Whitby – a week of things to do.
Reassurance
As I have previously said in blogs and posts, that the one thing I miss about living in Whitby is actually coming on holiday here and planning our week and days out.
So I wanted to give you reassurance that we will open when the government allow us to do so and that there is definitely enough to do whether you stay 3 or 4 nights or over a week.
I wanted to plan and dream a little whilst we are not really going anywhere. So I thought I would plan myself (and obviously give everyone ideas of all the wonderful things there are to do on our doorstep) a week here once we have come out of lockdown especially as it seems we might be holidaying in the UK for a while to come.
Day 1
Arrive as early as possible; I am a big fan of setting off early and beating the traffic wherever you come from.  (Our B&B has parking and you are more than welcome on your day of arrival to leave your car from 11am).
My first day would be Pannet Park and the Whitby Museum, which are just across the road from us. Mixture of letting the children run round in the park then exploring the fossils in the museums.
5 mins walk from the park down into the town (it’s a lovely walk through the park and very peaceful and you come out just at the bottom of Baxtergate).
Short wander through the town for fish and chips, takeaway to we can sit on the Pier and just enjoy the smell of the sea, sounds of the waves and fish and chips that always taste better when you can see the sea. Then maybe a quick glass of prosecco on skinner street, (which is growing in the number of bars and restaurants just recently opened along this street). Then short uphill walk home.
Day 2
Today’s plan is a walk, depending on how energetic I am feeling, I have a plan of 2 walks:-
Either x4 or 4 bus up to Runswick Bay – then walk along the beach right to the end then the climb up the steps to the coastal pathway then it’s a lovely 5.8 mile, almost flattish walk to Sandsend. Lunch in Sandsend then another 3 miles back to Whitby.
The walk is part of the Cleveland way,
The whole route is 109 miles and there are plenty of people who walk this every year. It starts at Helmsley, out to Saltburn then down to Staithes, Runswick Bay, Whitby and onto Scarborough finishing in Filey (most people I think just do Helmsley to Robin Hoods Bay).
Or an alternative route is starting in Whitby and heading out to Robin Hoods Bay for a 6 mile walk/hike – this is a bit more energetic.
https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/cleveland-way/
 Day 3
Early rise for me as I love watching the sun rise. Did you know that Whitby is one of the few places that you can see the sun rise and set. Plus that Simon took an amazing photo 5 years ago around 4am when he drove home from Scarborough hospital after having our youngest daughter – it is hung proudly on our breakfast room wall and I love looking at it every day. It was the best coming home present ever after leaving hospital.
Depending on the time of the year, the sun will either rise behind the Abbey or the cliffs and sometimes nicely paint a picture for you with the colour of the sky and sit between the whale bones on the West Cliff.
Although only a 5 min walk from our house, I would happily sit with my flask and admire the views and the serenity of the West Cliff early in the morning.
Home for breakfast – poached eggs and crisply done bacon is my preference.
Today, no matter what the weather, will be a 3 mile walk to Sandsend. Quick check of the Tide times and as long as low tide coincides with our walk, we can get there and back and easily have time for a coffee and cake or maybe a pleasant lunch in the sunshine. There is plenty of choice in Sandsend, either on the beach front or set just a little way back.  Plus there are always ducks to feed, we keep trying them on peas but they still do prefer the bread. If you do just want to walk one way, the x4 or 4 bus runs every 30 mins from Sandsend to Whitby and passes right past our house.
Day 4
Exploring Whitby and the Abbey. I know we live here but even after 6 years here and 5 years previous to that of visiting, I can still spend a good few hours wandering around the streets and shops and just meander along with a few coffees and the occasional cake along the way.
I love the challenge of walking up the 199 steps to the Abbey. Being s Yorkshire lass, I am often reluctant to pay the entrance fee but always have a wander around the walls, take a peer at the small lake behind the Abbey plus there is a lovely brewery just behind the Abbey with a courtyard to sit and enjoy some sunshine.
Afternoon of amusement arcades, as an avid watcher of Tipping Point, I love the 2p machines just as much as my children do. Its amazing how long one pounds of 2p’s can last.
If the sea is calm, there are numerous boat trips to be taken, either short 20 min trips out of the harbour or a few hours or more either out whale watching, fishing or up the coastline to Staithes.
Day 5
Using the local bus – x4 or 4 to travel north up the coastline to Saltburn (or car). There is a lovely funicular tram in Saltburn, we normally park at the bottom car park and catch the tram up to the small town, have a small wander around then walk down the path to the pier and beach.
https://redcarcleveland.co.uk/enjoy/saltburn-cliff-tramway/
Heading back there are plenty of small beaches and villages along the coastline to explore :-
Staithes – park on the top in the car park then it’s a steep walk down to the picturesque village, a few art galleries, a deli and a couple of pubs and cafes for a pleasant wander around. If you are using the bus, the bus stops just on the main road at the top.
Runswick Bay – you can park half way down in the car park and then a short walk down to the beach, it’s a very small village and the beach is lovely.
Day 6
I love a day on Whitby beach and this is my plan for the day.
Sit in a deck chair (can be hired), picnic blanket or to the far left of the beach huts, there are some lovely flat rocks and wonderful rock pools to explore. Armed with a book, packed lunch and a few buckets and spades we can be there all day (tides’ allowing).
https://www.tidetimes.org.uk/whitby-tide-times
If you are well organized and know when you are visiting Whitby, it is worth hiring a beach hut for a day or week, they are very basic, think of a small coloured shed with a shelf, however its just amazing to sit there with a book in a chair and watch the tides come in and out and sit and watch time pass you bye.
There are about 20 beach huts that are hired out on a weekly basis and some of these on a daily basis. Scarborough Council look after this.
 A brief history of the seaside Beach Hut
Back in the nineteenth century a trip to the seaside and a dip in the sea was an exciting prospect. In order to keep your modesty, a bathing machine was used. These vehicles looked like beach huts on wheels and could be hired out for short periods. They would get in at the top of the beach, change into their bathing suits then the ‘huts’ would be pulled down to the sea by horse. Once in the water you would step straight into the sea for your swim.
In Edwardian times the ‘Beach Hut’, more as we know it, began to slowly appear along the beaches of the UK. After WW2 the holidaymakers started to return to the beaches in search of relaxation and fresh sea air and by the 1950’s the Beach Hut was well and truly back in fashion.
Information taken from SBC website below:-
Weekly lets – Chalets are let from Saturday 2pm to the following Saturday at 10am.  Provisional bookings accepted from Jan 7th each year for the coming season.  Contact Scarborough Council on 01723 232489 or chalets@scarborough.gov.uk
Day 7
Time to depart. If you are taking the A169 over the moors towards Pickering and want to spend your last day doing something other than just travelling home, there is a choice:- Eden Camp near Malton, (see our other blog on our visit here), Flamingoland if you have young/teenage children, or Helmsley if you want to visit the walled garden or the outdoor pool.
Thanks for reading.
Michelle, Corra Lynn.