The Area

There is fabulous walking for all abilities straight out of our front door. Take a walk to Beck Hole via the Mallyan Spout Waterfall and stop for lunch at one of the smallest and oldest pubs in the country – The Birch Hall Inn.  Or take a walk around the Hole of Horcum, a huge natural amphitheatre across the stunning Levisham Moor.  There are miles of well marked footpaths and that will take you across the huge expanses of heather and into the softer wooded valleys dotted between the high stretches of moorland. The coastal walks are breath taking and all within an easy drive of the guesthouse. You could walk a section between Robin Hood’s Bay and Ravenscar and see the seal colony there or north of Whitby between Runswick Bay and Staithes or perhaps a gentle stroll along the beach from Sandsend to Whitby. Many famous walks such as the Coast to Coast, The Cleveland Way and the Lyke Wake Walk are close by and you can easily pick up sections of these whilst out and about.

The Steam train can also take you to Whitby, steeped in fishing, whaling and jet mining history. With its cobbled streets, busy harbour and the dramatic Whitby Abbey Ruins. Discover  where Captain James Cook was apprenticed to a shipowner and set sail. The dramatic  Abbey ruins, towering above the town are stunning as are the quaint narrow streets, blue flag sandy beaches, smoked kippers from Fortune's, and fish and chips at the famous Magpie Café. Come to a Goth weekend and don’t forget your camera. Climb the 199 steps to the Abbey for breathtaking views and then reward yourself by sampling a local brew at Whitby Abbey Brewery. Find out about the great explorer Captain Cook and then take to the sea yourself on one of the many pleasure boat cruises around the harbour, and there are several music festivals throughout the year. 

But there is so much more to this North Yorkshire coast than just Whitby – 26 miles of it in fact. This whole coastline is stunning and the coastal villages are worth discovering, each with their own unique charm.

The picturesque and historic fishing villages of Robin Hood’s bay and Staithes are favourites  with their whitewashed, red tiled cottages tumbling down to the harbour and The Annual Art Festival at Saithes in early September is a real delight. All the way from Saltburn to Filey there is something to see;  Runswick Bay with is wide sheltered bay and stunning beach Sandsend, Ravenscar and onto Scarborough. There are also fossils to find and incredible views from cliff top pathways. 

For something grander visit one of the nearby Stately homes such as Nunnington Hall, Beningbrough House or the fabulous Castle Howard of Brideshead Revisted fame (the latter being especially resplendent in winter in it’s stunning Christmas decorations)