The bay is a must-visit for anyone who loves the great outdoors and is looking for a fun day out
Whitby, a place I’d never visited before, had always been on my radar due to the numerous positive reviews. With its picturesque views, charming independent shops and a history-rich seaside town, it was hard not to fall in love with Whitby upon arrival – it’s easy to see why it gets such high praise.
My family and I had the pleasure of visiting last month, and we were far from disappointed. There was an abundance of activities to keep us entertained, including exploring the iconic Whitby Abbey, ascending the 199 Steps, and taking leisurely strolls through Pannett Park and Whitby Museum.
We also took the opportunity to explore Whitby Harbour and, naturally, indulged in a traditional meal of fish and chips. Beyond the obvious family-friendly attractions, the town is steeped in intriguing history, particularly its connections to Dracula.
Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, found his inspiration for the renowned novel during a visit to this quaint seaside town in 1890. He incorporated local landmarks such as Whitby Abbey and St Mary’s Church graveyard into the story’s setting, and even based the ship Demeter on the real-life shipwreck of the Russian schooner, the Dmitry, reports the Express.
However, the standout highlight of our trip was undoubtedly Saltwick Bay. Located about a mile east of Whitby and facing northeast, the bay can be accessed via a footpath that starts near Whitby Holiday Park, which overlooks the bay from atop the cliff.
Saltwick Bay proved to be an extraordinary location, quickly revealing itself as a favourite haunt for fossil enthusiasts along the Yorkshire coast. Hours seemed to vanish as we examined each rock pool and scrutinised every spherical stone with our trusty hammer, chisel, gloves and goggles.
The experience was reminiscent of childhood adventures, and I would eagerly return. The abundance of fossils was staggering, with discoveries including intriguing ammonites and belemnites. Whitby jet was also plentiful, a material local shops skilfully transform into jewellery for sale.
Rumour has it that remnants of marine reptiles (ichthyosaurs) and even dinosaur footprints and plant fossils are embedded in the upper layers – though these are protected and cannot be collected. We found the most effective method of searching was to hunt for ammonite nodules amongst the pebbles on the shore, which can be gently split open with a geological hammer.
We timed our visit to coincide with low tide, and after several hours of fossil hunting, the tide gradually began to reclaim the beach. During this period, I managed to capture some truly beautiful images of the beach – the kind you’d proudly share on Instagram.
The bay is framed by dramatic cliffs, rugged rock formations, and the imposing Black Nab outcrop. It’s no surprise that it’s a hit with photographers and nature lovers.
If you’re planning a visit, bear in mind that Saltwick Bay isn’t your typical well-maintained beach and doesn’t have any facilities. Access is only possible via a steep and rather demanding footpath or through Whitby Holiday Park. The steps present quite a challenge both ascending and descending – but reaching this destination makes the effort worthwhile.
Another truly distinctive and captivating aspect of Saltwick Bay is its shipwrecks, particularly the Admiral Von Tromp, a fishing vessel that sank in 1976. There’s also the SS Rohilla, a hospital ship that ran aground in 1914.
The eerie abandoned remains of the Admiral Von Tromp can only be viewed on the beach when the tide is out. This spectacle is particularly brilliant to photograph if you’re an enthusiastic snapper or simply appreciate history.
On TripAdvisor, numerous visitors have given their opinions on Saltwick Bay and Whitby. One recent review reads: “Beautiful views and interesting geology. However, there are extremely steep steps down so probably not a good idea for anyone with mobility issues.”
Another commented: “Within minutes our children had found a fossil just laying on the pebbled beach by the rocks. There was some hardcore hunters there with all the gear and a bit of an idea.” One other visitor said: “Absolutely beautiful beach! This was our first visit and we hope to return again. The beach is clean, dog friendly and just beautiful!”
Someone else said: “Great little beach where you can go fossil hunting. It’s clean and tidy and dog friendly, steepish walk down, you’ll need to be mobile. Limited parking but we got a spot nearby, there’s a free car park for about 10 cars and considering Whitby was jam packed we still got a spot.”
Another satisfied beach-goer wrote: “AMAZING, fossil hunting beach 10 minutes from Whitby. Beautiful and my boys found plenty of fossils in their two hour search.highly recommended.”