A tempting array of pubs and restaurants line the narrow streets that wind through the village, providing a great opportunity to sample the local delights and meet the delightful locals. Once you’ve replenished your energy stores, it’s time to set off on a ramble over some dramatic coastal landscapes with towering cliffs, tumbling becks and historic buildings to see.
There’s also a feast of culture both ancient and modern to appreciate at the galleries and museum. Staithes may be small but the opportunities for fun are boundless and there are plenty of holiday cottages to come back to after days spent exploring the Yorkshire coast.
This idyllic sandy beach provides the ideal location to relax. Just roll out a picnic rug or pop up a beach chair to take in the magnificent natural surroundings. There’s a secret here too, as at low tide it reveals a treasure trove of marine life when a myriad of rockpools are exposed. The North Sea waves that pick up in winter and spring make Staithes a popular spot for surfers as it has a reef break – or natural shelf out at sea that creates barrel-shaped waves. You can hire boards and wetsuits from nearby Whitby or just settle in a deckchair to watch the show!
The rocky, harbour beach of Port Mulgrave is 2 miles north of Staithes, and it is known as the best fossil-hunting in Yorkshire. It’s a steep walk down from the road, so only suitable for adults and teens, but well worth the trip to nab a prehistoric souvenir. Port Mulgrave is entirely submerged during high tide so be sure to check tide times before you visit
More Yorkshire beaches
Staithes boat trips
If you fancy following in the footsteps of famed explorer Captain Cook, who found his love of the sea while living in Staithes, you’ll find a variety of boat trips on which you can set sail from the pretty harbour. From whale-spotting and wildlife watching to trying your luck at fishing in the North Sea, there are a variety of Staithes boat trips available from local companies such as Real Staithes and Three Sisters Sea Trips. It’s up to you whether you book onto one of the regularly scheduled cruises or charter the whole boat and skipper for your friends and family. Keep your eyes peeled though as you may well see dolphins, porpoises, minke and humpback whales in the water.
Highlights
- Real Staithes offers several fins, feather and fish wildlife trips between July and October in conjunction with Yorkshire Coast Nature which is a great opportunity to get up close to a variety of seabirds.
- The friendly skippers at Three Sisters Sea Trips can provide you with rods, reels and tackle, they also have special wreck-finding equipment to take you to the spots where there is likely to be fish.
- It’s worth wandering around the pretty harbour at Staithes to see the traditional wooden coble boats that are often moored here before heading out to sea.
- Stay nearby: The Curious Crab | Sleeps 4 + 2 dogs
Staithes pubs
A good barometer of a place is the quality of the local pubs, and Staithes has some exceptional ones. At the top of the village lies The Captain Cook Inn, named after the 18th-century explorer who lived here as a young man. It’s a dog-friendly pub that offers gorgeous home-cooked food, local ales and wonderful sea views. Down on the harbour is The Cod & Lobster, where you can sample the day’s catch, including their signature crab sandwich. The Royal George on the high street offers a traditional welcome and has a small, well-kept courtyard with a pergola and tubs of flowers.
A short walk inland from Staithes is The Fox and Hounds, set in woodlands by a handsome stone bridge. The squashy sofas are so inviting after a walk. Slightly further afield is the chocolate-box Ship Inn in Saltburn and The Ellerby Hotel, 3 miles inland in a heavenly rural setting.
Staithes cafes and restaurants
All that fresh sea air works up an appetite, but luckily, there’s a great choice of eateries in and around Staithes to quell those rumbling tums. Dotty’s Tearoom is a real gem of a place with a retro feel – the homemade soup and freshly baked sourdough bread are particularly good, and your dog gets its own bag of treats too. For piping hot fish and chips, there’s Excelsior Fisheries – if it’s balmy you can take away and enjoy them al fresco but there’s also inside seating if the weather is less than clement. If a cheap and cheerful lunch is the order of the day, Coastal Kitchen offers an amazing selection of all-day breakfasts, and the hot pork bap is unforgettable.
Less than 5 miles away in the village of Loftus is The Reunion Bar & Restaurant, with a quirky interior and sizzling hot platters of burgers, pizzas and pub classics. It’s well worth making the 10-mile journey. Tomahawk in nearby Saltburn-by-Sea specialises in steaks, with Wagyu and dry-aged steaks on the menu.
Staithes walks
The cliff-top location of Staithes is blessed with being part of The Cleveland Way, a wonderful national trail that comprises 109 miles of coastal and moorland paths. There are plenty of options for an uplifting stroll, whether it’s a gentle amble to a pub or a bracing yomp with your pooch for company.
Staithes to Port Mulgrave Circular
A gorgeous loop that takes in the countryside and spectacular cliff-top vistas, with Port Mulgrave as your swivelling point before you head back to the village. It’s a steep descent down to the beach at Port Mulgrave but you can stop here to look for fossils before heading back through fields and woodland back to Staithes via the peaceful hamlet of Dalehouse.
Good to know
- Starting point: Bank Top car park, Staithes Lane, Staithes TS13 5AD
- Distance: 4.5 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Stay nearby: Ebor House | Sleeps 4 + 1 dog
Scaling Dam Circular
If you fancy heading inland, the nearby reservoir Scaling Dam is beautiful to walk around, bordered by the purple blooms of moorland heather. There’s lots of wildlife in the nature reserve surrounding Scaling Dam including brown hare, roe deer and stoats. Refreshments are available on both sides of the reservoir if you fancy stopping for a break to watch the various birds that are in abundance here. If you bring doggo, be sure to keep him on a lead so that there is no temptation to chase birds and jump into the water!
Good to know
- Starting point: Scaling Dam Car Park, Saltburn-by-the-Sea TS13 4TP
- Distance: 3 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Stay nearby: Fairleigh | Sleeps 5 + 1 dog
Staithes to Runswick Bay
You can make your way from Staithes to the nearby village of Runswick Bay along the cliff-top paths of the Cleveland Way National Trail. There’s plenty of evidence of this area’s industrial past along the route with the remnants of a 19th-century iron mine set into the countryside. Around halfway along the route is a bench where you can sit and enjoy stunning views of Kettlewell and as you make your way into Runswick Bay, you’ll walk around a rock promontory known locally as The Crocodile Head. Take the X4 bus from Runswick Bay to Staithes after stopping for refreshments at The Cod and Lobster.
Good to know
- Starting point: Bank Top Car Park, Staithes Lane, Staithes TS13 5AD
- Distance: 4.5 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Stay nearby: Alby House | Sleep 9 + 1 dog
Staithes galleries
Staithes has a long tradition of welcoming the artistic community, with the 19th-century artists’ colony known as The Staithes Group congregating here to paint local scenes. The band of 25 creatives were inspired by French impressionists and included renowned artist Laura Knight. Fast forward to the current day and artists are still inspired by the beauty of Staithes and the surrounding Yorkshire Coast.
Staithes Gallery showcases the best of contemporary artists, with work inspired by both the drama of the North Sea and the rugged beauty of the North York Moors. It’s also home to Staithes Studios. Perched at the top of the slipway, it houses husband and wife team Ian and Stef Mitchell’s digital and painted work. For a lovely collection of arts and crafts produced by local residents, head to St Peter’s Church where the Staithes Arts and Crafts Centre resides.
Good to know
- Staithes Gallery: Open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10.30am–4pm
- Staithes Studio: Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am–4pm
- Staithes Arts and Crafts Centre: Open every day from Easter to late October from 10am–4.30pm
- Stay nearby: Fair Winds | Sleeps 4
Staithes Museum
Image credit: Staithes Museum
Discover Staithes’ past at Staithes Museum, where you’ll find a fascinating collection of artefacts and memorabilia celebrating the key industries of fish and mining and its maritime legacy. The artistic heritage is also explored, when Staithes first established itself as an inspiration to British impressionists.
The museum is housed in a 19th-century Methodist chapel in the heart of the village, and run by dedicated volunteers, including a ship’s captain, who will be keen to tell you all about Captain Cook’s ship The Endeavour. A scale model of the ship is displayed in the museum as well as several items that were taken by Captain Cook on his travels.
Good to know
- Location: Staithes Museum, High Street, Staithes TS13 5BQ
- Opening times: 10.30am–4.30pm every day
- Entry fee: Free entry
- Parking: There is no parking in the village, leave your car at one of the two car parks at the top of Staithes and walk down.
- Stay nearby: Gulls Haven | sleeps 6 + 2 dogs
Staithes Festival
For one weekend every September, Staithes comes alive with a vibrant and eclectic mix of performances and exhibitions known as the Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage. Shops and homes transform into pop-up galleries and workshops and the pavements are inhabited with buskers and street performers.
It’s a great way to get to peep inside some of the traditional fishing cottages that line the cobbled streets of Staithes and find out more about the history of the village which is celebrated with a series of talks on mining, fishing and art as well as the geology and natural history of this treasured village. Visiting the festival is a great way to discover emerging artists and chat with friendly local residents whose family connections to the area often go back many generations.
Good to know
- Location: Various cottages, galleries and shops around the village
- Date: Mid-September, the 2025 festival date is yet to be announced
- Entry fee: Free entry to the festival, there is a small charge for attending talks by the various artists.
- Parking: Official festival event parking is in the field at the end of Cowbar Lane with free shuttle minibuses to Staithes Lane throughout the weekend.
- Stay nearby: Willow Cottage | sleeps 6 + 2 dogs
Map of things to do in Staithes
Find the best things to see and do in Staithes with this handy map:
Places to stay in Staithes
From fisherman’s cottages to countryside hideaways right on the famous Cleveland Way, there’s a superb choice of Yorkshire coast holiday homes in and around Staithes. Perhaps you fancy a traditional artists’ cottage set in the cobbled High Street? Or maybe a holiday home in nearby Runswick Bay? Once you’ve chosen the perfect place to call home for a few days, you can look forward to a glorious, restorative break in this charming North Yorkshire village.