Robin Hood’s Bay is a picturesque little seaside resort five miles south of Whitby on the way to Scarborough. You could easily miss it, but it’s well worth visiting – and staying for a holiday. Once home to smugglers (it’s rumoured that there’s a warren of tunnels under the village, leading out to coastal caves where goods were once landed to avoid customs duties).
It’s not clear how Robin Hood’s Bay got its name, as it’s not certain that the famous outlaw ever visited the village. But there are old legends and a ballad which recount how Robin helped rescue the possessions of Yorkshire fishermen from French pirates. But whether it’s true or not, it certainly makes for a good story. Although it’s a village, it’s known locally as Bay Town, and it’s a friendly and welcoming place, with several pubs and restaurants, cafés and lots of places to stay including hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfast, self-catering, and several camping and caravan sites.
The houses in Robin Hood’s Bay climb up a steep hill and visitors are advised to park at the top and walk down on foot through the narrow cobbled lanes (although it’s permissible to bring a car down to load and unload luggage).
The resort itself is quite delightful – with miles of sandy beaches, extending north and south beneath steep cliffs. There’s a local museum so visitors can discover the history of this fishing village, and learn not just about the smuggling, but also about some of the daring sea rescues that have taken place here, including the rescue of the crew of a ship called “Visitor” on a cold winter’s day in January 1881. The beaches are famous for the many fossils that are found there. If you go out fossil hunting make sure that you watch the tides though as it’s easy to get cut off beneath the cliffs.
Just a mile inland to the west, there’s the North York Moors, some of the wildest and most beautiful countryside in Yorkshire. And Robin Hood’s Bay is just off the Cleveland Way – part of the Coast to Coast route for walkers.
Places to stay
Farsyde Farm Cottages – 6 amazing self-catering places to stay overlooking Robin Hood’s Bay, including a grade 2 listed farmhouse built in 1670 (sleeps 7/8), a 4* cottage with a private swimming pool (sleeps 4), and four 3* cottages (sleep 2-5)
Flask Inn Holiday Park – a luxurious holiday park with ten 5* self-catering static caravans (sleep 4) in a delightful setting near Robin Hood’s Bay
Lemon Cottage – a 4* self-catering “villa style” holiday cottage (sleeps 4) between Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby
Middlewood Farm Holiday Park – set in Robin Hood’s Bay, a 5* caravan and camping park for touring and static caravans
Northcliffe & Seaview Holiday Parks – a pair of 5* rated holiday parks at Hawkser, between Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby for both static and touring caravans
Things to see and do:
Beach and sea activities
Church of St Stephen, Fylingdales
Cleveland Way
Fossil hunting
Farsyde Riding Centre
Robin Hood’s Bay Museum
Old Coastguard Station
Rock-pooling
Scarborough
Swell Cinema
Trailways Cycle Hire, Hawkser
The Woodcraft Workshop
Whitby