A winter break in Whitby: coastlines, charm & cold calm days

Whitby is one of those places that it would be difficult to not like.

Located on the rugged North Yorkshire coast, it’s a town where it’s easy to pass a few hours.

Wandering along the cobbled streets really gives you a sense of the history of the place.

The Abbey ruins look down from the cliff above, there are fishing boats and pleasure boats in the harbour and all in close proximity to the pretty uninviting and cold North Sea.

Not been there for a while

It’s a few years since I last visited Whitby, but my wife spent some time there earlier this year. She had a good trip and came back singing its praises. It didn’t take much for us to decide to head there again and enjoy a short stay on the coast.

If I’m honest, I was ready to escape to almost anywhere for a short break. I’d already cancelled my planned solo motorcycle trip through Iberia, as well as our holiday in Cork, after everything that happened on the 1st of June.

Serious walking is still off the cards while my recovery continues. Realistically, with a few issues still to be resolved, it’s looking like spring, or perhaps even early summer before my rehab’ will really start to move forward.

Making the best of things

Things are what they are, and although I knew walking would be far from ideal, and that a few places I’d normally explore would have to stay off‑limits I was determined to make the best of it. We agreed not to let my reduced mobility overshadow the trip but were also optimistic of ‘doing a bit more’ than on my last local walking trip.

In the end, we had a genuinely lovely and relaxing break. The weather was cold but mostly kind to us.

The journey over was the only real challenge, with heavy snow, a few road closures, and the usual travel chaos that follows.

Other than that, it was only the day before we headed home that the rain finally caught up with us.

What’s here in this blog post?

It’s pretty much a ‘picture post’ type of blog. There have been more words written about Whitby than I could ever come up with. A quick google search will tell you plenty about Whitby and the surrounding area.

So this post tells ‘the story’ with photographs set out in a series of ‘picture sets’, each with a brief introduction.

Clicking any of the pictures will open a ‘gallery’ that can be clicked or scrolled through and this should be able to be done on any handheld device, a laptop or desktop. Please let me know if there are any problems accessing the images.

Picture set one – snowy journey

Although the snow made for tricky driving it made for some stunning views as we negotiated treacherous road conditions.

This set contains one of my favourite pictures from the trip – it’s the first picture and one my wife took.

Clicking any mage will open a picture set that can be clicked or scrolled through.

Pats picture

Snowy on the way to Whitby

Pretty and snowy scenes

Picture set two – decent accommodation

We rented some decent accommodation for our five night stay and you can see pictures of it in this set.

We found this property via a company called Shoreline Cottages, they were easy to deal with and provided prompt and accurate information which in turn led to a hassle free time for us.

Click any image to open and scroll through the pictures.

Shoreline properties

Decent accomodation

Shoreline properties

Property exterior

Shoreline properties

Picture set three – wandering around Whitby

We were based just a very short walk from central Whitby, which meant it was ideal to leave the car at the property when heading for a bite to eat and drink.

Clicking any image will open a picture set that can be clicked or scrolled through.

Whitby

Mrs B

Whitby

Picture set four – RSPB Bempton Cliffs

Regular readers will know we have a keen interest in photography and bird watching. Although it wasn’t really the ideal time of year to head to the RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs we were still keen to visit.

Apparently around half a million seabirds gather at Bempton Cliffs between March and August and between April and July it becomes England’s largest home for seabirds.

The time of year meant we didn’t see Puffins, Gannets or Kittiwakes but we did see a small group of Guillemots and a weasel! It’s a place we hope to get to again at some point.

Clicking any image will open a picture set that can be clicked or scrolled through.

Picture set five – beaches and coves

The coastline around Whitby has plenty to offer. With its sheer and dramatic cliffs, sweeping bays, and interesting light that all makes for a great time for anyone who likes the feel of the outdoors. Of all the places we saw during our stay I think my favourite spot was North Landing.

North Landing is a pretty small and sheltered cove – the cliffs have been eroded by the sea, leaving interesting looking arches and caves that were doubtless smugglers dens in bygone times

It wasn’t the most accessible for me with my temporary mobility issues but care and the use of a walking stick did the trick.

My wife had been there earlier in the year and was keen for me to see it, as she knows how much I enjoy quiet and isolated places. It was good choice and I was glad she took me there.

We also headed for Runswick Bay and Sandsend on Sea but it was North Landing that was the clear ‘winner’ for me

Clicking any image below will open a picture set that can be clicked or scrolled through.

Picture set six – pretty as a picture Robin Hood’s Bay

I had been to Whitby, Sandsend and Runswick Bay before, but never to Robin Hood’s Bay.

It’s as pretty as a picture. Its quaint and pretty houses and shops are set out along steep and winding cobbled streets.

It’s only about six miles or so along the coast from Whitby and in the 18th century was a major smuggling location and it’s not hard to wander around and imagine those bygone days.

I loved our short visit there but I imagine it could get pretty rammed during the summer months.

Clicking any image will open a picture set that can be clicked or scrolled through.