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. There is also an Egon Ronay starred (and Rick Stein endorsed) Endeavour Restaurant (01947 840825) which specialises in fish, especially the local catch. The food is highly acclaimed and it has become a destination restaurant so you need to book a few weeks in advance.

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.