Whitby Sights

The Yorkshire Coast

For centuries, the coast of Yorkshire extended from the mouth of the River Tees in the north to the estuary of the River Humber in the south.  Because of local government re-organisation, parts of this magnificent coastline no longer belong to their traditional county.  Fortunately the change of boundaries does not affect the beauty of the area but other results of mans activities have and are having an effect upon the landscape and sometimes this is not always for the best.  The Cleveland Way, follows our coast from Saltburn to Filey. All these factors emphasise a desire and a requirement to give special protection to the area while allowing facilit­ies for public enjoyment and recreation.  The 57 kilometres of Heritage Coast from Saltburn to Scar­borough are subject to greater recreational pres­sure than any other part of the North York Moors National Park. Special provision will therefore have to be made if this area, and indeed the rest of our coastline if it is to remain beautiful, interesting and yet part of a living community.  While nature undoubtedly controls the coastline to a very large extent, man has, over the centuries, made a permanent and often pleasant contribution particularly in coastal settlements such as Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay.  The rate of change today, however, is more rapid and on an ever-increasing scale.

The coast is dominated by rugged cliffs cut by occasional valleys that sweep down to the shore.  At Boulby, near Staithes, and at Speeton, near Filey, the cliffs reach a height of more than 180 metres (600 feet) above sea level, though with their height, the similarity between the two cliffs ends.  Boulby cliffs, formed from dark grey shale, still show the scars of 17-18th century quarrying operations, while Speeton cliffs, composed of brilliant white chalk, provide the nesting sites of thousands of sea birds.  Beyond Staithes the cliffs continue past Port Mulgrave and on to Runswick Bay, the first real bay on our length of coastline. The little village was, like Staithes, originally developed as a fishing community but today draws a large proportion of its income from the developing tourist trade.  The bay is well known to the collectors of fossils and, of course, to artists.

Sandsend as the name suggests is where the sand finishes when travelling up the coast from Whitby.  This is where the sand begins and in fact continues for over four kilometres to Whitby.  Whitby itself, is unique.  Its situation, facing due north on the east coast, backed by the high moor lands of north east Yorkshire and dissected by the River Esk, has had a tremendous effect on the de­velopment and history of the town. The remains of the great Abbey on the east cliff overlook a town, which in many ways, has not changed for centuries.

Evidence of Whitby's early jet, whaling and fishing industries can still be seen as well as reminders of some of its famous people such as Captain Cook.  For those interested in our past heritage, Whitby is an essential port of call.  The cliff top walk from the Abbey to Saltwick Bay is probably the most heavily used section of cliff path on the coastline.  From the old alum works of Saltwick we can continue south east to Robin Hood's Bay, yet another gem on the Yorkshire Coast. The little village, typical of most along the coast, is crowded onto the banks of a ravine, which gives access to the shore.  Time has changed these villages and inevitably, some chang­es are resented by both residents and visitors alike but this is, after all, a living community, not a museum piece and what we enjoy today is itself the result of generations of change.