Everyone knows about Whitby Abbey and the 199 steps. Fewer people know about the smugglers’ alleyways tucked behind the main streets, the beach where you can crack open your own fossil that’s millions of years old, or the fact that you don’t have to walk back up Robin Hood’s Bay’s steep main street after a long day out anymore.
Fancy seeing the side of Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay that doesn’t make it onto the postcards? Here are nine hidden things to do, including one secret that’s exclusive to guests at Hotel Victoria.
1. Ride the VIP Buggy Down (and Back Up) Robin Hood’s Bay: Only at Hotel Victoria
Let’s start with something most visitors never discover. Robin Hood’s Bay is famous for its steep, cobbled main street that winds down to the sea. It looks lovely from a distance. Climbing back up after a day on the beach, or a long stretch of the Cleveland Way? Not so lovely.
We’ve solved that problem for you. As a guest, you can be chauffeur driven down to the bottom of the village and back up again in our own EV Monaco, a stylish electric buggy that glides through the narrow streets in comfort. It’s not something every visitor to Robin Hood’s Bay knows about, because it’s only available to those staying with us.
It’s also on offer for wedding couples, who can be driven to the village’s most scenic spots in style. If you’re booking a coastal break, ask about the buggy when you check in. It’s a small touch, but it turns a good stay into a memorable one.
2. Fossil Hunting at Boggle Hole
A short, quiet walk south from Robin Hood’s Bay along the beach (tide permitting) takes you to Boggle Hole, a hidden cove named after mischievous local goblins from Yorkshire folklore. The shale ledges here hide ammonites and belemnites, ready for anyone willing to look. Bring a small hammer and some patience. And always check the tide times before you set off.
3. The Smugglers’ Alleyways of Robin Hood’s Bay
Robin Hood’s Bay was once one of the busiest smuggling spots on the Yorkshire coast. Locals say the village’s tangle of narrow ginnels, yards and staircases was built to help contraband, and the smugglers themselves disappear before the customs men caught up. Wander off the main street and you’ll find passageways connecting cottages that back onto each other in ways that make no sense, unless you know the history they were built into.
4. The Cinder Track
Most tourists drive between Whitby and Scarborough. Locals cycle or walk it instead, along the Cinder Track, the old railway line that once ran between the two towns. It’s flat, mostly free of traffic, and threads through some of the quietest clifftop scenery on this stretch of coast. Fancy over 20 miles of it? You can go the whole way.
5. Ravenscar’s Abandoned “Ghost Town”
A few miles down the coast sits Ravenscar, a Victorian seaside resort that was planned, partly built, then abandoned when the money ran out. Today it’s a quietly eerie spot. Streets lead nowhere. However, the views back towards Robin Hood’s Bay are spectacular, and there’s a National Trust visitor centre worth a stop.
6. Whitby’s Hidden Court Alleys
Duck off Church Street in Whitby and you’ll find a warren of narrow yards, including Arguments Yard and Sanders Yard. Both date back centuries. Sanders Yard takes its name from a banking family who ran a banking house on the street from 1779, and their name is still etched into the glass above the old shop door. Blink and you’ll walk straight past the entrances. Slow down, though, and they’re some of the most atmospheric corners of the old town.
7. Runswick Bay’s Secret Cove
Just north of Whitby, Runswick Bay is quieter than its bigger neighbour and rarely gets photographed as much. But it has one of the finest sweeping sandy beaches on the coast, and a cluster of red roofed cottages tumbling down the cliffside. Low tide brings rock pools, and more fossil hunting ground for the curious.
8. Staithes at Dusk
Staithes gets its fair share of daytime visitors. Arrive as the light starts to fade, though, and the crowds thin out. The pastel painted cottages, the working harbour, the narrow bridge: they all take on a different character. It’s said this is where a young Captain Cook first felt the pull of the sea. He was working here as a grocer’s apprentice at the time, long before he took to the water himself.
9. The North York Moors’ Quiet Corners
Beyond the coast, the North York Moors National Park sits right on your doorstep, with heather covered moorland, ancient stone crosses and walking trails that see a fraction of the footfall of the coastal path. Even a short drive inland from Robin Hood’s Bay opens up an entirely different landscape.
Make Hotel Victoria Your Base for Exploring
Perched above Robin Hood’s Bay with some of the best coastal views in North Yorkshire, Hotel Victoria is a truly memorable place to stay when planning a trip to Robin Hoods Bay. We put every one of these spots within easy reach. A short drive gets you to:
- Whitby
- Scarborough
- Staithes
- The North York Moors
The village, the Cinder Track and Boggle Hole sit right on your doorstep, so you barely need to get in the car at all.
And when your legs have had enough of the famous hill, remember: our EV Monaco buggy is ready to take you back up in comfort. It’s a small detail, but it’s exactly the kind of thing that makes a stay with us feel a little more special.
Fancy seeing these hidden spots for yourself? Book your stay in one of our boutique Hotel Rooms at Hotel Victoria and ask our team about the buggy ride when you check in.
