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You meet the old
part of the village of Staithes as you follow the road
as it plunges steeply down from Bank Top – cottages
start to line the road, you turn a corner and there
before you is the cobbled High Street with its collection
of cottages, old inns and fascinating little shops.
Following along the street you catch glimpses along
alleys and pathways to the cottages, houses, chapels
and workshops that are packed in apparently higgledy-piggledy
fashion on either side in the steep valley running down
to the sea between the dramatic cliffs. Further along,
just before you reach the Cod and Lobster pub, you get
a sudden burst of sea view - the sky above the horizon
is always different and lively here and you quickly
realise why Staithes has attracted so many artists to
its many and varied vistas for the last hundred years
or so. A few yards further on and you are on the front
with the full view of the beach and harbour there before
you, framed between the sheltering cliffs. Time to explore…
Staying
in the old part of Staithes is a special experience
as the village has a unique character and an atmosphere
special to itself. All our properties are no more than
100 metres from the safe little beach and the harbour,
several cafes, a critically acclaimed fish restaurant
and a range of useful and interesting small shops on
the way!
There
is plenty of interest for the whole family in the village
itself and the ever popular coastal town of Whitby is
just 11 miles to the south, providing a wide range of
things to see and do for all ages – see Whitby
Staithes
is set on the dramatic and beautiful North Yorkshire
Heritage Coast and located in the North York Moors National
Park – a little further afield you will find a wide
range of places to visit and things to do including
good beaches, stunning moorland walks, a steam railway,
historic buildings and facilities for a host of different
indoor and outdoor activities.
There
are plenty of things to do in Staithes without even
leaving the village...
Visit
the beach Sheltered behind the harbour there
is a small beach much enjoyed by families in the summer
months.
Captain
Cook and Staithes Heritage Centre Located in
one of the many old chapels in the village this charming
small museum charts the local connections with Captain
James Cook who as a young man in 1745 was apprenticed
to a village merchant in a shop down on the harbour.
(The shop has since been washed away by storms!) The
museum also offers a fascinating insight into other
local history and customs and has a small shop.
Explore
the village! With the help of a useful leaflet
available locally you can follow an intriguing guided
tour round the backways, along the narrow passages and
through the cobbled yards of Staithes. There’s much
more of it than meets the eye at first sight!
Go
on a fishing trip The local shops and pubs
advertise local people offering fishing trips out to
sea in local boats.
Visit
the Lifeboat Station Located on the north side
of the beck the lifeboat station houses the modern inshore
lifeboat and tells the stories of many heroic sea rescues
over past years. In the summer Lifeboat Weekend is a
lively affair with many events, people in traditional
local dress and firework displays over the water.
Walk
the Cleveland Way You can get on to the Cleveland
Way going both north and south from the village for
a variety of there-and-back or round walks taking in
the spectacular cliff top scenery and destinations such
as Runswick Bay village to the south where you can take
refreshment at a number of local pubs before continuing
on your way. A number of leaflets and local walks books
give details of walks of various lengths and using local
ordinance survey maps will enhance your expeditions.
Browse
through the shops The village has some delightful
small shops & galleries ranging from the highly
practical to attractive gifts and souvenirs, including
antiques and locally made arts and crafts. A number
of shops sell useful food items to keep you going through
your stay and there is a also a post office. At the
top of the bank in the newer part of the village is
a small branch of the Co-Op that stays open long hours
and stocks a large range of goods, including wines and
spirits. There is also another post office, a newsagent
and a handy store in the new village.
Places
to eat and drink
The old village is well provided for with three pubs
and several cafes and bistros.
Walking – the Cleveland Way passes
through Staithes and can be followed along the cliff
edges to the North and South, there are many circular
routes which return by inland footpaths and minor roads.
The reliable bus service along the A174 at the top of
the village can be used to cover one leg of longer walks,
you could for example catch the bus to Whitby and walk
back to Staithes along the Cleveland Way passing through
the picturesque villages of Sandsend and Runswick Bay.
There are also many lovely inland walks in Eskdale a
few minutes drive from Staithes.
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