Stunning scenery, maritime mysteries, and scorching sun – that was my day in Whitby, North Yorkshire.
Almost secretly hidden away between two valleys on the North Yorkshire Moors coast, lies Whitby. The perfect place to spend a day or two.
On this visit, I was taking part in a photo-walk with View Yorkshire. I live reasonably close by (about an hour away) and have been to Whitby many times before. However, I am surprised about what I didn’t see and notice on previous visits.
Waves at Whitby
I joined the group a little later than planned, and our first port of call was Whitby Harbour area.
Whitby Lighthouse
Whitby harbour actually has two lighthouses and two beacons. Historically, as well as being an industrial port and shipbuilding town, Whitby was also a whaling centre. Having the only natural harbour between the River Humber and the River Tees, made Whitby one of the main trading ports on the east coast during the last century.
Entrance to Whitby Harbour showing both lighthouses and beacons.
We climbed to the top of the larger West Pier 18th century sandstone lighthouse and enjoyed the panoramic views from the top. There is a small entrance fee of £1.50 and a seemingly never-ending spiral staircase of about 80 steps to get to the top. The view is worth the climb though!
View from the lighthouse. Calm water in the harbour on the left hand side.
Another view, this time over to Whitby Abbey.
Beacon on the pier
There’s a good photo opportunity on the pier. It would’ve been better if I had taken more time and aligned the lines!
Whitby Abbey
The original abbey was founded in the 7th century. The remains are said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It’s perhaps difficult to imagine on a sunny summers day and when the flowers are blooming. But come back on a duller day or during winter and you’ll soon see why it can be so haunting!
Whitby Abbey.
We climbed up the 199 steps to the Abbey and headed to the gardens at the back of the tea room. This gives a different angle for photographing it.
Around the other side of the Abbey is a graveyard. Many graves are from 18th and 19th centuries. The old seaman’s graves are ones to look out for. With a skull and crossbones on them – many people think they are pirates graves… but they aren’t!
Skull and crossbones – the graves of seamen.
The Endeavour
A full-scale replica of the ship Yorkshire born Captain James Cook used to sail to Australia and New Zealand is now moored in Whitby harbour. I went to see it close up earlier in the day, and I have to say that I wasn’t impressed. In my opinion, it looks too plasticy like a child’s toy almost as if it’s made from lego or Playmobil. The Endeavor is the larger ship on the bottom righthand side of the photo below.
Harbour and the Endeavor
Tipple Cottage
The appropriately named Tipple Cottage. Look at the blinds on the ground floor! Living in there must be like having one leg shorter than the other.
Tipple Cottage
Sadly, I had to leave Whitby without trying the black ‘Gothic ice cream’. It’s supposed to be vanilla flavour. I’ll try it the next time I visit.
On the way back to York, I took a detour via Sands End and a slightly different route over the North Yorkshire Moors. You can see the lighthouses in the distance.
Sands End beach.
Heading back across the Moors, I stopped for a while at Blakey Ridge, Col’s favourite camping place. We camped here several times and it’s a place I have many happy memories with him. I just wish he was here now.
Beautiful Blakey Ridge
Day trips to Whitby from York:
Of course, my travel buddy came along too.
My Travel Buddy.