To go to Whitby beach tomorrow

[BubblyBarbara]

I’ve gone to Whitby every year for the past decade or so and I’m missing it dearly. I’ve read Boris’s PDF and it says you are allowed to drive any distance to “open space” from tomorrow so my plan is to go to Whitby and spend the day on the beach - social distancing of course.

But I did a search on Facebook about car parks etc (it’s ok the parking inspectors are furloughed so I can park anywhere I like) and found lots of angry posts on local groups about how the people of Whitby don’t want people coming into their town yet

It’s legal for me to go tomorrow but the locals don’t want us to go.. who is BU here? I say the law is more important than what the locals say.

I wouldn't personally, I'd be too worried of where I'd park, worrying a local might damage my car out of anger that we are there, where to go to toilet? what would happen if I were to break down on the way? can imagine having to wait ages for recovery.
however saying all that legally you can because Boris Johnson said so so if you want to go go Whitby, scarbough, brid ect are my local seasides and I can imagine there going to be rammed this weekend if the weathers nice.

How long does it take to get there on a Bank Holiday? Because that's the sort of travelling time you're looking at.

How far away are you? 30 minutes is probably reasonable as you can have a stroll and then go home again. If you are 2 hours away then that’s a day trip and probably isn’t reasonable. It will be cold and nothing will be open, not even toilets, just stay local. I’m originally from the North Yorkshire Coast but now live about 2 hours away. I’m desperate to see my home town but not under these circumstances

As long as you abide by the social distancing rules

Have you ever been to Whitby?

The greatwave why is it ok for you to go to the sea (20 min drive) and it unreasonable
For the OP to go (1hr drive) you mention parking as the problem but you will have to park too?

Why have you made up an imaginary travel distance ?

I live in Dorset. Tourists are firmly not wanted right now.

You can technically go but have some respect for the locals and the risk they are being put at.

Just to add I do know Whitby is miles from Cumbria just referencing the tourism angle !

I cannot understand why people who do not live on the coast or near beauty spots are thinking it is OK for them to suddenly overcrowd our local habitat and potentially spread the virus where figures are low, just because they want a day out. So selfish. Just wait. We who live here do not have an alternative because WE LIVE HERE.

I live just over half an hour from the coast, I grew up in a seaside town and have been massively pining for a walk on the beach, I know it’ll do my mental health the world of good.
With the slight loosening of restrictions I do plan to go this weekend, but I am nervous of the reactions of locals. Our plan is to go super early in the morning, and head back home by 9am. I’m hoping this is an acceptable, responsible approach, although I fear later in the day things are going to get busy.
So no, I don’t think you’re unreasonable to go, but think what you can do to minimise problems.

I wouldn't but I'm not rushing to the local park either. Just because we can doesn't mean it's safe to. Up to you though.

Are you prepared to turn around and come home immediately if it's busy?

Most other countries gave out strict limits on how far you're allowed to travel and I think it's really risky we haven't

Agreed. I think it is absolutely shameful that we, as a nation, apparently need to be told that day trips to the beach in the midst of a global pandemic that has killed many thousands, aren't essential.

Could you look at other away-from-town beaches along the Yorks coast? I live a bit further south & am always struck by how much people crowd into the same few town-based beaches. I'm defo heading to the beach at some point soon (we're not far inland), but our local stretch of coastline has plenty of arse-end-of-nowhere beaches & we drive.

But it’s so cold.

You're allowed to drive for exercise, not a day out. YABU to go to an area which is already struggling with overcrowding because people wont stay away, it is massively unfair on the locals who want to go out for exercise but are unable to because they can't socially distance themselves. You wouldn't normally go to Whitby for exercise so why bend the rules now and use it for that purpose?

You are also ignoring how much Whitby has been in the media with people begging non-locals to stay away so that social distancing can be possible. There are police there asking people to turn around, it was in the papers only yesterday that this will continue if people flock there.

Travel to the places that you would usually go to for exercise, going to sit on a beach for the day is not exercise. It does seem unfair and I totally understand, but imagine if everyone flocked to your hometown? You'd have a higher risk of infection.

I'm 20 minutes down the road from Whitby, it isn't local, I wouldn't usually go there for exercise so therefore I'm respecting the rules (and the locals) and staying away until lockdown is lifted.

But I did a search on Facebook about car parks etc (it’s ok the parking inspectors are furloughed so I can park anywhere I like)

Are they really? The parking attendants have been out in force around where I live!

In answer to your original question..... I wouldn’t go....

Doodad That picture of Filey busier than a Saturday in August. It looks high tide, so no beach but even so.

Biscuit I am not a doomster. I do however know Whitby well and know that is not a great idea to visit tomorrow. It can wait.

In my opinion, if you would be happy with a ton of people suddenly decided to visit where you live, you would not be unreasonable to travel to go elsewhere.

If it would annoy you, then you shouldn't do it to others.

Just to add, the risk of transmission in the open air is miniscule (there was a great long detailed Twitter thread recently by a Scottish-based virologist summing up all the latest research - basically the big issue is unsurprisingly prolonged close proximity in enclosed places).

Why do locals think they own the beaches etc in the UK??

Absolutely go.

I'm sure the NHS are planning on how many people they will see from the first rush out of lock down. Germany has had to revise its lifting of its lock down due to rising cases already, and have you seen the size of the predicted second wave? Looks like a tsunami in comparison to the ripple of the first one.

I don't understand what is selfish about driving to a beach. If social distancing is observed then no problem, surely.

The car parks will be open again soon and suddenly the hostile locals will be begging for the tourist pound.

My family are from Whitby, the locals really don’t want you there. It’s all over social media.

OP it’s allowed - go for it