Discover the charming Robin Hood's Bay with a stay at this impressive and surprisingly spacious converted church hall. Sleeping ten across four bedrooms, plus a self-contained suite with separate entrance door that accommodates two, it makes a wonderful coastal bolthole for a Yorkshire retreat with family or friends, either for a special occasion or simply a break away. With pubs, shops, and a beach within walking distance, it's an excellent spot to sink into a slower pace of life – although with lots of attractions close by, even adventurers will love it here.
An impressive open-plan lounge/kitchen/diner awaits you at this pretty cottage. It's rare to come across such a spacious property in the area, with such a bright and airy feel throughout. Relax in the sophisticated lounge in front of the home cinema system for a cosy family film night or enjoy a home-cooked feast in the contemporary dining area, which comfortably seats ten for a wonderful group meal. Three sky lights here let the natural sunlight stream in, while spotlights provide a homely feel once the sun sets. One of the four contemporary bedrooms lies on the ground floor, while two further super king-size rooms can be found up the striking wooden stairs on the first floor. The fourth bedroom makes a fantastic family room, with a super king-size bed and two single raised beds. A separate self-contained studio apartment can be booked at an additional cost to provide even more space for your party to unwind in. As you step outside, you will be greeted by a small patio with an alleyway heading down to the beach. Please note that there is no parking available at the cottage.
As mentioned, this property’s location is fantastic. Set down a charming little street which leads down to the sea in Robin Hood's Bay, you are under quarter of a mile from the beach and the Bay's many cafes and shops.
Robin Hood's Bay is one of the most popular coastal locations in Yorkshire, or the UK for that matter. Once home to the busiest smuggling trade on the Yorkshire coast, said to involve fisherman, clergy and gentry alike, today the village has adopted a much more sedate pace of life. The village is a maze of cobbled streets and higgledy piggledy houses which seem to tumble down towards the sea. Walkers can delight in the fact that Wainwright's famous Coast to Coast Walk starts (or finishes depending which way you look at it) just a few yards from the door. And the bay itself is just one of the charming locations on the coast.
For dinner, you have a choice of charming places from bistros for a more romantic evening or Inns with a nautical theme, both offering a lovely atmosphere - particularly in the evening when you can bunker down for a candlelit dinner over a bottle of wine or two. There are several good pubs in the village with pub grub. If you want to dine in, take advantage of the well-stocked local stores there, including an excellent fishmongers selling the freshest locally caught crab. The kids will love the traditional sweet shops and there are several really lovely little boutiques selling all manner of delightful things.
As hard as it will be to drag yourself away from Robin Hood’s Bay, you really ought to explore the rest of the coast. Much like its Cornish counterpart, the Yorkshire coastline is a heady mix of rugged cliff tops, peaceful bays and pretty fishing villages. With long sandy beaches and all the traditional seaside trimmings of yesteryear, this is proper bucket 'n spade territory. That's not to say it's stuck in the past, in fact the coast's villages and towns combine the traditional with the contemporary effortlessly, with trinket shops and tea rooms sitting alongside upmarket champagne and oyster bars.
This region is best known for the gorgeously gothic town of Whitby. Playing host at one time to Romans, Saxons, Celts and Danes amongst others, the town's rich heritage is immediately obvious. Straddling the river Esk and dominated by the 13th century ruins of St Hilda's Abbey on the East Cliff, Whitby's crooked cobbled streets and picturesque harbour have been a magnet for artists and tourists alike for centuries. Providing the backdrop for some of Lewis Carroll's work, it was also famously the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. For a real sense of the town's atmospheric ambience, climb the 199 abbey steps at dusk and wander around St. Mary's churchyard on the headland. You can further indulge a desire for the macabre on one of the regular ghost walks from Whale Bone Arch on West Cliff.
Although you could happily spend the weekend mooching about the independent shops, bars and cafes along Whitby's bustling medieval streets, it's also well worth striking out to sample some of the other less known coastal villages nearby. Sandsend, (8.5 miles) Staithes (16 miles) and Runswick Bay (14 miles) are all within easy driving distance, and each have their own unique charm.