Sorrounding Area

The area around Staithes is beautiful, Margret Thatcher once said that the North Yorkshire Moors Constituency is the most beautiful in the country and as we live nearby we can surely agree it is one of the most breathtaking areas in the world. Winter and Summer alike the North Yorkshire Moors and Coastline have enchanted visitors from all over the world. Locally there are an abundance of activities to keep adults and children excited the photographs and links are purely a taster.

North Yorkshire Moors Railway: On 26th May 1836 one of the wonders of the north was oficially opened - the Whitby to Pickering railway. George Stephenson had begun constructing the line in September 1833 to help Whitby traders transport their goods inland and the general public travel over the moors in safety. After running successfully for almost 130 years, the line, along with many others, was closed in the 1960s but thanks to a dedicated group of enthusiasts, on 1st May 1973 it re-opened as the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and is now the country's second longest preserved railway, running steam-hauled services along 18 miles of scenic line between Pickering and Grosmont near Whitby. The line links with the Esk Valley railway line at Grosmont.

Runswick Bay: The village of Runswick shelters at the northern end of a beautiful sandy beach. Narrow paths wind between the attractive cottages and houses with their small colourful gardens. The thatched property on the seafront is the only remaining thatched house on the Yorkshire coast. Everything appears to cling to the steep hillside. Due to the instability of the soft, slippery Jurassic shales there was a landslip in 1682 and the whole village had to be rebuilt.

Whitby: The North Sea has long been of prime importance in the fortunes of Whitby and it was not until the completion of the railway from Pickering, in 1836, that the town's landward isolation was broken. Today, the sea and the harbour are still a magnet. They, along with the abbey ruins, quaint narrow streets, sands, museums and its many historical associations, make Whitby a major destination for tourists.

Robin Hood's Bay: The old village of Robin Hood's Bay is a magnet for visitors. The village road runs steeply down to the very edge of the rocky shore and there are intriguing alleyways weaving between tightly-packed cottages and houses. Among the rocky shoreline are sea water pools with abundant marine life.

Scarborough: With the coming of the railway in 1845, the Victorians flocked to the seaside at Scarborough and lavished great style and enthusiasm on the town. It became the premier holiday resort of England's east coast. Today, the old fishing town still overlooks the harbour which is busy with both pleasure and commercial craft. Separating the two sweeping bays, with their contrasting developments, is the prominent headland that is seen for miles along the coast. The headland was used by the Romans for a signal station and by the Normans for a well-fortified castle; the ruins of both can be visited today.

Visit the North York Moors National Park website (http://moors.uk.net/) for more information about
the Park.

The Welcome pack at the cottage contains a full range of information.