ROBIN HOOD'S BAY

Robin Hood’s Bay is more than just a bay, it is a charming red-roofed village which tumbles down a very steep incline to a small beach and fishing harbour, overlooked by the Bay Hotel. The village calls to mind the North Devon village of Clovelly, although unlike Clovelly, there is no turnstile at the enrance to the village demanding payment from visitors! The last time we went there we walked along the cliff tops from Whitby, and settled into the Bay Hotel for a well-earned lunch. Then we realised that we would have to haul ourselves up to the top of the village to catch the bus back to Whitby, which was no small undertaking given the gradient involved. There is a bar in the Bay Hotel called the Wainwright Bar after the much loved walking enthusiast Alfred Wainwright, who came up with the Coast To Coast long-distance walking route, which starts in St Bees and ends right here in Robin Hood’s Bay. It is customary for people doing the walk to take a pebble from the starting point and cast it into the sea on arrival at Robin Hood’s Bay.

There is plenty to divert visitors to the village, from paying a visit to one of the pubs and tea rooms to pottering in the little shops lining the steep hill. The Old Coastguard Station is run by the National Trust, and contains a museum explaining the natural history of the area. The Robin Hood’s Bay Museum has displays about the local geology, history, fishing and shipping.

Live streaming Webcam view of the bay.

Map of the area.

Robin Hood's Bay - geograph.org.uk - 1040087. Photo by Peter Church, via Wikimedia Commons.