east pier | surfnslide

Jubilee Weekend Break – Whitby 10 comments

Last part of our little Yorkshire Jubilee trilogy.

I’ve always fancied seeing Whitby having heard good things about it. Obviously its now very much a tourist hotspot but still a worthwhile day out. Another excellent park and ride service and we were in the town and ready for lunch.

Seafood is the name of the game in Whitby and I’d noted several places. None took bookings and things weren’t looking hopeful as I saw the queues outside the first few. However The Fisherman’s Wife cafe not only had a table but a window seated one overlooking the sea. The food was fabulous, the service friendly and as an added bonus, we were treated to a show of dolphins playing in the waves just off shore. A great start to the day and we were very lucky indeed to get a table judging by the long queue when we left.

We took a stroll onto the sands but decided we’d get a better view of the dolphins from up on the pier.

There are piers on both sides of the harbour and they jut out quite a distance. The dolphins were heading back out to sea but we still had some decent views.

It was pretty chilly so we walked back into town and around the harbour.

Despite the crowds its a charming place full of gift shops and many places selling trinkets made from Jet, a local black rock.

Lots of sweet shops as well to sucker in the willing tourist dollar.

We wandered out onto a small pier then out onto the long east pier.

Looking out to both piers, each with its own lighthouse.

The quaint little street heading out to the East Pier, most of the houses seemed to be tourist rentals which can’t be good for the long term and out of season life of the town.

The cliffs to the east of town.

One of the “Pirate” boats heading out on a trip.

The harbour entry protected by the twin lighthouses.

The wooden platform on the final stretch had some quite substantial gaps!

Looking back to the Church of St Mary.

And back across to the harbour.

The famous 199 steps that take you up to the church and abbey.

Superb views across the harbour and to the Cleveland coast.

Church of St Mary.

And Whitby Abbey.

We headed up to catch the bus via the cliffs to the west. More great views across the beach and piers.

The church and abbey.

And back across the harbour and town.

The Captain Cook memorial. He isn’t actually from Whitby as I thought but he was from North Yorkshire. The memorial is more to the men who built his ships.

And the Whalebone Arch. Donated to the town from a village somewhere in Alaska although the plaque was a bit vague as to precisely what the link was between the two places.