Category: Yorkshire Coast
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A Descent to Blea Wyke Point
I have never been an adrenaline junkie. The thrills of white-water kayaking or downhill skiing have never quite captivated me. However, present me with a new place to explore, and I find myself wholly satisfied. The bold headland of Blea Wyke at Ravenscar, standing at an elevation of 180 metres, presents terraced undercliffs cascading one…
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Boulby — a hamlet on the edge
The tiny hamlet of Boulby bathes in what seems like a vernal sun, while Staithes, at a distance, remains shrouded under the cloud of winter. The photograph aptly illustrates the hamlet’s proximity to the cliff edge, lining a coastline in constant yet sporadic recession, often marked by landslides along the Cleveland Way. Presently, there’s a…
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Pig-Iron to Steel: Skinningrove’s Industrial History
Have you ever pondered the origins of Skinningrove, nestled in this sheltered valley leading to the North Sea? What led to its establishment there? I certainly have. Back in 1873, when the Loftus Iron Company first erected two blast furnaces on that hill overlooking the valley, the iron-smelting industry was already thriving in the Cleveland…
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Robin Hood’s Bay and a method of keeping lobsters all year round
As I rounded the North Cheek along the Cleveland Way, Robin Hood’s Bay, in all its glory, lay before me. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, as the tide was out, revealing many fingers of rocky scars stretching into the sea. Scores of tourists roamed the exposed rocks, like curious ants exploring their newfound…
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Staithes’ transformation into an artists’ mecca
In the distant past, back in 1415, when the world was a taciturn place, the medieval village of Staithes was first recorded under the name ‘Setonstathes‘. This coastal community thrived as a fishing haven during the 16th century, only to prosper further in the 19th century as local ironstone, alum, and jet mining took hold.…
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Spot the seal
Dropped down the cliffs to Old Peak — or South Cheek as it used to be called — below Ravenscar, hoping to see a seal or two. And a few seals we did see. The very knowledgeable warden from the Yorkshire Seals Group estimated there were about 500 — he has known up to a…
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Saltwick Bay and Black Nab
When King Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the monasteries, Whitby Abbey did not escape. Its fixtures and furnishings were all sold off with the funds going into the King’s coffers. The lead on the roof was stripped and used on the nearby St. Mary’s Church which until then had a thatched roof. The bells…
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Goldsborough Roman Signal Station
Prompted by a recently published article giving a fresh interpretation on the five Roman signal stations or fortlets along the Yorkshire coast, I popped down to re-visit the one at Goldsborough. A murky day. And not really much to see when there. just a few vague humps and bumps. In the featured image, Goldsborough can…