Whitby & Surrounding Villages
One of the most picturesque ports in England, Whitby and its harbour are set in a ravine at the mouth of the River Esk. Dominated by the cliff top ruined Abbey, the narrow alleys and cobbled streets climb down to the busy quayside, with its harbour side houses and quaint shops filled with arts, crafts and antiques. Book a Whitby Holiday Cottage... it truly is a wonderful place to experience.
Whitby needs little in the way of introduction as it is one of the most popular seaside resorts in the region. Spend your days with a bucket and spade on the long sandy beach and when you’ve worked up an appetite, sample some of the seafood in one of the many cafes and restaurants that make the town so well-known far and wide!
There’s always something happening throughout the town, and festivals and fairs are held throughout the year including the Whitby Goth Festival, Whitby Folk Week and the Whitby Regatta. Surrounding the town lie many characterful villages including Newholm, West Barnby and Stainsacre which offer a lovely insight into the region’s heritage.
Named as ‘the most popular short-break town in the country’ a year or two ago, booking one of our Whitby cottage holidays offers so much for the whole family to get stuck in to. This historic seaside resort stands at the mouth of the River Esk, surrounded by rural moors ideal for the walker and a large sandy beach on one side and rocky foreshore on the other, full of marine life and fossils.
The town has strong associations with Captain James Cook, who learned his seamanship in Whitby between voyages, including on ‘The Endeavour’, a replica of which has enjoyed many successful visits to the town. The Grand Turk, another rigged sailing vessel, is often seen moored near to the Tourist Information Centre within the town.
Whitby is divided by the old swing bridge which is opened sometimes during the day to allow entry and exit to the higher reaches of the river. On the west side of the town sits the modern seaside resort, while on the east side is Old Whitby, where you find the ruins of the famous Whitby Abbey. Beside this is the amazing St Mary’s Church with its famous triple pulpit and both can be reached by Whitby’s infamous 199 steps from a maze of old streets and alleyways.
The town also has historic associations with Bram Stoker’s Dracula who, as legend has it, came ashore in Whitby, lived here and is buried in St Mary’s churchyard. There is a brilliantly varied choice of eating places in the town including the famous, Magpie Café as well as a wonderful array of small shops, ideal for browsing. Bothams the Bakers stands out as a family business supplying gorgeous savouries and pastries in its restaurant and tearoom.
Whitby has a large harbour which contains the local fishing fleet, a yachting marina and tour boats. Many visitors take the opportunity to have a trip out to sea for a leisure cruise or fishing expedition. At any time the harbour and riverside is full of activity and interest and if you would like to book a Whitby holiday home outside of the town then we have many beautiful cottages available.
