Sun, sand, water, views …..

Add some history and delicious seafood with or without chips…

Like it? I bet you do.

Coasts and beaches have been the top choices all over the world as getaways and breaks from busy cities.

We found two such spots – Whitby and Scarborough – pretty seaside towns located within short drives from Yorkshire.

A comfortable drive from Harrogate or Leeds or Ripon will take a maximum of an hour and a half. Day trips, however, might be a bit overwhelming and tight. To really enjoy these getaways, you would need to get two to three days off or over a long weekend when you could spend a day in each of these towns.

WHITBY

A small fishing port on the east coast of North Yorkshire.

Captain James Cooks (British explorer and Royal Navy Captain) is one of Whitby’s heroes. There are many places here to see and relive for those interested such as Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Experience cruise, and more.

WHITBY ABBEY

Here are the remains of a Benedictine Monastery founded in 1078.

This 13^th century Gothic abbey (rebuilt) is perched high above the town of Whitby and has been there for almost 700 long years.

Its impressive Gothic arches have stood through the wear and tear due to weather. English Heritage manages the Abbey and the interactive Visitor Centre.

Walk through the large green grounds high up on the hills and discover the stories of saints and poets as well as Dracula as you roam around the tall ruins. The sea views from here are truly breath-taking. We even found some colorful birds on the grounds.

In addition to the abbey and the views, there is a revamped museum where you can get more information on the Viking raids. The museum also has ancient manuscripts, Anglo-Saxon crosses, and a signed copy of Bram Stoker’s novel ‘Dracula’.

Of course, you can end your visit at the gift shop and the coffee shop.

WHITBY 199 STEPS and CHURCH OF ST MARY

A Norman church dating back to 1110 is situated close to the Whitby Abbey.

Whitby 199 steps, also known as Church stairs and/or Jacob’s Ladder is a popular tourist attraction with the stairs running from the Church all the way down to the town or vice versa.

While you are in Whitby, indulge in the famous British specialty Fish and Chips. ‘The Magpie Cafe‘ is a popular place to try the best sample here with the local fish.

ROBIN HOOD’S BAY

Robin Hood’s bay is a great place to stop by. It is just a few miles out of Whitby en route to Scarborough.

Named after the heroic outlaw, it is called the ‘Bay town’ by locals and is nestled between the cliffs by the sea. Parking is a bit tight but you might manage a spot at the top of the hill.

According to folklore, the famous outlaw Robin Hood saved the local fishermen by putting up a fight against some French pirates who came to steal the fishing boats and returned the fish and loot to the locals. So they renamed the village after him.

Enjoy some expansive views of this bay from the top and walk down the narrow slopy cobblestone streets to the harbour. Explore some cute houses and pubs. ‘Fish Box’ is a popular restaurant with views and is generally quite busy.

As you drive from Whitby to Scarborough, the roads have some really steep dips and climbs. Some of them are as much as 25% incline!! It is almost like going down in an amusement park ride. (well, that may be an exaggeration, but makes you look up). The locals are used to it. So as tourists, we have to keep up the speed and be careful. But the road surface is good.

SCARBOROUGH

Another pretty seaside town, it is supposed to be the oldest seaside town with history going back to 17^th century and still retains its Victorian charm.

Scarborough has more things to do inspite of it being a small town. You could:

• Visit the beaches
• Bars and restaurants on the beaches
• Take a speedboat ride around the bays. Board the rides at the harbour just below the castle
• Enjoy a show at the popular open air theatre.

SCARBOROUGH CASTLE

Perched at an impressive location high up on a headland with awesome views of the coast, Scarborough Castle is a must-see attraction.

It has a long history dating back to 3000 years. Much of the huge fortress stands in ruins today. It was once a great royal fortress. Due to its elevated position, it served as a lookout and a defence tower. It has also served as an Iron Age settlement, ancient Roman fortress and a target practice location in World War 1.

You can drive up the steep road and park comfortably. The staff are friendly and helpful. The property has vast grounds to stroll on top of the headland and enjoy the dramatic views of Yorkshire coastline as well as of the seaside town on a good day.

Although the castle is in ruins, it is still a picturesque silhouette on the skyline. The castle gate and barbican which span the only approach to the promontory are quite impressive.

The 8th century Master Gunner’s House has interesting displays of various artefacts found on the site such as John’s chamber and hall and the Roman signal station. There is also a tea-room here.

As you walk around the vast grounds towards the edge, you will find the ruins of an ancient Roman Signal Station which used to give warnings of Saxon raids.

OLIVER’S MOUNT

While at Scarborough, do not miss this place en route to the town. You can get sweeping views over the south bay in the direction of the castle.

Oliver Cromwell discovered guns here during the Civil War and hence the name.

A word of caution here: This road is a favorite circuit of motorcyclists and so take care.

Accommodation

There are plenty of options including small hotels (not the big chains), Bed and breakfasts and Airbnbs in Whitby and in Scarborough.

Best time to visit

School holiday time is best avoided as Whitby and Scarborough can get very crowded. Off-season and mid-week are pleasantly quiet except the squawks of seagulls.

The best part of a seaside getaway, of course, is the wide choice of things you can do, from being very active to simply relaxing on the sand with a hat covering your face. Your choice!

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