Whitby

We needed more experience of the Yorkshire coast so on Thursday, the last day of June, we headed east through Filey into Scarborough, where we did a short walk on the cliffs looking towards Scarborough town - not sure if the fair was on or if the herbs were available - and on into Whitby.

Scarborough.

Whitby was very busy but we were fortunate to get a parking place just near the harbour. Whitby is famous for a number of things - its jet industry (there was lots of gleaming black gemstones for sale), its fishing (most of the cafes and restaurants focus fish and chips), Captain Cook (who was born nearby and whose famous ship, The Endeavour, was built in Whitby). Bram Stoker's Dracula features the town, with the vampire first coming ashore here from Transylvania in the guise of a black dog. This has inspired Whitby's Goth festival which takes place here twice a year in Spring and at Hallow'een.

Whitby caters very much for tourists with all sorts of weird concoctions on sale.

I did not succumb to Coltsfoot Rock or to Whigmeleeries or to Friggers wondering what kind of tomfoolery this was! I could have succumbed to a piece of jet but Jim showed no interest not even taking a photo of some of the attractive window displays.

I thought these were banned!

Jim did seem interested in the Dracula coffins!

Whitby Abbey is one of the chief attractions of Whitby. Over the years it has been a busy settlement, a king's burial place, a historic meeting place between Celtic and Roman clerics, the home of saints including the poet Caedmon and the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. It is set high on a cliff above Whitby and is reached by way of 199 steps. Brian was the only one of us moved to go to great heights. 

Waiting patiently (in the cold and wind) over coffee at the foot of the 199 steps!

We continued strolling through the town and then back to the harbour area from which there were some great views.

Brian was again moved to ascend to great heights!

As we waited patiently below!

The black speck in both these pictures is neither a speck nor a fly. While we were standing contemplating the 199 steps, two fighter jets roared by very low and frightened the wits out of us all. I was convinced we were about to be bombed! While Brian was in the tower another soared high above him.

After a very full day in Whitby we returned to Barmby Moor via the Yorkshire Dales which were very beautiful.