Exploring Whitby

Exploring Whitby #CountryKids

Back in tail end of August you may remember that we had spent a long weekend in York. Monkey has been fascinated by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway since watching Yorkshire Steam on Tav with Daddy P. We’d promised to take him on a train journey and as luck would have it we’d timed our trip perfectly, as we’d get to ride on our beloved A4 class loco – Sir Nigel Gresley.

Exploring Whitby

We caught the train at Pickering and decided to stay on the train all the way to Whitby. SNG left us at Grosmont, but we carried on our way. Our initial plan was to have lunch in Whitby, and catch the next steam train back down the line. But it was a gloriously sunny day and it seemed daft to not maximise on our time.

Exploring Whitby

The only downside to this being that the whole of the North East seemed to have the same idea. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this lovely coastal fishing town ever so busy.

We timed our arrival for lunch perfectly, fish and chips was the obviously choice. We were the first to be seated in Terry’s, but within 20 minutes the place was full. We had a wonderful view looking at the cobbled alleyways and looking up towards the Abbey.

Exploring Whitby

After lunch we popped into the local Lifeboat Museum, which was full of interesting facts and old photographs.

We all agreed that as we were English Heritage members we really should climb up the 199 steps and visit Whitby Abbey.

Exploring Whitby

The last time Daddy P and I were in Whitby I was heavily pregnant and struggling with it all. The walk then was beyond me. But this time around we all easily made our way up to the cliff top and enjoyed the views looking down on the people having fun on the beach. A decent Bank Holiday Sunday in August -.who would have thought.

After a little breather outside St Mary Church we headed on to Whitby Abbey to visit the ruins and museum complex.  You enter the site via a Mansion house, once belonging to the Cholmley family, which now houses the museum and visitor centre.

Exploring Whitby

Whitby Abbey is steeped in history and is connected to Bram Stoker and the Dracula legend.  As luck would have it, a theatre company were performing during our visit, but Monkey was not for standing still for more than two seconds!

Exploring Whitby

Monkey was happy running around the grounds with Daddy P in hot pursuit whilst I enjoyed the marvelous stone work.

It’s a wonderful place to explore and look back down across the harbour to the beach beyond.  We even spotted a ‘shipwrecked’ pirate ship abandoned on the high fields!

Exploring Whitby

We headed back down to the harbour to look at the boats coming and going, before heading back to the train station to catch our train back to Pickering.

Exploring Whitby

It had been a lovely day exploring Whitby and I’m sure we’ll be back again many times in the years ahead.

8 thoughts on “Exploring Whitby #CountryKids

  1. I am not surprised it was busy it looks an amazing place – and specially with the additional performance.

  2. That Abbey is stunning! Would love to visit too and I definitely agree with you – when in a coastal town, fish and chips is a must! 😉 #countrykids.

  3. What a great day for you guys, it looks like you had fun exploring Whitby with Monkey for the first time. Monkey looks like he loved running around the ruins of the Abbey with Daddy P. Boat spotting sounds like the perfect way to end the day before catching the steam train home. Thanks for linking up with me on Country Kids.

  4. I want to copy your day out completely – steam train, fish and chips and ruins! Must have also been rather special for you comparing when you last visited pregnant and then now with Monkey accompanying you.

  5. I’ve not seen much in Yorkshire so it’s nice to see some great places to visit in the future. I do love a ruined abbey and I’m sure N would too.

  6. This looks like the perfect day exploring. So many different things to see. Our boys love ruins. I think they like all the different things they can pretend they are doing. Fish & Chips pretty much make it seem like the best day. So glad you had such a lovely day.

  7. Whitby is so beautiful, my friend has just got back from a goth weekend there – a perfect setting. Seeing your pictures of the Abbey makes me want to go back soon.

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