Whitby, Scarborough. ..or somewhere else for holiday

[fannyadamson]

Hi
looking to go to Yorkshire on holiday next summer. can't decide on Whitby or Scarborough. .or maybe somewhere else?
-its me, DH and dd 13. we love st ives in cornwall ( for comparison ) walking, body boarding and eating!

Where should we go?

Definitely not Scarborough but you could try Filey. Is an absolute gem of a beach.

Whitby! Though when we went we had a great day out in Scarborough so do go there. I probably wouldn’t stay there though. We loved our cottage in Whitby.

Hands down Whitby over Scarbados. I was going to suggest Runswick Bay but saw your comment re preferring busy. So so so many beautiful places to also visit around Whitby. We've had a pod of dolphins around these parts this year. Saltburn is fab for surfing. Runswick Bay is stunning and has a huge bay perfect for kids to mess around in the water. Whitby obviously has the Abbey, boat trips on the pirate galleon, shops etc. Then there's the moors and everything in between!

I'd stay in Whitby but then have days out to robin hoods bay, Filey and walk on the brigg, walk from Whitby to staithes on the cliff tops.

Whitby is lovely, particularly down by the marina and walk up the steps to the abbey. There's also some plenty of amusement arcades down that end as well.

There's loads to spin Whitby, crazy golf, escape room etc.

At Scarborough there's also a small go ape type thing up near peasholm park.

I honesty don't get the mumsnet Whitby love. We spent a week in Robin Hood's Bay in the summer (it was a toss up between RHB and Whitby, based on how much people rave about Whitby on here). RHB was indeed very quaint, lovely place.

We had expected to spend at least a couple of days in Whitby, but left after two hours and didn't go back. Even the kids hated it. Completely dump. Sorry!

Gosh. ,whitby has gone from being lovely to a dump!

What do you mean by Whitby being a dump?

It is very busy in tourist season, but many places are. As to where to go, it depends on what you want. If you have DC, they're likely to find Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay, Runswick Bay etc pretty boring after a day or two as there's little or nothing in the way of amusements, fun fairs etc.

Scarborough has an indoor waterpark and spa, so definitely worth a visit. I'd probably look at somewhere in the middle so you can spend a few days locally and then have a couple of trips to other places if you have a car. The little coastal villages of Runswick Bay, Staithes, Robin Hood's bay etc are lovely, but there's so much to do along that stretch of coastline that you're bound to find something you like if you travel around.

OP there was a nice article in yesterday’s Guardian about Whitby; might give you some ideas:

www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/nov/29/car-free-break-in-whitby-bus-trains-coast-north-yorkshire

We had a week in Whitby this summer with DS15 and his friend joined us for the second half. We had a marvellous time, did electric mountain biking at Dalby a couple of days, teens did the water park at Scarborough whilst we went round a stately home.

Whitby is not as upmarket as the Cornwall resorts but it's a great base and nice being able to walk into the town centre. We had dinner most nights at the Magpie Cafe famous for fish and chips and other seafood dishes.

I can send you details of our apartment, two bed with on street parking - very nice.

Great article @PlinkPlankPlunk thanks. ...its definitely Whitby for us.
@rookiemere. yes that be great..I have found a lovely cottage in the old part. but can't decide on whether the other side of the river would be better.DH likes to be very close to the beach!

Is everybody mobile? The old part is hilly, so your lovely cottage might be up some steep steps.

One thing to check, but if you're fine with that, it's not that far to the beach, maybe 10-15 minutes walk, which is not an issue when you're on holiday as you'd normally spend a good amount of time each day just wandering around the area anyway?

This is where we stayed www.vrbo.com/en-gb/p6814463?noDates=true&uni_id=3991905 . Fabulous apartment, but to be fair the old side is much more scenic ( although parking usually a bit further away). We stayed in a super cottage below the Abbey steps a number of years ago and it is nicer on that side with quirky little shops and cafes.
If you're planning car day trips though then parking nearby may be more important.

I would go for Whitby. It does get busy but it’s also an awesome town and a great base for exploring the coast. You can walk to Robin hoods bay and get the bus back, same for Staithes although that’s a longer walk.

Scarborough is lovely for a day but I wouldn’t stay there.

We stay by the river in Whitby within walking distance of the town which is lovely as parking is bad.

We didn’t feel we could go abroad so had a week in Whitby. Teens (girls) enjoyed it great beach Dracula vibe little shops lots of restaurants. We had a good week. Did go ape North Yorkshire moors

I think Whitby we were there in August has become very scruffy and gone very tacky, their Whitby fish could have passed for an Iceland frozen packet.
I prefer Scarborough. Robin Hoods bay is a lovely afternoon trip but a 14 year old will die of boredom - do check out the fossil shop though if you go. Scarborough has some ridiculously quirky shops - indie, gothic, posh sea side, tacky seaside. Lots of activities, lots of restaurants and amazing shopping area. There is also York with its tea rooms and museums.

Whitby and daytrip to Scarborough. I found Staithes too busy in the Summer (Whitby is too, but has more places within its radius to dodge to).

@FlickyCrumble you do realise that more than one vendor sells fish and chips? I have to say the fish we had at The Magpie cafe was some of the best I've ever tasted and they had seafood dishes as well as the battered sort.

There is a cheap and cheerful end to Whitby but overall it's a nice eclectic mix. I don't think you'd get the true flavour from a day trip.

Another vote for Northumberland. Seahouses, Bamburgh, Alnwick, Lindisfarne, boat trips to the Farne islands. So beautiful and uncrowded.

If you stay in Whitby I think Sandsend is the best part of the beach for body boarding but they might have flags and lifeguards at a different part. There's often surfers at saltburn but in my view other stuff isn't as nice close by compared to Whitby. I think there's often surfers at Robin Hoods Bay as well.
Whitby or close by is a good base to work from.

If I was holidaying without DS 15 I'd pick Northumberland in preference to Whitby, but we found DS appreciated the buzz of the town and it being small enough that he could walk back to the apartment by himself.

whitby is only an hour from york which is certainly worth a visit too. stay in whitby and do day trips along the coast and to york, also not a million miles from newcastle if you want a retail trip or good museums.

@GiltEdges

Another vote for Whitby here, just got back a few weeks ago after spending a week there with DH, DS and 2 Ddogs Would highly recommend Aislaby as a place to stay if you like walking (and a good village pub!)

I grew up in Aislaby! Glad you enjoyed it

I don't like Whitby but my judgement may be coloured by having awful accommodation there. It's very crowded in summer and not a lot for younger children besides beach.
I love Filey, beach is utterly beautiful and miles of it.
Scarborough has a lot going on for all ages. From surfing to boating lakes. It has a reputation for being shabby but the influx of tourists in the last two years has benefited the town and they have upped their game IMO.
I visited all three places this year so up to date.

You can do surfing at cayton Bay and Scarborough, plus there is a water sports centre between the two.
Lots of little places worth a visit but not as a base - Staithes, Robin Hood's bay and Flamborough.

If I was taking children I would choose scarborough, adults only then Sandsend.

As long as you don’t disturb them go and visit the colony of seals at Ravenscar. For surfing it has to be Cayton Bay.
Do not stay anywhere in Whitby that doesn’t have parking. It’s an absolute nightmare. I’ve lived in the area for most of my life.

@cheeseismydownfall

I honesty don't get the mumsnet Whitby love. We spent a week in Robin Hood's Bay in the summer (it was a toss up between RHB and Whitby, based on how much people rave about Whitby on here). RHB was indeed very quaint, lovely place.

We had expected to spend at least a couple of days in Whitby, but left after two hours and didn't go back. Even the kids hated it. Completely dump. Sorry!

Did you make it as far as the beach? Enormous, gorgeous! So much space