Plan your perfect break in
Staithes
Eat, Explore, Experience Staithes
Staithes is a picturesque fishing village on the North Yorkshire Coast and is the perfect location to relax and unwind. A tranquil village with stunning scenery, Staithes offers a real break away from the hustle & bustle of a busy life.
With its weathered cliffs and rugged coastline, it is perfect for walking and exploring. Wander the coastal pathway to the nearby Boulby Cliffs or discover the coastal stretch of the Cleveland Way which runs between the village and Runswick Bay. There is also plenty to do further afield with the North Yorkshire National Park on your doorstep and the rest of the North Yorkshire coast to explore including Whitby, Robin Hoods Bay and Saltburn-by-the-Sea.
Places To Eat & Drink
There are three pubs in Staithes where you can enjoy traditional meals or just enjoy a drink whilst you soak up the views. The Cod & Lobster and The Royal George are both on the High Street, and you can enjoy traditional pub food and real ales. Captain Cook Inn is located at the top of the village and offers guest ales, a varied menu and great Sunday lunches. Why not enjoy a traditional seaside treat at the local fish & chip shop? At Excelsiors Fisheries you can eat in or get a takeaway to enjoy outside if the weather is kind to you, or take them back to enjoy in the house.
Staithes has a great choice of cafes, if you’ve been busy exploring all day, take the opportunity to relax with a coffee and cake! Step back in time at Dotty’s Vintage Tea Room on the High Street and enjoy homemade cakes during the day. Dotty’s is licensed and holds weekly live music nights if you are looking for a fun night out. Cobbles of Staithes serves delicious ice creams, cakes, hot drinks and also takeaway pizzas – perfect if you don’t fancy cooking. Coastal Kitchen on Staithes Lane is worth the walk up the steep hill, and it serves great value breakfasts to eat in or takeaway. Right by the seaside, you will find the Sea Drift Cafe which offers drinks, snacks and cake to enjoy inside or takeaway. Welcome 2 Staithes Cafe is located in the Gateway Centre, close to the main car park and serves great coffees, cakes and ice creams. There is often an ice cream van by the harbour if you want to indulge in another seaside tradition.
Shopping In Staithes
Take some time to enjoy wandering the picturesque and cobbled streets of Staithes, whilst browsing for some holiday souvenirs or gifts.
Along the High Street in Staithes you will find The Kessen Bowl which is a traditional seaside gift shop that stocks seaside essentials like bucket & spades and crab lines. Staithes Gallery showcases the best contemporary art inspired by Staithes and the surrounding areas. If you are looking for unique gifts including jewellery, ceramics and artwork, then head to the Emporium Gift Shop. Betsy & Bo, an upmarket deli and sweet emporium is almost opposite Ravenscraig House, selling amongst other things, handmade chocolates, wine and local artisan produce. There are also various gift shops in Gateway Centre.
Explore Staithes
There is plenty to see and do in Staithes. Once a significant fishing base, Staithes was home to a small fleet of Whitby Cobles – a traditional fishing trawler from the North East Coast. You can still watch local fishermen use the boats to catch crabs, cod and lobsters. If you want to experience a day at sea then Real Staithes and Three Sisters offer day trips.
If you don’t want to test out your sea legs, then why not hunt for fossils on the beach? There are so many the area has been nicknamed ‘Dinosaur Coast’! There are lots of rock pools which make it an amazing place to explore with children to go crabbing. There are also lots of fantastic walks on your doorstep. We recommend a lovely 4 mile circular route, starting in Staithes and going through Port Mulgrave to the pretty village of Runswick Bay. You will get to enjoy stunning coastal views along the way. See North York Moors website for more details.
There is plenty of history to be discovered in Staithes as it’s well known for being where Captain Cook made his first trip out to sea from. You will learn plenty if you visit the Staithes Heritage Centre which is spread over two floors and includes exhibits from Cook’s life.
Events & Festivals
10 miles away from Staithes Whitby hosts a range of great events throughout the year including a Traction Engine Rally and an Art Fair. Plus Whitby Pavilion hosts many live music and tribute acts throughout the year.
Scarborough Open Air Theatre, is just under an hour’s drive away and plays home to some great musical artists including in 2022 Tom Jones, Elbow and Westlife to name but a few!
Explore The Surrounding Area
If you want to explore beyond Staithes, there are a whole host of beautiful places to discover along the Yorkshire Coast. Here are some of our favourites.
The Cleveland Way is a 109 mile trail that offers dramatic coastal scenery and open moorlands. There are plenty of short circular routes or 1 day walks to follow. See the National Trail website for more information.
For the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of busy life a visit to the North Yorkshire National Park is a must. Appreciate the stunning landscape which is rich in wildlife and heritage. Or step back in time on the North York Moors Railway for a day of amazing scenery and vintage charm.
There are also a host of other beautiful seaside towns you can visit. Robin Hoods Bay has cobbled alleyways, picturesque houses and a breathtaking coastline. Runswick Bay offers a peaceful and sheltered beach – perfect for children to play on all day. Saltburn-by-the-Sea is a small seaside town that has retained much of its Victorian charm. With golden sand, rugged cliffs and breath-taking views, it is the perfect place for a relaxing day out.
A visit to Whitby with its spectacular Abbey is a must and is known for inspiring Bram Stocker’s Dracular. Scarborough is about an hour’s drive away and offers you everything you would expect – beaches, amusement arcades, ice cream parlours and beach huts.
