Holiday rentals in Robin Hood's Bay

This cosy Yorkshire seaside town within North York Moors National Park is known for its labyrinthine layout of winding cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways. Set amid dramatic cliffs and built up the steep hillside that leads down to the bay, this destination is a photographer’s dream with its narrow, stacked cottages and coastal views.

The village’s remote location and series of underground passageways helped make Robin Hood’s Bay a hot spot for smuggling in the 18th century. History buffs can learn all about how the locals moved contraband like gin and tobacco without detection at the Robin Hood’s Bay Museum. At low tide, you’ll find visitors and locals lounging on the beach with coolers, eating ice cream, or exploring rockpools. The water comes up to the sea wall at high tide, which is a great time to duck in a local shop or grab a pint and some seafood at one of the pubs along the water’s edge.

The winds from the North Sea can keep the weather in the village chilly and a bit blustery, save for a slightly warmer summer. It rains quite often, even in the drier spring season, so thick layers of clothing, an umbrella, and waterproof boots are always great to add to your packing list. In summer, the Bay Folk Club hosts the casual Folk Weekend when local and visiting choirs and musicians perform sea shanties and other traditional folk songs all around the village. During the first weekend of December, the Victorian Festival rings in the holiday season with decorations, food and drink vendors, and attendees dressed in costume.

The Cinder Track

If you’d like to spend some time wandering through tree-lined trails and soaking up the coastal views, you can hike or cycle along this path that was once home to an old railway line. The entire track is about 34 kilometres, and there are many different routes you can choose that will take anywhere from 30 minutes to a full day, depending on your mode of transportation. Along the way, you have the option to stop and explore other villages like the larger Whitby with its famous abbey ruins.

Shopping

Robin Hood’s Bay has a great selection of shops to get lost in for an afternoon. Antique shops carry trinkets and ornate wooden furniture, and gift shops are brimming with local sweets and souvenirs. You’ll also find inviting bookshops lined with tomes on local history and new releases, in addition to a few clothing boutiques carrying locally made nautical knits.

Fossil hunting

Robin Hood’s Bay has become a popular destination for amateur fossil hunters and collectors. If you set out for the beach at low tide, you can find a selection of fossils, including ammonites and belemnites. Alternatively, head a mile south to the cove known as Boggle Hole for an even better chance of uncovering your own piece of the area’s prehistoric past.