Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration: 2 nights
Accommodation: Hostel
Group Size: Maximum 12
Level: Active
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs
In a Nutshell:
Experience some of the best coastal walking in the UK, heading out for a day and a half of sociable guided walks where every mile has new sights to explore.
Relax in the hostel in the evenings, and head out with the group into Whitby for dinner to see more of this famous old town.
Meet a friendly bunch of fellow walkers, where the main aim is to enjoy exploring the countryside and socialising along the way.
Admire sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs and ancient sites while watching for wildlife, taking photographs, or just gazing at the incredible scenery.
Yorkshire Coast Walking Weekend - Whitby
Head out for glorious guided walks along the Yorkshire Coast, based in the beautiful, historic village of Whitby.
How do we grade our walks?
Stunning coastal scenery, legends of smuggling, and plenty of fish and chips!
The coastline of North Yorkshire is the perfect place to get away for a sociable weekend discovering the best reasons we love getting into the outdoors. Fantastic coastal trails, stunning views over the North Sea, the rugged landscape of the North York Moors, and old fishing villages waiting for you to come and explore.
Join us on a social guided walking weekend as we show you the best of the area, heading out onto the cobbled streets and historic setting of Whitby for our evening meals (not included) and to explore the local pubs with new friends.
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1
The YHA hostel that’s our base for this trip affords a fantastic view of Whitby Abbey and out across the sea! You can arrive from 5pm to meet your Large Outdoors host and soon be getting to know your fellow walking companions over a cup of tea.
We’ll be heading out to dinner between 7pm and 8pm, where your host will brief you on the plan for the weekend’s walks. Dinner will be in town, at one of the fantastic local fish and chip restaurants (the cost of evening meals is not included).
Day 2
After a hearty breakfast at the hostel we’ll pop into town so you can purchase something for your packed lunch. With lunch tucked into our rucksacks, it’s time to travel further north by local bus to Staithes (don’t forget your bus fare - currently just £2pp).
To make the most of the coastline, our ‘plan A’ is to do the 30-minute bus journey to Staithes and then walk the 10 miles back to Whitby along the coastal trail, which also forms part of the Cleveland Way.
On the route, besides fantastic views of the North Sea and the local wildlife, we’ll pass Runswick Bay, Kettle Ness and the Whitby Sands. There are a few ups and downs to get our heart rates up and legs working, mixed in with stretches of relatively flat walking along the cliff-tops.
Once back at the hostel in Whitby there should be time to freshen up before we walk back into town for the evening meal in a local eatery (not included). Perhaps you might fancy popping into a pub or two and exploring the Whitby waterfront before heading back to the hostel?
Day 3
After breakfast we’ll pack up our things and check out of the hostel. For today’s walk we’ll be heading in the other direction, taking the path along the cliff-tops south of Whitby to enjoy the 7.5 miles to Robin Hood’s Bay.
This is a lovely walk, mostly staying high on the cliffs overlooking the sea, passing Saltwick Bay and Ness Point on the way to the famous smuggling haunt - supposedly where Robin Hood and the merry men retired! Again, there are a few ups, downs and sets of steps to test those legs, but the views are certainly worth the effort.
Once in the village, we’ll perhaps find a spot for lunch or a cuppa and cake, with some time to look around. Then the choice is yours, either get the bus back to Whitby for an early afternoon finish, or wander back along the abandoned railway line to make it a longer day out.
Good to Know
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Meeting Time: from 5pm.
You can arrive any time from 5pm - the Large Outdoors host will be at the hostel to welcome you. We’ll be heading out for dinner between 7pm and 8pm so if you intend to arrive later than this, please ensure you have something to eat on the way.Meeting Location:
Whitby YHA
Abbey House
East Cliff
Whitby
YO22 4JTwhat3words///branded.scooters.backpacks
Public Transport: YHA Whitby is located 0.6 miles from Whitby Train Station, with services to/from Middlesborough, Newcastle and Sunderland. Buses are available to/from York and Leeds.
It’s approximately a 15 minute walk from Whitby Train Station to the hostel - although you will need to navigate all 199 steps up to the Abbey!Parking: There is limited free parking at the hostel - please note the hostel car park is through the Abbey Arches and is very tight and narrow to navigate. There is also a large car park available just a 5-minute walk from the hostel. £9 per vehicle for up to 24hrs - pay by coins, card or RingGo. This car park address is: Abbey Headland Car Park, Abbey Lane, Whitby, YO22 4JT.
Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day between 1pm and 3pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen activity, group dynamic, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or lunch together during/after, etc. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility. -
We’ll stay in YHA Whitby, a fantastic clifftop haunt that’s right next door to the iconic ruins of Whitby Abbey. This magnificent grade I listed mansion enjoys views over the harbour and the North York Moors. The town is just a short walk away via the famous 199 steps - a mini workout to keep those legs well stretched multiple times over the weekend!
Bedding is provided - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.
Accommodation Address:
Whitby YHA
Abbey House
East Cliff
Whitby
YO22 4JTRoom Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
Twin Room (bunk beds)At this hostel there are primarily Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are shared). There are also some Twin Rooms - with bunk beds - which sleep up to two participants booking together (bathrooms are shared with other rooms).
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Included:
2nights’ accommodation in the epic YHA Whitby, right next door to Whitby Abbey.
A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you and deal with the logistics for your experience.
Guided walks on 2 days (Day 2 and Day 3).
A hearty breakfast each morning - hot and cold items - prepared by the accommodation.
Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.
Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.
The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not Included:
Travel to and from the meeting location.
Dinner each evening - we’ll book a table at a local restaurant to enjoy dinner as a group and you can purchase whatever you fancy from the menu available.
Packed lunch on Day 2 - we’ll stop somewhere suitable before we get on the bus and you can purchase whatever you fancy. Alternatively, feel free to bring something with you and make use of the shared kitchen at the hostel to store/prepare your packed lunch.
Bus journeys on Day 1 and Day 2 - fares are currently capped at just £2pp.
Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.
Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.
Alcoholic drinks - the accommodation has a licensed bar if you wish to purchase alcohol.
Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
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Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount important to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.
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• What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is rated Active - the walks will cover some undulating coastal terrain. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.• Can I attend on my own?
Can I attend on my own? Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.• I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.
This particular experience offers a little more flexibility catering wise, as evening meals are taken at local restaurants, so please contact us if you’d like to check whether it is suitable for your dietary needs.• What transport is provided during this trip?
We do not provide any transport for this experience. On some days there could be a local bus journey required to reach activity start points or travel back from linear walks - the bus far is not included in the cost of the trip.• Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary. -
The rich history and varied landscape of the Yorkshire Coast would take a lifetime to explore. Known for its history of fishing and smuggling, the area’s towering cliffs, miles of wave-cut platforms, sandy beaches and hidden coves provide a constantly changing scene. Fishing villages spill down the steep hillsides right to the sea, and ancient sites from Roman signal posts to the impressive remains of Whitby Abbey sit alongside cosy tea rooms and old pubs.
Whether your aim is to walk the miles of coastal path, or dip your feet in the North Sea, you’ll be in esteemed company, as both Captain Cook and Dracula have connections to the area.
Away from the seaside, there are moorlands (including the North York Moors National Park) and woodlands to explore, as well as streams cutting their way through the hills before finishing as waterfalls off the cliffs. Alongside all this, there are fossils to be found dating back millions of years, giving the coastline the name of the ‘Dinosaur Coast’. This is truly a stunning place to explore!
