel (including the famous 199 steps to Whitby Abbey). No visit to Whitby is complete without climbing these steps, and Whitby Abbey is still every bit as atmospheric today. If you are in the mood for a frightening climax, why not try The Dracula Experience on Marine Parade, for an eerie tour through the Dracula story and the connection to Whitby. Alternatively, you can try a 75-minute ‘In Search of Dracula’ stroll through the charming seaside town to discover more about the locations featured in the famous novel. You can browse our gorgeous range of luxury cottages near Whitby here.
Follow the route taken by Dracula as he flees the wreckage of his ship up into the graveyard and Abbey ruins.
2. THE TASTIEST FISH AND CHIPS CAN BE FOUND BY THE COAST
When it comes to food, Yorkshire is cementing its position as a serious gastronomic contender! Fish and chips are undoubtedly a British Institution, and you will find at least one ‘chippy’ in pretty much every town and village in the UK… For classic fish and chips, head to The Magpie Café in Whitby or The Fish Box at Robin Hood’s Bay. For something a little different, try Fortune’s Kippers – one of Whitby’s most famous institution, established in 1872 by William Fortune – the shop has been smoking fish for over 139 years. Scrummy!
The Magpie Café in Whitby. Even in November people queue outside, and it is worth it! Photo copyright of fairbrand and licenced for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.
3. THERE’S A VARIETY OF BOAT TRIPS TO ENJOY
You will find a choice of boat trips from the harbour in Whitby that range from a 25-minute trip up the coast to sunset cruises and whale watching trips. You can also travel on a steamer from Scarborough or hire a traditional pleasure boat for a row along the river in the pretty Eskdale village of Ruswarp. Yorkshire Coast Nature also do a range of seabird spotting trips on the coast from outdoor lover’s paradise Flamborough and run full day seal and whale-watching trips from Staithes. You also must pay a visit to the beautiful Bempton Cliffs – famous for thousands of nesting puffins! If train rides are up your street then you can take a trip on the North Bay Railway at Scarborough or catch an NYMR steam train that travels from Whitby through the Moors to Pickering. Stations along the way include Goathland, which you may recognise as Hogsmeade from the Harry Potter films.
Spot seals offshore Flamborough Head during your Yorkshire cottage holiday.
4. GLORIOUS WALKS ALONG THE CLEVELAND WAY NATIONAL TRAIL
One of the best ways to enjoy the coastline of the North York Moors National Park is The Cleveland Way National Trail, which takes in much of the Yorkshire coastline – all the way from Saltburn to Filey. The cliffs along the coast make this well-marked pathway very scenic. You can easily stroll from one village to another and go see the sights along the way. Other coastal walks to try include walking along the cliffs at Flamborough (which is home to lots of nesting birds throughout spring) and the Cinder Track is a disused railway line that runs from Whitby to Scarborough. Browse some of our luxury cottages with 10 miles of a National Trail.
Admire the view from the top of the Huntcliff on the glorious North Yorkshire coast. Photo copyright of Paul Walker and licenced for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.
5. ROCK POOLS AND SANDCASTLES
You’ll find a large range of rocky shores on the Yorkshire coast which makes it a fantastic choice for rock pooling. Robin Hoods Bay, Saltburn and Boggle Hole are all wonderful choices. Make sure to check the tide times before you go exploring! A net and a bucket is all you will need to get started and kids can get hours of fun… There is always something very satisfying about building a sandcastle – whether you go for a simple design or something a little more elaborate. Sandy beaches in Yorkshire that are marvellous for sandcastles include Scarborough, Filey and Sandsend.
Spend the day rock pooling on the gorgeous Yorkshire coast with the family.
6. SEASIDE SHOPS AND FOSSIL HUNTING
There are many traditional seaside shops too (such as Muir Lea Stores in Robin Hoods Bay) where you can pick up a bucket and spade along with items like a bat and ball for a game on the beach. Afterwards you can reward yourself with an ice cream (or a tasty stick of rock). Giulian Alonzi's Harbour Bar in Scarborough is also fabulous as the ice creams are made freshly on-site each day and come in lots of fabulous flavours. The bar is almost unaltered since opening in 1945! Yorkshire is renowned for its gorgeous Jurassic Cliffs (they date back 150 – 200 million years) and its infinite fossils that lie on the sandy beaches throughout the North York Moors coastline. Fossil hunting can be a fun activity for the whole family (children will love seeking out hidden treasure) and there are plenty of historic ammonites to see on beaches including Whitby, Robin Hoods Bay and Saltwick Bay.
Amble along traditional seaside shops before heading to the beach with the family. Photo copyright of Humphrey Bolton and licenced for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.
7. DISCOVER THE SETTING FOR OLD JACK’S BOAT
The fishing village of Staithes is full of winding streets and painted cottages that look out over the sea. This picture postcard worthy spot was also the setting of popular CBeebies series Captain Jack’s Boat. Children can seek out the locations used in the TV program and there is a free sticker trail to find some of Old Jack’s friends, which is available to pick up in the village. The sheltered harbour is still home to a selection of traditional fishing boats and The Cod & Lobster pub is a fantastic choice to stop for refreshments (their speciality is a fresh crab sandwich – delicious) as you relax and look out to the sea.
You might even see the BBC camera crew filming for "Old Jack's Boat". Photo copyright of Matt Buck and licenced for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.
8. LUXURY YORKSHIRE COTTAGES TO COME HOME TO
From chic retreats with bubbling hot tubs to family-friendly properties with pools, we have holiday cottages for all tastes in Yorkshire. And what could be better than returning to a luxury cottage after all that exploring?
Hunker down into your own private hot tub with a glass of bubbles after all that exploring. Photo: the lovely Higher Scholes Cottage, Yorkshire.
Click here to view romantic Yorkshire cottages.