Robin Hoods Bay

Last week we had a little holiday and spent four nights on the North Yorkshire coast staying in a wonderfully quirky cottage in the picturesque village of Robin Hoods Bay.

It was a dark and windy night when we reached the area, perfect weather for Dracula's arrival I thought as we passed through the outskirts of Whitby. We parked at the top of the village and carried our bags down through the little streets to our cottage (we preferred to do that than attempt to manoeuvre the car round the narrow streets). Even in the dark, we could tell we'd picked a lovely place to visit.

The next morning...

...we awoke to this view from our bedroom window, Blue skies, golden sunshine and such pretty cottages piled on top of one another up the steep cliffs. I couldn't wait to get out and explore the little streets and paths of the village, and the nearby beach and the cliffs. Of course I took my camera with me...

Just one of the 200 or so cottages in the village, all picture perfect. I love the contrast of the orange roof tiles, the white walls and the deep blue sky.

The narrow paths are a delight to wander, at every corner there is always something to see.

Our cottage was up at the top of the road on the right here. It was a perfect holiday cottage - well equipped, clean, very comfortable and with a curious layout - great for a week or so but which would probably drive you mad if you lived there permanently. Each room was on a different level and each level was connected by a spiral staircase. Ground level at the back of the cottage was equivalent to third level at the front.

There were several pleasant shops in the village for browsing...

Mmmmm!

N's favourite shop was the dinosaur museum, on his second visit he took his toy dinosaurs along to show "the man".

A's favourite shop was the one with this fairy display. Much time was spent gazing at the fairies in the window as the shop opened late and closed early so it wasn't till the final day that she was able to purchase one of her very own.

Although generally sunny it was also cold. I finished my car crochet project early so hubby could have a scarf to help keep him warm. It's just repeated rows of UK dc and is made from a £1 bargain ball of King Cole Riot DK, colourway Dude.

I enjoyed spending lots of time on the beach looking for fossils (and taking photos).

Look at those fantastic clouds.

It was nice to walk out along the beach and return via the cliff path.

Hawthorn tunnel.

I was impressed by the abundance of berries hereabouts, and I also saw lots of sloe berries which aren't very common round our way.

Yup, hogweed here too, silhoutted against the sea.

A smashing view from the cliff path of Robin Hoods Bay lit by the late afternoon sun.

While in the area we spent one day in Whitby.

Unfortunately, we picked one of the days the abbey was closed, but it was possible to get some nice views of it from over the wall.

A view of Whitby from near the abbey.

Whitby cows, with a ship on the North Sea behind.

Back to Robin Hoods Bay... I arranged a couple of mosaics with some of my pictures - there were just so many opportunities to take photos of lovely things...

The pointed arch seen here in one of the cottage gardens is made from a whale's jaw bone.

Here I like the sun or flower of pebbles that someone has made on the step.

This little fellow is to be found at the old coast guard station in the village, well worth a visit and entry is free too.

The very impressive sea wall which protects the village. More than 200 houses have fallen into the sea over the last 200 years prior to this wall being built in the 1970's.

One afternoon we headed out along the cliff path to the north of the village.

More blue skies, and some flowering hogweed, it could almost still be summer.

Beautiful views looking south across the bay.

Looks nice inland too.

Then later on...
A last walk down the hill from the cottage, heading for the beach...

A last shot at rock pooling for A...

A last look for fossils for me...

And a last photograph from the beach.

I would dearly have liked to have found a fossil. I never did find one on the beach, apparently it's the wrong time of year and it's better after the winter storms have loosened some new material...

...I did, however, find this one in the old post office shop for £1. It is from the Robin Hoods Bay beach, so that'll do for me.

Dramatic clouds seen from near the car park on the morning we left for home.

As I'd already finished the scarf, I worked on the blanket while it was hubby's turn to drive. I was going to take a photo of my car crochet but thought it might be more interesting to show the border crossing instead...

...blink and you've missed it!

On the whole, an excellent trip (aside from some dodgy roundabout navigation north of Newcastle on the way down (mine) and a huge tantrum on the beach on the first morning (A's). We'd like to go back for longer, perhaps when the weather's warmer too, though I'd imagine it's the kind of place to get pretty busy on a good day.