Baytown Holiday Cottages
Holiday Cottages to Let in Robin Hood's Bay and the North Yorkshire Coast
Fall in love with the charm of the quaint coastal village of Robin Hood’s Bay. Nestled in amongst dramatic cliffs and heather moorland this pretty village is famous for far more than fishing folk. Bay as it is known, once was the east coast hub for 18th century smuggling.
A village awash with contraband of silk bails, kegs of rum and brandy, tea, and tobacco. It is said contraband could leave the ships reaching the top of the village without ever seeing daylight. All through a secret network of tunnels and hidey holes.
Narrow, cobbled alley ways stacked up houses and a Bay secluded from prying eyes, local towns & villages. Its not difficult to see why Robin Hood’s Bay became the centre of smuggling activity in the 1700’s. Stay in the very cottages that once were home to the smugglers, their families and bountiful illicit goods.
Find out more about the old Robin Hood’s Bay way and how wives played privy to the secret goings on. Head to the Robin Hood’s Bay Museum for a closer look at old life. Then head to the National Trusts Old Coastguard Station. Here you will discover a little more about the history and life living by the sea. You will learn about the tides, local wildlife, and geology.
Take a stroll along the Dinosaur Coast on Robin Hood’s Bay Beach. Walk in their very footsteps. Look for Ammonites, Belemnites and Devil’s Toenails (Gryphaea). Fossils common to Bay beach but not too common you will not have to look for them. What is more exciting than finding something Jurassic and millions of years old. The keen eye might also spot a bit of Jet too.
Walk along the famous National Trail The Cleveland Way. Just follow the Acorns and follow its journey along the dramatic clifftops. Not so much a head for heights head along the Cinder Track, the old railway line that ran from Whitby to Scarborough. Reasonably flat it is nice and accessible for pushchairs and Bicycles.
Hungry? You will be spoilt for choice from locally produced Beacon Farm ice-cream to locally landed seafood. The Bay boasts Pubs, Bistros and Restaurants, Tearooms and not one but two Fish & Chip shops to name just a few. Real Ales, the latest Gin, local Beers and spirits you will need more than a week to taste your way around the Bay.
Find your perfect little Robin Hood’s Bay hidey hole right here with us at Baytown Holiday Cottages.
Visiting in June? Robin Hood’s Bay is host to the Robin Hood’s Bay Folk Weekend. Live music at every turn from the top to the bottom of the village. You can sing and dance along as you explore Robin Hood’s Bay.
December sees Robin Hood’s Bay host the Victorian Weekend. There’s lots to do, traditional games, live music, stories of old, ghost walks, craft fair and lot’s more fun to get you in the Christmas spirit.
Take a journey through the life of one of the worlds greatest explorers. Captain James Cook. Head to the Captain Cook Memorial Museum once the home of Cook himself and where he learnt his craft. Hop onboard The Endeavour Experience for a hand’s on exhibition. Go on a voyage to Australia with Cook and his crew without ever leaving Whitby. Sound fun?
Explore Whitby’s Old Town heading down the cobbles of Church Street. Sneak a peek at the famous old Whitby Yards. Quench your thirst in some of the oldest pubs in Whitby. Climb the 199 steps to the towering Whitby Abbey and St. Marys Church. Follow your nose along Henrietta Street as the delicious smoky smells fill the air from Fortunes Kippers smoke house. Take in the views from the reinstated East Pier.
Pier Road is a mix of trendy eateries, wine and cocktail bars, traditional pubs, and world-famous Fish ‘n’ Chips. No trip to the seaside is complete without 2p slot machines and a visit to the arcades. Pirate Crazy Golf is a fun way to pass the time. Take The Dracula Experience if you dare. Grab an ice-cream and head down West Pier. Got a head for heights? Climb the stairs of the Old Lighthouse for a view you won’t get anywhere else.
Explore the snickets behind Pier Road or wander up Khyber Pass to West Cliff. Take a pew and marvel at the views of East Cliffs Gothic wonders. Visit the great man Cook himself as his statue gazes out to sea. No trip is complete without a photo under the Whalebone Arch. Make sure you get Whitby Abbey and St. Marys church in the shot for a truly Instagrammable photo.
Hungry for more? Feast on delicious wares of the sea and the moorland with proper Surf ‘n’ Turf at Andrew Pern’s AA Rosette Star Inn The Harbour. Why not try James Martins favourite Trenchers Fish ‘n’ Chips or the world-renowned Magpie Café? Naming just a few of the fantastic locations to eat here. You won’t be short of choices for a drink or two with over 35 drinking holes. You’ll need a holiday to get around them all.
Venture off for the day and explore the wonderful collection of coastal towns and villages here on the Yorkshire Coast.
Scarborough Town offers all the delights of a seaside town. Amusement arcades, rides, rock shops, souvenir shops, theatre shows, and if you love ice-cream Harbour Bar is a must.
Scarborough Castle stands proud above the old town giving panoramic views over Scarborough’s North & South Bays. Peasholm Park and it’s oriental gardens and swan boats offers a welcome break from the crowds. On rainy days duck for cover in the Sea Life Sanctuary or have a splashing time at Alpamare Water Park.
During the summer months Scarborough Open Air Theatre is Host to a mix of acts. A unique and intimate venue in comparison to your large arenas. Past acts have included Kyle Minogue, Lionel Richie, Lewis Capaldi, Madness, Little Mix, Tom Jones, and Bastille to name but a few.
Sandsend sits on the edge of Whitby. You can easily spend the day here. Wander through Mulgrave woods up to the old castle ruins, loop round and head out onto Lythe Bank. Here you will find fabulous views over Sandsend and out to Whitby.
Once at the bottom of the Bank head up to the old cinder track. Part of the Cleveland Way you will find the remnants of the old Alum quarry. Got a head for heights head down the steps before the old railway tunnel to the secluded Deepgrove Wyke. Great for fossil hunting.
Head back along the long line down into Sandsend. At either end of the village you will find a choice of eateries & drinking holes from Bistro’s to cafes and pubs to fine dining.
Once you are suitably fed and watered pitch yourself on the beach and soak up the sun ice cream in hand. Or in the winter months watch the spectacular waves crashing on the shore with a blanket and hot chocolate.
Further up the coast past Sandsend you will find Runswick Bay. A gem of a sandy beach enjoy your day walking barefoot in the sand and beachcombing.
Either end of the bay is great for fossil hunting and a photo of the white thatched cottage is a must. The old Coastguard’s House. Hunt for Hob Holes, little caves along the cliffs.
Grab a cuppa and an ice-cream from the Café at the bottom of the village close to the beach. Explore the snickets and tiny streets stopping for a drink at the pub to take in the view.
When you’re done finish up exploring the rest of the tiny streets heading to the top. Enjoy a spot of lunch or dinner before heading off for the evening.
Not too dissimilar to our beloved Robin Hood’s Bay Staithes is filled full of old fisherman’s cottages and oodles of coastal charm.
Wander down into the old village exploring the cobbled streets weaving in and out of the alleyways. Browse the cute little shops, traditional sweet shop, and feast on tasty local produce from the deli.
While away some time at the Captain Cook & Staithes Heritage Centre getting to know one of the worlds greatest explorers. Cross the beck over the foot bridge and up the lane for a spot of photography.
Head back down the lane and head to the pub for a seafood lunch. After your delicious feast take a leisurely stroll along the harbour walls and along the small sandy beach.
Visiting in late summer? Staithes hosts the Staithes Festival of Arts & Heritage one weekend in September. Music, art, guided walks, food & drink, and workshops to name just a few of what makes the festival so special.
The food capital of the Yorkshire Coast. Fish and Chips on the seafront are a must while watching the world go by. Watch the waves lapping at the shore & the surfers enjoying the curls of the waves. Why not try your hand at surfing yourself?
Spend a few pennies in the arcades before strolling down the pier. Grab a Lemon Top ice-cream for the walk on up to the town. Standing proud at the top of the cliff in all its Victorian glory. Not got the legs for uphill walks. Take the Saltburn Cliff Lift and marvel at the stunning sea views. Up here at the top you will find an array of independent boutique style shops, delis and eateries. Hope you saved room.
The North York Moors National Park, home to our very own Robin Hood's Bay. The National Park is the perfect mix of coast and moorland. Escape the everyday pressures of life here in this thriving hub of coastal and moorland nature and wildlife. City life is non-existent here with bustling coastal or market towns the busiest it gets.
Great beauty and tranquillity greet you everywhere you look. Whether you choose to relax by adopting a slower pace of life or through thrilling adventures the NYMNP can accommodate you. Walk, Run or Hike the many trails taking in some of the great adventures. Wainwrights Coast to Coast, a 190-mile challenge starting in St. Bees, Cumbria and finishing in Robin Hood’s Bay. The Cleveland Way, 109 miles of moorland and dramatic coastline. Starting in Helmsley and ending in Filey you will take in famous landmarks, towns, and villages.
There are cycling hubs, hire and routes in The Great Dalby Forest, at Fryup Dale and Sutton Bank. The National Park offers a range of cycling options from road cycling to MTB. Want all the thrill but less pedalling? Hire an electric bike.
The North York Moors also has a range of accessible activities indoors and out, viewpoints, experiences, and attractions.
Abbeys, Castles, Forests and Woodlands, Museums, Galleries, Independent Boutique shops and a whole host of ways to enjoy delicious local produce from the moorland and sea. Just some of the ways in which you can delve into what makes the North York Moors the National Park it is.
In December 2020 the North York Moors National Park was designated an International Dark Sky Reserve. Prepare to have your breath taken away as your eyes adjust to the sight of up to 2000 stars twinkling back at you.
554 square miles and a stunning 26 miles of dramatic coastline just waiting for you to explore and begin making memories here in Robin Hood’s Bay and The North York Moors National Park.