Whitby - Day 37

Saturday 8th September 2012 - Whitby - Day 37

Whitby piers from the 199 steps

Today was declared a day of rest and recuperation, to take advantage of the fine weather   and enjoy the delights of Whitby.  Jack decided to finish off the book he had been reading in the quietness of the marina while Dave ventured out to the Captain Cook museum.  After catching up with a little maintenance, I decided in the afternoon, to take a leisurely stroll around the south side of the town.

With the warm sunshine and being a Saturday there was a lot of visitors enjoying the many attractions.  The shops, cafes, bars and boat trips appeared to be doing very well.

Whitby Abbey

On all of my previous visits to Whitby, I have never visited the Abbey which is now a preserved ruin which overlooks the town on the south side of the river.  After crossing the swing bridge you turn left into the narrow cobbled streets with their many shops and hostelries until you come to the bottom of the imposing hill.  Access to the Abbey is by climbing the well trodden 199 steps.  The view from the top is most impressive.  To the north, the view over the town and its beach with the formidable cliffs stretching out along the coast. To the east, the piers with their narrow entrance and the flat blue sea beyond.  To the south the cliff top continuous on to the Whitby High light house, Scarborough and Flamborough Head.  To the west the rolling green fields and small woodlands covering the lush Yorkshire Dales.

Evening

 You really get the impression the ones who built here around the year 650, knew all too well why this was a perfect site for an Abbey.  The inspiration for the Dracula stories and why the Goff's make there pilgrimage to this town.

Back down the steps I met the others in the 'Duke of York' where we enjoyed a meal of a trio of sausages on a bed of mash potatoes.  A walk back along the cobbled street to the 'Black Horse' a very busy old fashioned pub.  The landlord was doing a grand job keeping all of the visitors happy.  Over the bridge and we were back to the 'Station Inn' where once more they had a live twosome, bashing out their version of some of the popular songs.  We made it back on board for midnight after a grand relaxing day.