Michelle Jensen, who lives in California, has travelled to the UK several times and says there is one seaside town that stands out above all others
An American traveller who has visited the UK repeatedly claims there is one coastal destination that surpasses all others. She believes its landscape and heritage make it an “incredible” location and she could instantly grasp why it sparked a world-renowned novel.
She remarked that certain areas of the town make you feel precisely like “you’re walking through a film”. Michelle Jensen established Travel Her Story 12 years ago with the goal of inspiring and offering guidance to others, whilst also generating an income for herself.
“I’ve travelled around the UK on several occasions and my favourite town is Whitby for its scenery and history,” Michelle, who resides in California, told the Express.
“Arriving from Edinburgh, I was at first overwhelmed, dragging my suitcase up the hills of Whitby, but once I saw the incredible view of the abbey across the bay, I understood why Bram Stoker had been inspired to write Dracula here.
“After dropping off my luggage, I wandered the streets of this seaside town and took in the Whalebone Arch, Captain Cook’s Statue, had fish and chips at Magpie Cafe and then sat and watched the sunset at a bench dedicated to the famous author.
“The following day, as fog rolled in, I climbed up the 199 stone steps, which offer sweeping views of the harbour and town of Whitby. Along the path are benches said to have been created for those carrying coffins up the hill to rest.”
Whitby is renowned for numerous reasons that extend far beyond its expansive beach and stunning landscape. The town sparked Bram Stoker’s imagination when penning Dracula – with Whitby Abbey, said to have particularly influenced the writer, continuing to dominate the town’s skyline.
It’s also the place where Captain Cook mastered seamanship before setting off on expeditions to distant corners of the globe. A former residence in the town now serves as a museum bearing his name, exploring his life and achievements.
And it’s a remarkable destination for fossil enthusiasts, as many specimens are deposited along the coastline. Visitors seeking to take home something distinctive can buy Whitby Jet, a semi-precious organic gemstone created over millions of years from fossilised tree remains.
Michelle, who grew up in New York, says she took an audioguide tour of the abbey and its museum which she “thoroughly enjoyed”.
“A short walk away, I entered St Mary’s Churchyard. I found it hilarious that they were compelled to post a sign on the door that states ‘Please do not ask where Dracula’s grave is as there isn’t one. Thank you’.
“While the fantastical creature isn’t to be found there, this lovely church surrounded by gravestones truly makes you feel as if you’re walking through a scene in a vampiric film.
“After descending the steps, I made my way to the Captain Cook Memorial Museum. Nestled in Walker’s House, once home to Captain John Walker to whom James Cook was apprenticed in 1746, it now serves as a remarkable museum dedicated to Captain Cook and his contemporaries.
“What truly fascinated me was how Captain Cook was significantly ahead of his era in virtually eradicating scurvy amongst his crew by advocating for a healthy diet. Despite not comprehending the scientific rationale behind a balanced diet’s role in preserving his crew’s health, he succeeded in keeping most of them alive who would have otherwise fallen victim to the disease on other ships.”
She also took a brief detour to the Whitby Lifeboat Museum, a quaint museum that was formerly an RNLI lifeboat station and now commemorates Whitby’s distinguished lifeboat history, and the Whitby Museum, which chronicles the life of this historic coastal town from the Jurassic period to the present day.
“On my final afternoon, I devoted it to scouring Whitby beach for fossils. Although Saltwick Bay Beach is reputed to be a superior spot for such a search, I didn’t have the opportunity to venture there myself, so instead opted for the area just beneath the Captain Cook statue,” Michelle shared.
“I met others on the beach who’ve visited several times and said they’ve found fossils there in the past, but had not much luck on this trip. Apparently, it’s dependent on the weather if any prehistoric fossils wash up. Although I didn’t find any, walking on the beach was still a very enjoyable way to take in the scenery.”
You can visit Michelle’s Travel Her Story blog here.