Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a maritime, mineral and tourist heritage. Its East Cliff is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey, where Cædmon, the earliest recognised English poet, lived.
The fishing port emerged during the Middle Ages, supporting important herring and whaling fleets,[2][3] and was where Captain Cook learned seamanship. Tourism started in Whitby during the Georgian period and developed with the arrival of the railway in 1839. Its attraction as a tourist destination is enhanced by the proximity of the high ground of the North York Moors national park and the heritage coastline and by association with the horror novel Dracula. Jet and alum were mined locally, and Whitby jet, which was mined by the Romans and Victorians, became fashionable during the 19th .century
Places to visit:
- Whalebone In the 18th and 19th centuries, the whaling industry was thriving in the seaside town of Whitby in North Yorkshire. Whaling was a chance for great wealth for those
who managed a successful catch, but incredibly dangerous. To recognize this tradition and the town’s important whaling history, a whale bone arch was erected on Whitby’s West Cliff in
1853. - Captain Cook Monument Standing atop the hill under the 15-foot arch backdropped by the abbey is a photo opp few visitors to Whitby can resist. Next to the arch is the
town’s other claim to fame — a statue of the explorer Captain Cook, who learned seamanship as an apprentice here in Whitby. - 199 Steps The 199 steps lead to St. Mary’s Church, where visitors can sit on benches that dot the stairway. It provides perfect places for weary walkers to rest their legs and soak in the picture-perfect views of Whitby’s harbor.
- Coffin Bench The first recorded use of the staircase was in 1340, though it’s likely they were used far before this as people trekked up to
the 12th-century church and seventh-century abbey. Even Count Dracula, in wolf form, bounded up. - St.Marys Church stands atop Whitby’s windswept East Cliff, between the town and the ruins of Whitby Abbey. It is also
found atop the famous Church Steps, a flight of 199 steps linking the clifftop to the town and harbour below. - Ruins os Whtby Abbey The Whitby Abbey (now in its ruins) is believed to be the first religious buildings on the site and was built around 657. This was destroyed by Danish invaders between 867 and 870, and the restoration ultimately took place sometime by the end in 1540. Sadly, additional damage was done by German battleships in WWI, aiming for a nearby signal station. The resulting ruins are atmospheric, beautiful and have inspired many writers and artists, including Bram Stoker.The resulting ruins are atmospheric, beautiful and have inspired many writers and artists, including Bram Stoker, who used Whitby as the location for the first landing of Dracula in England. Because of this, Whitby Abbey has become something of a Goth pilgrimage site, and touristy Dracula-related locations of literary or historical significance have also followed in this light.
There are many tourist destinations in Whitby, you can download our travel guides on our website at https://yorkshirecoastholidaylets.co.uk/the-area/