Pickering/ Whitby

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Hi

We are staying in the Premier Inn at Pickering for a few nights over the weekend.

We have planned to go to Whitby on Saturday and Eden Camp on Monday.

Does anyone have any recommendations of anything we should see or do and have any places we should try to eat?

If you do go to the Abbey, there's a great live performance of Dracula 3 times every Saturday. It's very clever, kid friendly, absorbing... takes just over an hour. Definitely makes the entrance fee worthwhile!

Whitby Folk Week starts on Saturday, so lots and lots of good music events on if that takes your fancy.

We had an excellent Indian meal in Pickering. I think it was the Namaste Bengal. My children still talk about it and we were there in 2020.

Willowgate Bistro in Pickering is great and v affordable much better than White Swan in my opinion.

Fox & Hounds in Sinnington also nice and Blacksmiths Arms at Lastingham

The lion inn at Blakey on the top of the moors is good too.

You are not far from Castle Howard, plus the Arboretum, which are both lovely

The Steam railway is fab, yiu can get on and off at the different stops, there is a great walk between Grosmont and Goathland

Pickering Castle and Helmsley Castle

We like Sandsend. Worth it just for this www.fishcottage.co.uk

There is a lovely newish book shop in Pickering at the top of market place. They often have authors in. pickeringbooktree.co.uk/event-details/lizzie-pepper. You may not still be here for this one

Oh I love pickering. Would also recommend figaro's Italian, it was really good. I think we went to the cinema in malton on a wet day- very old fashioned and lovely. We always take bikes as Dalby forest is great for that (or walks) or to ride along the coast path from robin hoods bay to whitby and back. There's a nice walk from Goathland that takes in some great views and rivers and the train.
Scarborough is also a great day out- go surfing on North beach.
Love yorkshire!

Fish Cottage at Sandsend is brilliant and if you go to Helmsley Sunday lunch at The Feathers is fabulous

Also Rosedale show is on this Saturday

Rosedale Show is on on Saturday www.rosedaleshow.co.uk/rs_mobile.htm

I agree that The Magpie is over hyped. They're nothing special if you're used to proper Yorkshire fish and chips. I think they just have better PR and its self perpetuating.

DP and I ate at the restaurant because we happened to be there mid week out of season so the queue was only minimal so its nice to say we've had Magpie fish and chips but I wouldn't rush back.

@BarbaraofSeville where would you recommend, if not Magpie?

Threshers in Whitby is great. There’s also some lovely

Sorry, there’s some lovely ones in Filey too. And it’s a bit quieter than Whitby.

@SparkleMonster Not sure, it's just that the way people rave about the Magpie, I was expecting something next level out of this world, but they were just fish and chips, like those from the slightly crap local chippy when you CBA going out to the nicer one a bit further away.

But I think it's more a case that we're very spoilt for fish and chips in Yorkshire and it's elsewhere like London where all the travel writers are from that are rubbish in comparison, so are bowled over even by the average ones here.

I liked the one at Sandsend and I think next time I go, I'll try the Fisherman's Wife.

My two favourite walks are round there - Helmsley Castle to Rievaulx Abbey, and Robin Hood's Bay to Ravenscar. The latter is harder than it might first look as you keep dropping down to the sea, but both so lovely.

Everyone else has mentioned the ones I'd recommend:
Nunnington Hall is the best stately home (I'm pinching it off the National Trust when I win the lottery, money no object) love it more than Castle Howard etc etc
In Pickering - Country Crusts at the bottom of the market place do the best takeaway breakfasts and are lovely staff. They also do magnificant hot beef/pork sandwiches at lunch times.
Bothams in Pickering for a lemon bun (just opposite the railway station). They have a lovely little cafe as well.
Cedar Barn as others have mentioned not far from the Premier Inn.

There's also Steam and Moorland out on the Whitby Road which is a nice garden centre and cafe.
Thorntondale is a bit meh really, although Wardills does sell everything known to man and is worth it for that alone but once you've had a baldersons icecream, nipped into the gift shop and taken a photo of the thatched cottage that's about it.

Nosh is a nice cafe at the top of the market place in Pickering.
Sandsend over Whitby which is likely to be totally rammed - I think Mulgrave Castle woodlands are open and if so it's lovely walking through there.

Magpie Cafe - to be honest I wouldn't go there for the fish and chips, you'll spend half the day queuing.
Ref Whitby - I'd catch the steam train into Whitby - get the first train out - and then spend all day in Whitby without fighting for parking spaces etc and the station is right in the centre of Whitby and I'd walk over the bridge into the old part, then up the 199 steps to the abbey/church.
If you aren't exhausted by the 199 steps in the old part of town then you can venture into the new part of town (past the Magpie and Amusements) towards the Fishermans Wife and then up the Kyber Pass (more steps!) onto West Cliff for the Whale Bones and the paddling pool (not sure if it's got water in it at the moment!), crazy golf and magnificent views.

Don't bother with Scarborough, Castle Howard or York if you are only in the area for a couple of days.
Eden Camp is fabulous.
The NYMR is equally fabulous.
Pickering Castle is lovely and dinky and has great views but you will likely be in an out in an hour tops.
The Parish Church in Pickering has great murals on the wall (top of market place).
Another vote for Figaros and any of the Indian Restaurants. Russells Cafe for more traditional breakfast type place.
Beck Isle Museum in Pickering is a great small museum.

After typing this out I think I need a trip to Pickering!

Thanks everyone.

I was born in Bradford and lived there until I went to uni in Liverpool and met a boy 😂 and I never went back.

I agree Yorkshire fish and chips are the best and it's one of the things I miss.

I've spent many a childhood holiday in Scarborough and Bridlington. In fact my brother lives there now.

I'm really excited now. We just booked a few days to keep my daughter occupied before the GCSE results next week. Looks like we might have to come back as we have a list to work through.

A relative of mine lives in Thornton - le -Dale just down the road from Pickering. We visit regularly.

Loads to do:

Dalby Forest - biking, walking, activity area and go-ape.
Flamingo Land
Walk around Thornton and get ice cream. Or visit Mathewsons from Bangers and Cash.
Pickering railway
Fish and chips in Whitby fried in tallow (how it should be!)
Robin Hood’s Bay

Plus a lot more.