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Pictures of Staithes

in the county of North Yorkshire

Staithes, North Yorkshire - Scan of a fairly old photo

About Staithes

Spectacularly set along the North Yorkshire coastline is the pretty fishing village of Staithes, with only the Shetland Islands between it and the Artic, some thousand miles away to the north.

Two headlands guard the natural harbour - the nearby Boulby Head at 600ft is the highest in England. The huge cliffs around these parts are formed mostly of clay, thus causing the serious problem of erosion and Staithes is constantly retreating inland. The local inn has been washed away onseveral occasions and at the last inundation villagers witnessed the terrible sight of hundreds of bottles of Beer and Spirits bobbing around in the sea.

Historically, Captain James Cook resided and worked in Staithes for a Mr. William Sanderson who was a local Grocer and Haberdasher. He was born the son af a farm labourer who lived nearby at Great Ayton and it was Squire Skottowe, his employer, who was responsible for apprenticing the young James to Mr. Sanderson. The shop is long since gone having been washed away by the mighty seas that ravage this coastline but in Church Street, the cottage where Cook lived forms part of the Captain Cook heritage Trail which extends from Marton - his birthplace - to Whitby. In his day this was a very important port and it is from here that James Cook set out on his first sea voyage - in a collier. A statue of Captain Cook stands in Whitby, it bears the famous inscription " To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield". This most famous of Yorkshire's sons must be the finest example of - to coin a Yorkshire phrase "coming up from nowt".

Enough of the history, this pretty fishing village is sprawled around a naturally elongated harbour which is lined with cottage of all shapes and sizes. Many houses, some three and four stories high stretch out across the cliffs and their high vantage point allows for magnificent views of the tumbling seas below.

There is a strong fishing community in these parts and the little harbour is constantly alive with colourful fishing boats and their owners, many of whom sell their catch to the local hotels and inns. In Staithes, you can be quite certain that fish is always the dish of the day.


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Staithes

Skelton Castle(8.2 miles, 13.2 km, direction W)Pictures
Whitby Lighthouse(8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction SE)Pictures
Whitby Abbey(9.2 miles, 14.9 km, direction SE)Pictures
Guisborough Priory(10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction W)Pictures
Whitby High Lighthouse(10.6 miles, 17.1 km, direction SE)Pictures
Mallyan Spout Waterfall(11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction S)Pictures
Falling Foss Waterfall(11.4 miles, 18.4 km, direction SE)Pictures
Sneaton Forest(11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction SE)Pictures
Rosedale Moor(12.5 miles, 20.1 km, direction S)Pictures
North York Moors National Park(13.1 miles, 21.1 km, direction S)Pictures
Roseberry topping(13.3 miles, 21.4 km, direction W)Pictures
Flatts Lane Woodland Country Park(13.9 miles, 22.3 km, direction W)Pictures
Hayburn Wyke Nature Reserve(19.5 miles, 31.4 km, direction SE)Pictures
Dalby Forest(20.1 miles, 32.4 km, direction S)Pictures
Billingham Beck Valley Country Park(20.8 miles, 33.4 km, direction W)Pictures

All attractions in Staithes
All attractions in North Yorkshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Staithes

Runswick Bay, in the county of North Yorkshire (2.3 miles, 3.8 km, direction SE)
Runswick Bay lies at the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, the village is tucked between rising cliffs at the western end of a lovely sweep of sand.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Sandsend, in the county of North Yorkshire (6.0 miles, 9.7 km, direction SE)
A wildly beautiful rugged coastal area with over two and a half miles of uninterrupted golden sand which in high summer is idyllic for holiday makers, and attractive to surfers.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Saltburn-by-the-Sea, in the county of Cleveland (7.4 miles, 11.9 km, direction W)
A lovely winding road drops down from the valley above to this small seaside resort and fishing haven.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Whitby, in the county of North Yorkshire (8.7 miles, 14.0 km, direction SE)
This historic small fishing town is part of the Heritage Coast of North East England. It is a place of historical interest and was the home of the most famous 18th century explorer and voyager; Captain James Cook. Whitby also has one of the finest examples of Anglo Saxon churches in England.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Marske-by-the-Sea, in the county of Cleveland (9.3 miles, 15.0 km, direction W)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Guisborough, a Historic Market Town in the county of Cleveland (10.3 miles, 16.6 km, direction W)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Westerdale, in the county of North Yorkshire (10.7 miles, 17.1 km, direction SW)
Nestling in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, Westerdale affords the visitor wonderful views over the surrounding dales.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Goathland, in the county of North Yorkshire (11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction S)
Sheep graze on the course grasses that surround the greystone houses of this straggling moorland village
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Robin Hood's Bay, in the county of North Yorkshire (13.4 miles, 21.6 km, direction SE)
The talk in the local pub is all of Robin Hood, did he pass through this bay whilst journeying to Whitby, or did he not?
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Rosedale Abbey, in the county of North Yorkshire (14.5 miles, 23.3 km, direction S)
This is a lovely village hidden in a lush green valley landscape of sweeping hillsides, meadows and breathtaking scenery.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Levisham, in the county of North Yorkshire (17.5 miles, 28.1 km, direction S)
This beautiful isolated moorland village overlooks Newton Dale; the road plunges down towards the station, a watermill and a church, on Levisham Beck.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Seaton Carew, in the county of County Durham (17.5 miles, 28.2 km, direction NW)
Seaton Carew lies at the edge of urbanised Hartlepool, it has seaside amusements and a lovely stretch of firm sand.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Middlesbrough, in the county of North Yorkshire (17.7 miles, 28.5 km, direction W)
When today you look at the thriving metropolis of Middlesbrough it seems impossible to believe that less than two hundred years ago it was a tiny fishing village with a minute community, but it was.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Lastingham, in the county of North Yorkshire (17.8 miles, 28.6 km, direction S)
Lastingham is a small village set amidst fine wooded Yorkshire countryside. It is an area renowned for its wonderful scenery where often in a quiet lane you will find an ancient corn mill.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Hartlepool, in the county of County Durham (19.2 miles, 30.8 km, direction NW)
This is an ancient seaport and county borough which merged with its Victorian neighbour, West Hartlepool in 1967.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in North Yorkshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Leaholm Station(6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction S)
Saltburn Station(7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction W)
Teesside International Airport(25.7 miles, 41.4 km, direction W)
A1(M) Junction 60(29.5 miles, 47.5 km, direction W)
A1(M) Junction 59(30.9 miles, 49.7 km, direction W)
Newcastle International Airport(48.8 miles, 78.5 km, direction NW)
Staithes to London(212.6 miles, 342.1 km, direction S)

Hotels & Accommodation in Staithes

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Staithes center
Cliffemount Hotel - A non-smoking Hotel(2.3 miles, 3.7 km, direction SE)
Grinkle Park Hotel(2.9 miles, 4.6 km, direction SW)
Hunley Hall Golf Club And Hotel(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction W)
Duke Of Wellington Inn(7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction SW)
Dunsley Hall Country House Hotel(7.8 miles, 12.6 km, direction SE)
The Wheeldale(8.1 miles, 13.1 km, direction SE)
Broom House Guest House and Country Cottages(8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction S)
The Europa(8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction SE)
The Waverley(8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction SE)
Macdonald Gisborough Hall(9.8 miles, 15.7 km, direction W)
All hotels in Staithes

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