Three places you should visit on the North Yorkshire Coast

Both Condé Nast Traveller and the Telegraph have named beaches on the beautiful North Yorkshire Coast as some of the best in the UK. But this picturesque part of the country has more than just sand and sea to tempt travellers. The stunning coastline is strewn with quaint villages, pretty harbours and historic seaside resorts allowing ample opportunity for both exploration and relaxation.

ROBIN HOOD’S BAY

If you’ve been harbouring fantasies of old-timey fishing villages then this is the place for you. Narrow cobbled streets wind steeply down to the sea, passing charming shopfronts selling everything from buckets and spades to homemade pastries, local jewellery and second-hand books.

Once you reach sea-level, there’s no better place to sit and watch the world go by than outside the Bay Hotel with a pint in one hand and a packet of chips in the other. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more ‘authentic’ spot than this, with fishing boats drawn up on shore by the beer garden and the tide lapping at the walls.

If you’re feeling more active, there are some lovely walks around Robin Hood’s Bay which take in the area’s wonderful countryside and coastal scenery.

WHITBY

No tour of the North Yorkshire Coast would be complete without a visit to Whitby. First stop on your list should be Whitby Abbey. Whatever the weather, any time of day or night, approaching this iconic site is guaranteed to send a shiver up your spine for all the right reasons. Wander the ruins of this magnificent structure and feel the powerful atmosphere that inspired Bram Stoker to recreate the abbey in his gothic masterpiece, Dracula.

From here the famous Whitby steps lead into the town, curving from the clifftop and into the streets via sweeping vistas. It’s easy to while away a whole afternoon browsing in the myriad shops of Whitby. A tendency to the gothic is not surprising given the town’s aforementioned link to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but you will also find shops selling beautifully crafted Whitby jet and a wealth of flourishing vintage stores.

Shopping is thirsty work and the ideal remedy is to head down to the picture-perfect harbour and watch the comings and goings from one of the dockside pubs. Fish and chips, the most quintessential of British dishes, always taste better when eaten at the seaside and it is my fervent belief that the Magpie Café serves the best fish and chips in the country – don’t leave without trying them! 

SCARBOROUGH

If, like me, your main impression of this town was formerly based on the haunting, ethereal strains of Simon & Garfunkel’s Scarborough Fair, you may be in for something of a shock. No fair maiden wanders along deserted shores wistfully wafting bouquets of herbs in the sea breeze; instead the seafront is a bustling, lively resort full of colour and noise, and you’re more likely to pick up the scent of chips and churros than parsley, sage, rosemary or thyme.

Folk-inspired reveries aside, Scarborough still holds some true delights for the romantically inclined traveller. The remains of Scarborough Castle sit perched on the cliffs above the town, offering stunning views of the surrounding coastline. A short walk from the castle walls will take you to St Mary’s Church, where literature fans can pay homage to Anne Brontë who was laid to rest here in 1849.

Further along the promenade, the imposing Grand Hotel, old-fashioned funicular and quaint terraced gardens are reminiscent of the Victorian era, when people would come to Scarborough to ‘take the waters’. There's definitely something in the North Yorkshire sea air which is good for the soul! 

For more information on any of these destinations and to start planning your inspirational UK itinerary, call us on +44 (0)344 847 5004 or send an email to destinations@travelb.co.uk.