Top 10 Things To Do, Activities and Attractions in Runswick Bay

"There’s something special about the ruins of Whitby Abbey brooding over the harbour from the East Cliff. These ruins were mentioned in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1890), and even at that time the monastery had been abandoned for 350 years. It was set up in the middle of the 7th century by Oswy, the King of Northumbria."

"As we dropped down into the town, we managed to find a parking space next to Whitby Abbey. It was a perfectly base for our little adventure and (being members of the National trust) didn’t cost us a penny."

"Finally, we will take you back into the town of Whitby itself and to one of its most prized possessions – Pannett Park. Most towns, of course, have one or more parks providing residents and visitors with a place to sit and relax. It is fair to say, however, that the level of care and dedication which goes into making Whitby’s Pannett Park a haven of tranquillity where guests can enjoy both the peaceful atmosphere and an impressive range of themed gardens puts it several steps ahead of most of its contemporaries."

"The high sloping park around the Whitby Museum will keep you in this picturesque part of town a while longer. Pannett Park was voted “Best Public Park in Yorkshire” in 2014, and has a superb prospect east to Whitby Abbey. There are wooded areas, a lily pond, all manner of formal flowerbeds, a floral clock, rose gardens, pergolas and a playground for children."

"Pannett Park, a haven of peace and tranquillity and located close to the centre of Whitby in North Yorkshire, is well worth a visit, whichever season of the year. Excellent for family and nature walks."

"At the top of those 199 Steps, and before you get to Whitby Abbey, you’ll be confronted by the compact Church of St Mary. The building goes back to a Norman church, consecrated at the start of the 12th century. The tower, choir and parts of the nave all date to that earliest period, and at the transept you can look for the three Gothic lancet windows."

"The 199 steps of Church Stairs lead steeply up from the end of Church St, passing the spooky graveyard of St Mary's Church, a favourite haunt of Goth courting couples. The atmospheric interior of the church is..."

"One of those things you simply have to do in Whitby is to climb the 199 steps that wind up from Church Lane to St Mary’s Church on the East Cliff. You’ll be treading the same path as the creature “resembling a large dog” that climbed up to the abbey in Dracula. The stairway is vertiginous, but the higher you go, the better the views back over the roofs of the old town and the harbour."

"Climb the 199 steps to the top of East Cliff for views over the town and harbour. At the top you will find the medieval church of St Mary."

"On West Cliff, overlooking the mouth of the River Esk, is the Whalebone Arch, an archway formed from a set of 20-foot-high whale jaw bones. The arch is a reminder of the role played in Whitby's heritage by the whaling industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. The original arch was erected in 1853."

"Whitby was once a whaling town and the arch made from 2 whale jaw bones is a reminder of its past. The bones that stand there today are not from illegally hunted whales but those from a whale killed legally by Inuits in Alaska."

"On Grape Lane there’s a 17th-century house where Britain’s greatest explorer Captain James Cook served as an apprentice from the age of 19 in 1746. Cook would later return to this property for the winter of 1771-72 following his First Voyage, in which he made the first European encounter with Australia’s eastern coastline. The museum has absorbing correspondence from Cook’s three voyages, as well as model ships, Maori artefacts, authentic charts and maps, and sketches and paintings by the artists who travelled with Cook on his expeditions."

"Discover the fascinating history of Captain James Cook at the award-winning Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby. The museum’s location has close links with Cook as it was the house of John Walker, to whom Cook came as apprentice in 1746. The famous Cook’s Attic, where Cook and around 16 other apprentices lodged is within the museum and is much as it would have been in Cook’s day."

"The museum is housed in the building where Captain Cook worked as an apprentice and learnt the art of seafaring that would eventually make him legendary. Visitors can see Cook’s letters as well as some other personal items on display here."

"I loved this pub, and if there was more beer choice I could’ve spent a while inside. It was cosy, friendly and had very nice bar staff with locals and tourists alike were made to feel welcome as soon as they walked in. There’s plenty of board games, pool and a couple of darts boards and it was lovely and warm after the bitter cold outside."

"Back in central Whitby, the cutely named Bitz N Pizzas is another of the best Whitby takeaways. Located on Flowergate, this is a traditional takeaway restaurant that caters for a variety of tastes. You get to pick from a big selection of pizzas here, of course."

"Moutreys is a family-friendly Italian restaurant located on Grape Lane, just across from the Captain Cook Memorial Museum. They’ve been serving good quality Italian cuisine for a number of years from their open plan kitchen and their menu includes a superb selection of pasta, meat, fish and vegetarian dishes in addition to their popular wood-fired pizzas. They offer smaller portions for children and senior citizens and their prices are reasonable."

"This cosy restaurant serves up delicious Italian dishes, made with freshly caught seafood and the finest ingredients. Tuck into classics such as spaghetti carbonara, wood-fired pizzas and lasagne before treating yourself to a zesty sorbet or creamy panna cotta. Address: 9 Grape Ln, Whitby YO22 4BBContact number: 01947 602751"

"Located on Skinner Street, near to Boots in the heart of Whitby town centre is Beckett's, one of the best dog-friendly cafes in the town without a shadow of a doubt. Dog treats are available for diners with canine friends in tow and the menu of home-cooked treats will want you to come back again and again to try everything out. Prices are very reasonable and the portion sizes are excellent, so come hungry."

"Goth heaven attracting more than 8000 visitors biannually, with live-music gigs, events and the Bizarre Bazaar – dozens of traders selling Goth gear, jewellery, art and music. Held twice yearly in late April or..."

"For Goth Weekends, 60s Music Weekends, Whitby Folk Weekend and the Theatre Shows, Cinema and more, visit Whitby Pavilion, located on Whitby’s West Cliff, in the historic port of Whitby, North Yorkshire."