Whitby, North Yorkshire
Whitby is a historic, seaside town on the North Yorkshire coast to the north of Scarborough. Popular with tourists in the summer, there is plenty to see and do and if you prefer to avoid the crowds, it is possible to find a quiet spot on the clifftop to enjoy the sweeping views over the harbour and town. Out of season, Whitby still has its charms so is a great place to visit at any time of year.
Whitby is famous for its ruined Abbey perched on the cliff top, Whitby Jet (black stone used in jewellery), Captain Cook, its shipbuilding industry, fishing and whaling, and of course, Dracula! To learn more about its fascinating history and local heroes, there are several places worthy of a visit.
If you are just spending a day in Whitby, I would recommend a quick stop at the excellent tourist information opposite the train station to grab a map and get your bearings then heading into town, across the swing bridge, then left along the cobbled street, passing several Whitby Jet shops, towards the Abbey. There are 199 steps up to the Abbey but don't let that put you off as the views at the top over Whitby are worth it. Whitby Abbey dates back to 657 and is now run by English Heritage and entry costs £5 for adults or £2.50 for children. Inside, there is an information centre and shop and you can wander freely through the grounds and the ruined abbey with an audio guide if you wish.
After a visit to the Abbey, head back down to the bridge and then take a left by the bridge to go to the Captain Cook Museum (£4 for adults). This is a small but incredibly interesting and informative museum exploring the life and voyages of Captain Cook from his humble beginnings to his sailing expeditions around the world culimating in his death from a spear in Hawaii. The museum is located in the house where Captain Cook lodged as an apprentice in the ship-building trade.
By now you will probably be feeling peckish and as this is Whitby, you just have to have fish and chips! I can recommend a couple of excellent options - the renowned and incredibly popular Magpie Cafe on the west side along the quay (take-away or restaurant), or just around the corner from the Captain Cook Museum, the award-winning Mister Chips (also take-away or restaurant).
Continuing after lunch, you may like to walk along the quay lined with boards advertising boat trips, seafood stands and amusements and at the end of the quay near the bandstand you will see the RNLI museum, which is worth popping into (free entry). In the RNLI museum, Whitby, you can see the old lifeboat and take a look at the displays and old photographs of dramatic sea rescues such as the incident in 1861 where only one out of the 13 lifeboat crew survived thanks to his new experimental cork lifejacket. These images bring to life the incredible bravery of these men who risk their lives in atrocious conditions at sea to save the lives of others.
On the West Cliff stands a statue of Captain Cook and a pair of whale bones which were a gift from Whitby's twin town of Anchorage in Alaska. Whaling was carried out in Whitby in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries but stopped in 1830. This is an excellent viewpoint from which to take photos of Whitby Abbey and the beach below. If you walk along the promenade at West Cliff you can head down to the sandy beach where there is a pretty row of coloured beach huts and a cafe.
Further attractions include the Dracula Experience which is apparently quite scary! Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, was inspired by the atmospheric surroundings of Whitby as well as the wonderful photographs taken by Frank Sutcliffe, the Victorian photographer who captured the essence of the fishing town. Sutcliffe's photos can be seen in the Sutcliffe Gallery shop in Whitby. Bram Stoker took the name for some of the main characters in the book from gravestones in St Mary's church graveyard and named the ship which runs aground in the story after a real incident where a Russian ship ran aground on the beach below East Cliff. Certainly on a stormy day, it is possible to imagine how Bram Stoker was inspired by the stormy seas and eery skies to write such a tale!
Whitby has a large choice of accommodation ranging from its recently refurbished youth hostel (www.yha.org.uk) in a stunning location adjacent to the Abbey on East Cliff, to bed and breakfasts, hotels and self-catering cottages (www.whitbyholidaycottages.net). It makes a worthy trip if you are staying in York or on the North York Moors, or a good base to stay for longer and visit the surrounding area.
From Whitby, there is excellent coastal walking to the north and south along the Cleveland Way, as well as endless walks on the North York Moors. If you enjoy gently cycling, there is a traffic-free cycle track from just outside of Whitby to Ravenscar (or on to Scarborough) along a disused railway track. Cycles can be hired from a cycle hire and accommodation centre just outside of Whitby - see www.trailways.info.
Whitby has something for everyone at any time of year so make it a day out or your base for a holiday in this part of the world.
This entry was posted on Friday August 15th, 2008 at 6:15 PM and is filed under Places to Visit. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response.
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