Feb half term in Whitby - any locals care to share hidden treasures?

[LidlDonkey]

DH, DS(16) and I will be visiting for 4 days. We'd like to go fossil-hunting, so would appreciate any info on the best places for that.

Also good places to eat, real ale pub recommendations,or anything quirky or interesting. We'll have a car so can move around the area a bit.

Many TIA.

Saltwick bay is supposed to be the best for fossils but we have found more on the east cliff flats (just outside the habour to the right - you can get to it from Henrietta Street or the ramp from Tate Hill beach). when the tide is right out there are loads. Be careful with tides there though, they come in fast. Saltwick bay is a shot walk along the cliffs, there's a nice little café at the campsite there.
The brewery opposite the abbey is good, it has bands on sometimes.

Yes to saltwick for fossils. If you want help then the natural wonders shop does guided walks which are very good, see their website to book on.

Watching with interest, as also going for half term with a teenager!

My teenagers like going to the pubs in Whitby. Their favourites are the Duke of York and the Endeavor. I often drag them along the beach (about 2 miles I think) to the café at Sandsend for coffee & cake.
In school holidays there are films on in the spooky old theatre on the west cliff, the old part of Whitby Pavilion.

The Dracula Experience is good but might not going to be to everyone’s taste, as it’s pretty low budget and a bit cheesy at times, but if you want to have a amusing touristy hour with somewhat “special” effects and live actors, you‘ll enjoy it.
The Magpie is THE place to go for quintessential fish and chips. Make sure you book ahead or try to bag a table earlier on in the day, as there will be queues. If you don’t manage to book and you don’t want to queue, try Quayside or Trenchers.
Robin Hood’s Bay is only a 15 minute drive and theres an award-winning ghost walk through narrow streets and alleyways when it gets dark. Just a mile or so down the beach from Robin Hood's Bay towards Ravenscar you'll find Boggle Hole. You'll find plenty of fossils on the this part of the beach, as well as Whitby Jet if you've got a really keen eye!
There’s bike hire and Go Ape at Daley Forest which is quite close. It’s a mountain biking paradise. There’s a great cafe too.
The North York Moors railway steam train goes from Whitby to Pickering. It was used in the Harry Potter films.
Fortune’s Smokehouse is brilliant. If you don’t think you’re a fan of kippers, you will be by the time you’ve left Fortune’s. You’ll smell it before you see it! They also smoke bacon, if you really can’t be swayed to kippers.

We went fossil hunting nearby with a guide, my kids are younger and they loved it, friend got his details from the Guardian, article here. There are fossils to be found all along the coast, even walking on Redcar beach you can find small fossils at high tide. But read up on where is safe to go, every so often you hear about people getting caught by the tide.

We love the Abbey and St Mary's Church and the 199 steps. All of which are on the tourist trail. It is very busy in the town itself, the Magpie Cafe is always recommended and the fish is delicious but I went in Nov when there were no queues.

Nearby Staithes or Robin Hoods Bay are picturesque, it's probably worth taking hiking boots and walking some of the Cleveland Way.

Thank you so much everyone, some fantastic info there. We've been to Whitby very briefly once before, so really looking forward to a bit more time there.

Will report back after our trip. Thanks again!

Ghost walks in Whitby too - the same person also does RHB. You can join a group walk or book one just for your family.

Runswick Bay is lovely.

If you go on the beach at Staithes, do keep away from the foot of the cliffs.

The Youth Hostel at Boggle Hole has a nice café.

Do buy a Tide Table and use it.

Seals on the beach at Ravenscar, if you're up to a steep hike down and back up.

Plenty of cash for parking at the top of the hills above Staithes, Runswick Bay and RHB - cars not allowed down.

A second recommendation for lovely Sandsend - 2 good cafés, one serving mainly fresh pizza and coffee, and the other at the very far end has quite a wide menu and cakes.

Very good local coffee, beer and cider in RHB.

Best to check opening times and days for everything at this time of year.