Robin Hoods Bay lies just to the South of Whitby. The village tumbles down the cliff to the beach. Car parking for Robin Hoods Bay is at the top of the cliff. It is a good walk down and an even longer walk back up if you are not fit. An alternative and maybe nicer way to visit Robin Hoods Bay is to walk from Ravenscar although it may take some of us around a couple of hours and is to much for some. There are various shops and and eateries among the narrow streets. We always have a snack and a coffee at Swell and sit outside on their terrace looking out to sea. It was a fishing village  but now there are only a few non commercial boats working here.

Robin Hoods Bay refers to the whole bay, which stretches down to Ravenscar as well as the village of Robin Hoods bay at the Northern end. The main feature of Robin Hoods Bay are the long rocky reefs which project out into the bay. There are patches of decent sand between these “scars”. A very good place to search for all sorts of sea life at low water.

The author Leo Walmsley was brought up in Robin Hoods Bay and wrote three books about “Bramblewick”. These are autobiographical tales about his childhood experiences of life in the bay and its fishing community.

Walks around Robin Hoods bay.

There are three main walking routes between Robin Hoods bay and Ravenscar: the cliff top walk along the Cleveland Way, the beach from Ravenscar point (only at low water) and the old railway line. The old railway is the longest route but makes the climb up to Ravenscar more gentle. They can be combined and switched between in all sorts of ways. There are only 4 ways down to the shoreline of Robin Hoods bay.

Ravenscar point (bit of a scramble after walking across the golf course)

Stoupe Beck

Boggle Hole (Mill beck)

Robin Hoods Bay, the village, itself.

The roads in Robin Hoods Bay are very narrow and access only so you have to park at the cliff top car parks or walk from Ravenscar or Whitby. There are quite a few cafes, pubs and shops.

If you do climb down the cliffs at Ravenscar you will be able to see the evidence of the Peak Fault. This is a major geological feature leading to the shape of the coast, the presence of fossils, and alum works (the remains of which can still be seen on the cliff top). You can find details of the geology of Ravenscar and Robin Hoods Bay from more expert sites

You should also be able to see loads of seals hauled out on the rocky point (Peak Steel). When the young are there they are often quite close on the boulders at the base of the cliff but get much warier as they get older.