Wonderful Whitby Blog

Whitby photos

Posted on November 15, 2012 by admin

Here are a few lovely photos of Whitby, we have never got around to posting.

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Whitby Wartime Weekend October 2012

Posted on October 14, 2012 by admin

Wartime couple on Whitby West Pier

Two couples participating in the Railway in Wartime Weekend

Participants in the Railway in Wartime weekend

Railway in Wartime at Whitby Railway Station

Participants in the Whitby Wartime Weekend at Whitby Railway Station

Crowds in Whitby at the Railway in Wartime Weekend 2012

Wartime trio near Whitby Harbour

Wartime motorbike at the Railway in Wartime 2012

Whitby Wartime Weekend October 2012 came to Whitby this weekend courtesy of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Welcome to Yorkshire.

Saturday could not have been better weather with temperatures out of the wind almost better than summer! Sunday could have been brighter but that did not dampen the spirits of those prepared to brave the winds and sometimes showers to enjoy and embrace the spirit of the celebration of the Railway in Wartime.

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The Reaper Sailing Vessel in Whitby UK

Posted on October 14, 2012 by admin

The Reaper sailing vessel in Whitby Harbour

Members of the public invited on board The Reaper

A display board on The Reaper sailing vessel

Memorabilia from the herring fishing industry aboard The Reaper

The Reaper Sailing Vessel visited Whitby during Regatta Weekend in August 2012. She dropped anchor in Whitby Harbour at the beginning of Pier Road where she became the focus of attention for many of the hundreds of visitors for the Regatta Weekend and also Whitby Folk Festival Weekend.

The Reaper was constructed in 1901 and first registered at Fraserburgh in 1902. She is 70 feet in length made of larch and oak. Originally she operated as a sailing two-masted ‘lugger’. In 1908 she moved to Shetland fishing for summer herring with the capability of hauling ten tonnes with one haul! She normally sailed with an eight man crew and it would be another six years before she was fitted with an engine.

During World War II she was requisitioned by the Admiralty and was moored on the southeast coast but then returned to Shetland to continue herring fishing. In 1959 she was purchased by the Zetland County Council, renamed The Shetlander and ferried various cargoes of aggregates for road and pier building between the islands before being retired in 1979.

The Reaper Sailing Vessel was then returned to her original name after being purchased by the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, Fife and restored to her former two-masted sailing lugger construction. She is one of the last surviving vessels of her kind that sailed the seas around the east coast of Scotland in the 19th and 20th centuries. She is maintained by volunteer members of the Museum’s Boat Club and makes regular appearances throughout Scotland and North East England. Members of the public are invited on board and allowed to view the accommodation as well as admire the various displays on board featuring its history, memorabilia from years gone by and perhaps to purchase a souvenir.

The Reaper Sailing Vessel in Whitby gave us normal landlubbers a chance to climb aboard an original herring sailing boat to witness at first hand a glimpse of life below decks and fully appreciate the harsh reality of herring fishing in the early 1900s. She makes many appearances around the North East coast and is well worth a visit. There is no charge to go on board but obviously any donations are welcomed!

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Potash Mine near Whitby

Posted on October 5, 2012 by admin

A Potash Mine near Whitby has been the topic of conversation around the area both with the locals and the regional press. The proposal initially came from Sirus Minerals, a southern based potash company, at the beginning of 2011. Test drilling began in the Spring of that year around the area, firstly at Hawsker followed by a handful more all with the aim of discovering where the significant amounts of potash are.

The Potash Mine near Whitby has become the project by the Wykeham-based York Potash who have been instrumental in liasing with various parish councils, keeping the public informed by news releases and a variety of events with the aim of keeping the local population up to date with the latest information and to try to alleviate some of then concerns voiced by members of the local community.

York Potash has stated that it intends to build the first potash mine for nearly 40 years to allow the UK to become a world leader in high value potash production. In addition, it hopes to offer employment to a large number of the local population and to offer skills training to the up and coming workforce. The company also plans to contribute a proportion of any of the profits back into the local communities.

The proposed location for the York Potash mine is set behind a forested area with access off the B1416 approximately two kilometres from Sneaton. The site then extends along past the corner of Red Gates again behind a screen of trees and part way along to the A171 Scarborough Road. It is proposed that the mine will be camouflaged by the said trees plus extra terrain and the mine head disguised as farm buildings.

There are arguments for and against the said mining operation. On the one hand there are benefits by way of the employment opportunities in an area which needs a workplace for many of the younger people. This provides extra income for the local population with the ‘knock on effect’ to the local economy i.e. shops, restaurants etc. On the other hand there is the impact on the land in a National Park Area, with the extra traffic generated and the future loss of green sites. There will be disturbance on the land adjacent to the A171 where two massive pipes will take the fluidised potash/polyhilate to Teesside. These will be sited underground.

Whatever the personal views of the local population, the Potash Mine near Whitby seems deemed to commence sometime in the near future.

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Whitby UK Sunsets

Posted on September 25, 2012 by admin

Whitby Sunset near Sandsend

Whitby Sunset over Sandsend

Whitby Uk Sunsets are some of the most breathtaking in the country especially during the early months of summer, when, by the trick of the eye, the sun appears to set into the North Sea when viewed towards Sandsend.

As the sun gradually sets, on a clear evening, the clouds are ablaze with the red glow of the setting sun. Add to this the reflection on a calm sea and it is truly breathtaking, more reminiscent of a Caribbean sea that that of a small fishing town on the north eastern coast of England.

The sun is actually setting in the west, further up the coast toward Sunderland but, at a certain time of year, this looks far from a reality. Whitby Uk Sunsets are a striking spectacular for visitors and locals alike.

Photo of the sunset at Whitby from looking to the south

Sunset at Whitby looking south

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Whitby Fishing, Whitby UK

Posted on July 31, 2012 by admin

The Whitby Dredger 'Sandsend'

Photo of anglers on Whitby West Pier extension

Anglers on Whitby's West Pier Extension

Photo of fishig vessel hauling up crab pots

Fishing vessel hauling crab pots

Marker Buoy at one end of a row of lobster/crab pots

Whitby Fishing, the term encompasses a myriad of different styles of fishing. On any day whilst on the harbourside, there can be numerous fishing craft seen leaving the safe haven of the harbour to venture out to sea in the expectation of landing a catch.

In years gone by, Whitby was one of the busiest fishing ports on the North Coast. Sadly over the years the fishing industry has been in decline with now only a few full time fishermen operating from the port.

Party boats taking out full day and part day fishing trips can be seen regularly advertising their daily rates alongside the harbour. They will hire rods and bait to the day tripper or holidaymaker who wishes to fish and who has been unprepared for a fishing trip. The dedicated fishing parties will, of course, be prepared for full day’s fishing many miles offshore and, in particular, wreck fishing.

Whitby fishing also includes the anglers fishing off the end of the West Pier. Luckily, the West Pier extension is now open after the closure for the strengthening of the footbridge between the pier and the extension. This was rather an unfortunate closure at the beginning of the summer making for many disappointed anglers but happily the mackerel are in season now which will hopefully make some amends.

Whilst out at sea, many other forms of Whitby fishing can be seen, including the unusual spectacle of kayak fishing. It is quite an innovative way to fish with regard to the ease of accessibility although is must be said that landing a large number of fish may prove rather difficult with the limited space available.

Many cobbles can be seen operating just offshore, some from Whitby, others from Staithes and Runswick which are hauling the crab and lobster pots from the depths. Flags are dotted around as marker buoys to indicate the presence of the lobster/crab pots. One end will have one flag and the other end will have two flags. Some craft have 2,500 pots which they will haul, remove the catch, bait up and throw back every two days! Each marker buoy is now required, by law, to indicate the registration number of the owner’s boat. Quite intensive work!!

The harbour, over periods of time, requires to be dredged for the removal of silt which is deposited on the river bottom. The large dredger ‘Sandsend’ works steadfastly to ensure that Whitby fishing boats and pleasure craft have access to the harbour.

Whitby fishing continues to provide an income for some and a part-time hobby to others. Hopefully we will have some improved weather to make the sea conditions kinder to all.

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Whitby Boats and Ships, and the ‘Caledonian Sky’ Cruiseliner

Posted on July 25, 2012 by admin

Photo of cruisse liner 'Caledonian Skye'

Cruise ship 'Caledonian Sky'

Photo of the cruise liner 'Caledonian Sky'

Caledonian Sky sailing near Whitby

Photo of the cruise ship 'Caledonian Sky' off Whitby's shores

The cruise ship 'Caledonian Sky' at anchor

Photo of the 'Caledonian Sky' cruiseliner

'Caledonian Sky' at anchor to allow disembarkation of passengers

Whitby Boats, Ships and the ‘Caledonian Sky’ cruiseliner were in evidence just off the coastline of Whitby on Tuesday, 24th July.

Classed as a ‘small ship’ the Caledonian Sky was built in 1991 at Nuovi Cantieri Apuania, Marina de Carrara in Italy. At the present time she has just finished a cruise of the Norweigan Fjords which began in Tromso in the Arctic Circle. She has sailed past many ports on her voyage which ended in London on the 25th July. These have included Andenes, the Lofoten Archipelago, Trondheim, Bergen, to name but a few, Orkney, the Holy Islands and lastly our wonderful town of Whitby.

The last day of the voyage saw her anchored off the Whitby coastline to allow the passengers to disembark and visit the town. The technical details for any of those interested are length – 90.6 metres, width 15.3 metres, depth 5.8 metres, tonnage of 4200, a cuising speed of 11 knots and the total number of passengers aboard is 114. She has recently undergone a refurbishment in Sweden over the winter of 2011/12 and commenced her first journey in May 2012 under the name ‘Caledonian Sky’ having previously been known as the ‘Hebridian Spirit’. Her homeport is in Nassau and she flys the flag of the Bahamas.

A glorious sunny day in Whitby saw the Whitby fishing boats, pleasure craft and the ‘Caledonian Sky‘ enjoying the picturesque Whitby coastline. No doubt, the disembarking passengers will have wonderful memories of their time in Whitby on what must be one of our best days of the summer so far!

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Robin Hood’s Bay, Whitby, North Yorkshire

Posted on July 18, 2012 by admin

Houses perched on the hillside at Robin Hood's Bay

A view of Ravenscar from Robin Hood’s Bay

The steep road dividing the Upper Bay and Lower Bay

Robin Hood’s Bay on the Cleveland Way trail

Early evening at Robin Hood’s Bay

Robin Hood’s Bay, Whitby, North Yorkshire a much photographed and painted village is situated 6 miles southeast of Whitby, on the A171. It is built in a fissure between two steep cliffs and is most often referred to as ’The Bay’. It is a most unusual village of two parts, the lower bay and the upper bay. There are many stories of a ’Robin Hood’ linked to here but there is no concrete evidence that the outlaw from Sherwood Forest was the inspiration for its name.

The first mention of Robin Hood’s Bay is by King Henry VIIIs’ topographer, John Leland, where he recorded that there were 20 cottages, and we know that by 1540 there were 50 cottages. In the latter half of the 18th century, and the early part of the 19th century there was a thriving fishing industry here. Because of its location it was a very prolific smuggling area, with its small twisting roads, lanes, alleys and closely built houses and cellars. In fact, it was known as the busiest smuggling community on the North Yorkshire Coast.

It is said that contraband could be brought ashore and taken to the top village by being passed from one house to another, without touching the ground. Not only were the excise men thwarted by the close-knit community, so too were the press gangs from the Royal Navy.The womenfolk would beat a drum to alert their men to the appearance of these gangs, and it was told that they used rolling pins and boiling water to deter them.

The strength of the North Sea and the fierce winds that can batter the land, have taken their toll on Robin Hood’s Bay. Many houses have been lost to the sea over the centuries. In 1780 a large part of the original main road, King Street, slipped away. The last cottage to fall victim was in 1950. A new sea wall defence was constructed in 1975 to try to halt this erosion, and again in 2001 further protection work was carried out.

Robin Hood’s Bay is at the eastern terminus of Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk. It is also part of the Cleveland Way National Trail and is featured in a number of different walks by various publications and the tourist board. The disused railway line to Whitby, is a pleasant walk on the old cinder path and doubles as a cycle trail. Cycles can be hired from Trailways, near Hawsker.

The beach, with its wave cut platforms has amazing rock pools with a plethora of small marine creatures to delight both young and old alike. A sandy beach lies further along from the slipway, and the rocks hide a multitude of fossils. Depending upon the tides, it is possible to walk to Boggle Hole, a notorious smugglers haunt. The name probably derived from ‘boggle’ a bogeyman, as a deterrent to keep strangers away from viewing the contraband trade.

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Runswick Bay, Whitby, North Yorkshire

Posted on July 9, 2012 by admin

Runswick Bay near the bottom of the steep bank

Runswick Bay Lifeboat Station

Photo of winch for hauling boats in Runswick Bay

Winch for hauling boats near the Lifeboat Station

Cottages on the hillside at Runswick Bay

View from the south at Runswick Bay

High Tide at Runswick Bay

Runswick Bay, Whitby is a picturesque coastal village approximately 9 miles northwest of Whitby. It’s beautiful red-roofed cottages cling to an ever decreasing cliffside. Runswick Bay is accessed by a very steep road leading off from the A174, new visitors will be surprised at the beautiful vista greeting them as they descend. There are two car parks, one at the bank top and the other at the bottom near brightly coloured cobbles. The village has a crescent shaped sandy beach, stretching around the bay which is popular with holiday-makers particularly in the summer months but in latter years, it has become increasingly popular all year round.

Due to Runswick Bay’s situation, the sea has been both friend and foe to the communities here. There is evidence that Runswick Bay was inhabited before the Roman times, but in centuries past a lot of the original village has disappeared. In 1682 a landslide caused all the cottages bar one, to fall into the sea. Fortunately there was no loss of life. In 1858 a huge storm washed away a small ironworks of 2 furnaces, an engine house and chimney. Cracks have been appearing in the cottages over years and in 1970 a sea wall defence was put in place to try to protect the remaining cottages.

There is one thatched cottage left, the old coastguard’s house, which is the only remaining one on the North Yorkshire Coast. Smuggling was rife on this coastline with many coves and inlets, with which to land illegal goods. Most of the villages along this section of coast were involved. Shipwrecks also provided the locals with ‘extras’! Runswick Bay was a safe haven for fishing boats for over 600 years. The population of the village was mainly involved in the fishing industry with all members of the family, women and children, playing their part. In the 1840s, there were 20 cobbles.

In recent years, Runswick Bay has become home to an increasing number of holidaymakers as their second homes but there is still a local population presence. Because of the steep location is is not easily accessible for those with walking disabilities.

The first lifeboat ‘The Sheffield’ arrived here in 1866 and was manned by a crew that was able to row files in rough seas. In 1901 when a sudden storm erupted and many men of the village were out at sea, the women hauled the lifeboat and launched it themselves the save the men folk. The last RNLI lifeboat was launched on the 1st July 1978 after 112 years service. In 1982 the Runswick Bay Boat Rescue was formed, and is an independent registered charity funded by donations and fundraising by the community. It is an inshore craft and works in cooperation with the RNLI and HM Coastguard.

There are three public houses in Runswick Bay. The Royal Hotel in the lower area of the Bay, and the Runswick Bay Hotel and the Cliffmount Hotel at the top of the cliff area leading down. At the bottom of the bank is a welcome cafe serving refreshments and light meals, very welcome after walking and sightseeing!

Runswick Bay is on the Cleveland Way National Trail and is very popular with walkers and ramblers.

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Whitby Activities

Posted on July 5, 2012 by admin

Hat-trick of cod! Local fish caught just offshore

Whitby Activities enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike can be both indoors and outdoors. The weather of late has not been exactly brilliant in our town this summer but that doesn’t mean that we should all stay indoors and laze around when we have so much on our doorstep to entertain ourselves. There has been time, in amongst the showers, to make the most of free time and holidays to participate in one kind of sport or another.

At the moment, the fishing competition is underway with anglers busy trying to catch the largest, the heaviest, the most diverse and generally outfish their opponents. This year many anglers have reported a number of large cod and an increased number of bass caught just off our shores.

Football has dominated the television screens for the past two weeks and the tennis at Wimbledon is still fascinating the general public. Whitby Activities can involve both of these sports. Not only football and tennis but also rugby and cricket!

The Whitby leisure centre and swimming pool holds a host of different activities enabling the sports minded a wide choice of fitness possibilities ranging from swimming to badminton and also a fully equipped gymnasium.

Not everyone of course needs to be of a sporty disposition to find an activity in Whitby. Browsing around the wonderful array of shops on either side of the river is a pleasant way to while away time. Shopping for a souvenir of Whitby or even snapping up a bargain is one of life’s little retail therapy pleasures!

The informative museums of the town house some interesting artefacts especially those with connections to captain James cook the famous explorer and discoverer, one of Whitby’s famous sons. Pannett museum situated in the beautiful pannet park is full
Of informative but very interesting displays in addition to an art museum. A gentle walk through the park to admire the wonderful floral displays and a leisurely stroll through the museum and art gallery is guaranteed to entertain for a few hours.

Whitby activities encompass a diverse spectrum of choice for old and young, fit and the less active, those with unlimited funds available and those on a restricted budget. All can benefit from leisure time in wonderful Whitby.

Photo of two tennis rackets and three tennis balls

Anyone for tennis?

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