Robin
Hood's Bay is a picturesque old fishing village
on the Heritage Coast within the North yorkshire Moors national park.
The narrow streets and quaint
cottages make Robin Hood's Bay one of the most attractive and charming
villages on the English coast line.
Every twist and turn of
the village streets brings into view another picture postcard scene.
Red pan tiles decorate the
roofs of stone cottages and low tide offers great fossil hunting and exploring.
Some of the long distance
walks such as the Cleveland Way, Lyke Wake Walk and the Coast - to - Coast
pass through or end at Robin Hood's Bay.
The surrounding landscape
is spectacular, from the northern most point of Ness sweeping round the
bay to the southern headland of Ravenscar.
Welcome to Robin Hood’s
Bay
Robin Hood’s Bay
Known locally as Bay, or
Baytown, the village of Robin Hood’s Bay began as a fishing community in
the 1500’s. By 1820 it was one of the most prosperous fishing villages
along the coast with over 130 fishermen and their families living there.
Cod. lobster, herring and
crab were caught from small fishing boats called cobles.
The Village
Robin Hood’s Bay village
is divided into two parts. The oldest stone built cottages and narrow streets
are built into the steep cliff side of the coast, forming a compact village
ending at the seashore. The newer grander 19th century homes of former
sea captains enjoy good views out to sea from the top of the village once
known as Upbank.
Smuggler’s Haunt
High taxes in the 18th century
made smuggling a profitable and common occupation in coastal villages such
as Robin Hood’s Bay. Rum, brandy, tobacco, tea and silk were brought
to these shores from Holland & France. Gangs of smugglers delivered
this precious booty inland along a network of underground passages and
secret tunnels through the village.
The Sea and the Shore
Low tide reveals a wide
rocky platform marked with a series of curving ridges or scars (scaurs).
These are formed as the sea wears away the soft shale in between the layers
of hard limestone.
Robin Hood’s Bay is famous
for fossils – marine creatures and plants that were buried in the mud millions
of years ago.
North Yorkshire Moors
North Yorkshire Moors National
Park covers an area of 554 miles2 (1436 km2) and has a wide variety of
scenery and boasts:
• Largest expanse of heather,
moor land in England & Wales
• 26 miles of spectacular
heritage coast
• an internationally important
site for upland breeding birds
• rolling dales with traditional
farms, barns and dry stone walls
• broad leaf woods and conifer
forests
• moor land crosses, historic
buildings and picturesque villages |
