Saturday 14 September 2024

Robin Hood's Bay

Last Friday, we decided to have a day out. The weather is slowly turning to autumn so we're trying to make the most of every sunny day we get. Mick was supposed to be working but when we saw the sunshine after a couple of very bleak days, he took the day off. I'm glad he did as the rest of the weekend was a bit of a washout.

About five miles south of Whitby on the Yorkshire coast lies the old fishing village of Robin Hood's Bay. Where the name comes from is a mystery as there's no evidence to show that Robin Hood ever visited the village.

It was a little misty as we drove over the North York Moors and though it was still misty out to sea, the village itself was bathed in sunshine.

There's a very steep hill from the upper village to the lower and the road is narrow, just one car wide in places.

It's interesting if you go off the beaten track with little ginnels and snickets creating a maze through the back streets.

You really could get lost among all the alleys which run between the buildings.

It's such a great place for exploring as you really don't know what you might find. Take this particular alleyway, what do you think the building is on the left?

It's a second-hand bookshop. Yes, there are even shops, cafes and tea rooms to seek out if you stray from the main road.

I love all the old cottages, each one so individual. Robin Hood's Bay has been used by smugglers and it's thought that some of the cottages have underground tunnels which lead to the beach.

A view of the beach.

Parts of the beach are rather rocky rather than sandy.

There's lots of rock pools. This beach is popular with fossil hunters as ammonites and belemnites can be found here.

Archie was happy there was somewhere for him to cool off.

Archie always enjoys a walk on a beach.

There's a free museum in Robin Hood's Bay which has collections and displays of local interest. We didn't go in as we had Archie with us.

Tea, Toast and Post, the old Post Office is now a lively cafe, bar and gift shop.

Dollies sweet shop. This has been the village sweet shop since 1928.

Browns Chocolate Heaven. I'm not sure how I resisted this shop. There's a good selection of shops in Robin Hood's Bay selling everything from jewellery comprising local jet to locally produced craft gin as well as plenty of gift shops where you can purchase a souvenir.

As we were walking back we encountered two vans on the bend ahead, wide enough for just one vehicle. One was driving down, the other was driving up. Each had a couple of cars behind them so it wasn't easy for either of them to reverse. The village came to a standstill whilst they watched and listened to the expletives each of the drivers spat at each other. I'm not sure how it was resolved as we left them to it, but we did see a couple of the cars further up the hill attempting to reverse, not an easy task on a hill so steep.

The moors were still bleak as we drove home, a shame as it's usually beautiful at this time of year with the heather in bloom. It definitely wasn't shown at its best on this particular day.

As I looked out over the moors a steam train suddenly came into view heading towards Goathland Station.

I had some company. Sheep have grazed the moors for hundreds of years.

It's been a while since we last visited Robin Hood's Bay, I wasn't sure how Archie would manage the steep hill but he did remarkably well, though he did make straight for his bed when we arrived home!

15 comments:

  1. What a great place to explore, providing your knees are up to all the hills! I love all the twisty-turny alleyways with all the smuggling history adding colour. What a nightmare having to reverse the car in those conditions. A lovely beach for Archie too. I haven't been there but did enjoy a holiday in Staithes, not too far away I think.

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  2. That looks a really interesting place to explore. Wouldn't it be lovely to have your own tunnel to the beach, though I suppose it might be rather dank!

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  3. You find the most interesting places to explore. Thanks for taking all of us along.

    We had a similar "car thing" not long ago. We have very narrow bridges between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. No trucks allowed. Well, one guy though it didn't apply to him. He squeezed in, but half way through hit a pick up truck and they both got wedged in the bridge. We were third behind with two behind us. Luckily we could all back up easily. We saw the bridge master come out of his hut and he was NOT A HAPPY MAN!!! Like you....not sure how it all worked out, but two vehicles got damaged because on man thought the rules didn't apply to him and his big honkin' truck.

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  4. Looks a very enjoyable day out.
    I do like the idea of Tea, Toast and Post :)

    Always nice to see Archie enjoying a walk on the beach.

    All the best Jan

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  5. GINNELS AND SNICKETS! GINNELS AND SNICKETS!

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  6. Beautiful. And the moors look very atmospheric in that weather.
    It's been a while since I last visited Robin Hood's Bay. I'm often tempted to rent a cottage on one of those back lanes. Xx

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  7. Beautiful photos - wonderful to live close enough for a day visit. We missed Robin Hoods bay on our one visit to this part of the coast - sadly

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  8. A most enjoyable post, and lovely pictures. xx

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  9. That's always a worry on very narrow roads. We have never been ti Robin Hoods Bay

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  10. A lovely day out for you, Mick and Archie. I love those tiny streets with their hidden treasures.

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  11. Fabulous pictures. Sounds like quite an outing. I think I may have through Whitby when I toured last August. I need to check the map and my notes from the tour to see.Thanks for sharing such a fun day. It was good hubby took the day.
    Sandy's Space

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  12. What a wonderful place to visit! I'd love to go one day.

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  13. I love the North Yorkshire coastline it is full of wonderful villages that have narrow streets and delightful buildings. Thank you for taking us on a tour of Robin Hood's bay, I am glad you all had a lovely day out.

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  14. It's been quite a number of years since we visited Robin Hoods Bay, loved seeing your photos, makes me want to visit again sometime.

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  15. I'm glad you took advantage of a sunny day! I love the little alleys between buildings. The beach is beautiful! I happen to love rocky beaches. And Archie appears to have enjoyed himself. Hope you had a lovely weekend.

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