Whitby’s East Cliff

A rare chance to wander through the nooks and crannies of Whitby, where every turn seems to ooze history. This view from the curiously named Kyber Pass looks across the Esk towards the jumble of red-roofed houses that appear to cling for dear life to the crumbling East Cliff. High above them, standing guard against the restless sky, are the ruins of Whitby Abbey and the steadfast St Mary’s Church.

The town wears its history with quiet pride. Tate Hill Pier once formed the original sea defence for the harbour. It was lengthened to a length of 105 yards in 1766, though its story begins far earlier. Once known as Burgess Pier, it grew from an even older structure. In the 1190s it was little more than a rough assembly of uneven stones held within a wooden frame. By 1301 the post of Pier Master was firmly established. Its earlier name was almost certainly earned because it was commissioned by the Burgesses of Whitby.