24/05/2019
Robin Hood’s Bay
After visiting Staithes and Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay would be my final destination before I took the 3 hour trip back home.
Robin Hood’s Bay is a small fishing village located in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, 5 miles South of Whitby and 16 miles North of Scarborough. The origin of the name remains uncertain to this day as Robin Hood himself isn’t actually believed to have ever
visited the village. However, legend states that Robin Hood encountered French pirates who came to pillage the fishermen’s boats and the North East coast. The pirates later surrendered and Robin Hood returned the loot to the poor people in what we now know as Robin Hood’s Bay.
The village is also famous for its rocks and fossils found in the Bay. These rocks and fossils come from two different time periods; the first being the Lower and Middle Jurassic age (around 200-160 million years ago) and the other being the Ice Age (around 20,000 years ago). The rock exposed at low tide were formed around 170 million years ago and are made up of limestone with a blue shale. This therefore makes Robin Hood’s Bay one of the best places in the UK to find fossils which include ammonites, bivalves and vertebrates.
Today the village contains a wide range of cafes, restaurants, pubs, small shops and there are also numerous coastal and country walks which include cycle paths and bridleways.
After leaving Whitby I had arrived in Robin Hood’s Bay and parked in a car park opposite the Victoria Hotel. Parking cost £2.20 for 1 hour and £3.40 for 2 hours. I then made my way down the hill towards the village.
The first thing I noticed about Robin Hood’s Bay was all the small alleyways hidden away from the main street. I later found out that the natural isolation of the village made it an ideal location for smuggling which reached its peak in the 1700’s and early 1800’s.
The alleyways made great hiding places and because of the high number of them, secret passages were created. Fishermen, farmers, clergy and gentry were all involved with smuggling in the village.
After passing the fish box restaurant I noticed another small alleyway which I decided to venture down. At the bottom of this alleyway stood a miniature yet beautiful white house with an array of flowers surrounding it. Each alleyway contained their own little gem and as I walked round each corner a new surprise would be awaiting me. It felt like I had been walking for hours and it was as if I was going around a maze, yet at the end of each alley it would always bring me out onto the main street which meant that it was near enough impossible to get lost!
I came out by Robin Hood’s bay bookshop which buys and sells second hand books. I was tempted to go and have a look inside, however I currently have so many books to read so i didn’t want to add anymore to my pile! The alleyway by the bookshop then brought me out by Robin Hood’s Bay men’s institute which then led down to the beach. The National Trust centre is located in the Old Coastguard Station and contains information about walks in the area.
The village lies on two of the most famous walks in the UK: The coast to coast walk which starts in St Bees Head in Cumbria and finishes in Robin Hood’s Bay and the Cleveland Way footpath that runs from Helmsley to Filey. It has to be said that the village is a paradise for people that love the great outdoors!
Robin Hood’s Bay also has numerous events that occur throughout the year including ghost walks, fossil hunting, painting workshops, the folk weekend that happens every June and the Victorian weekend every December.
If you wish to stay in the area then you are spoilt for choice! There is a wide range of accommodation in and around the village including caravanning and camping in idyllic surroundings and Hotels and Bed and Breakfasts in places steeped in history. The railway station closed in 1965, however the station building and stationmaster house is now used as holiday accommodation.
After taking a wander along the beach I decided to explore some of the local shops. The gift shop would always be my first stop because of the fact that they sell postcards. I have been collecting postcards for nearly two years now so as you can probably imagine, my
collection is getting bigger and bigger each month.
Not long after that it was time to depart. I think it’s fair to say that I had a fantastic time exploring the North Yorkshire coast! For such a small village Robin Hood’s bay has so much history!
If you are looking for places to visit then don’t look no further than the coastal villages of the North Yorkshire Moors, you won’t be disappointed!
Have a great week,
Natasha
The Journeys of a Photographer 