Two boat trips later it was finally about time to explore Whitby – this lovely fishing town. Everyone had warned me that “Whitby is gonna be busy” – and so it was, very busy! Especially after a week in Haworth and my days on the beach of Saltburn.
And no wonder it was busy, Whitby is such a charming little town along the River Esk, the harbour and the dramatic coastline. Lots of beautiful shops, cafés and things to do here! I had planned to take a ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but then spend all the time on the beach – at least there is something new to do next time!
I started my walk around Whitby on the West Cliffs, the more “modern” side vis a vis the old town with the Abbey on the East cliffs- I had wanted to do the 199 steps up to the Abbey at the end.
The fishing port emerged during the Middle Ages, supporting important herring and whaling fleets, and was where Captain Cook learned seamanship. Tourism started in Whitby during the Georgian period and developed with the arrival of the railway in 1839. (Wikipedia)
When passing by the Sherlock café I just had to stop, enjoy the lovely inside and have some lunch! It´s a great place for a bit of rest and it almost feels like sitting Sherlock’s office!
When Whitby became a spa resort during Georgian times many hotels and lodging houses were built on the West Cliffs – and you still find a lot of them today! The view of the city is stunning!
The whalebone arch remembers Whitby’s whaling industry and is right next to the statue of Captain Cook who learned about building ships in Whitby.
After enjoying the view of Whitby I made my way back down towards the harbour and on to the East Cliffs.
Arriving in the old town I realized it was even busier than the West Cliffs and after walking around a bit I decided to do the 199 steps up to the Abbey another time and hop on the next bus to Robins Bay, a lovely little fishing village nearby Whitby.
