The Whitby Beaches, a wonderful Stretch of Coastline in North Yorkshire
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Posted On :
Jul-19-2011
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Article Word Count :
701
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Whitby in North Yorkshire has two distinct beaches, the smaller Tate Hill Beach, and the larger West Cliff Beach. Find out more about the twon of Whitby and it's beautiful coastline.
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Along the coastline of the North Yorkshire Coast, Whitby is without a doubt the jewel in the crown. This busy seaside town with its vibrant harbour and great beaches is a magnet for tourists both in this country and abroad.
Over the last hundred years, and almost certainly from the first appearance of the Steam Railway by George Stephenson and George Hudson in 1832, the coastal town of Whitby has been the place to go for thousands of tourists. In more recent years, however, the emphasis has moved away from the 'normal' 2 weeks besides the seaside in the summer months, to a more relaxed week's holiday, a 'couple of days' away, a weekend break or even day trips throughout the year.
While there is a great history to the town and a lot to see and do, the beaches of Whitby really are a magnet for families and people wanting to either unwind or take bracing walks along the coastline or even to the adjoining coastal village of Sandsend (tides permitting). There are, in fact, two beaches associated with Whitby. The bigger West Cliff Beach and the smaller East side Tate Hill Beach.
Tate Hill beach on the East side of the resort is between the Tate Hill Pier and the East Pier. This small sandy beach is quite sheltered and is ideal for families with young children wishing to paddle in the river as it is not tidal and therefore has a degree of calmness. Further along the beach towards the East Pier at low tide there are a several rock pools to explore as well as the discovery of fossils found all along the North East Coast but particularly prevalent within the Whitby region!
The West Cliff beach may be accessed from the slipway near the West Pier, and the gold colored sands stretch all the way to Upgang, and then beyond reaching as far as Sandsend. A walk from Whitby to Sandsend should only be undertaken with prior knowledge of the tides! There are other routes of access, primarily the walkways from the West Cliff location that zig-zag down the cliffside, there's the cliff-lift, opened in 1931 and operated during the peak summer season. This consists of a vertical shaft descending through boulder clay to a pedestrian tunnel (certainly an easier descent than the walk down and even easier on the ascent). Presently there is vehicle access via Upgang making the launching of jet skis and speedboats a possibility. This area is also especially well-liked by surfers.
West Cliff Beach itself is very popular year round. In the summer months there is the availability of windbreak and deckchair hire near to the slipway and, of course, the popular donkey rides. From May until the beginning of September there are lifeguards in attendance offering both information, rescue and first aid services. Cafes and toilet facilities are within easy walking distance as are the ever welcome ice-cream sellers!
There are a lot of iconic photos taken from the beaches in Whitby, the stretch of vibrantly coloured beach huts lined up in a row standing to attention, the optical illusion of the sun setting in the sea but only through the months of June and July (in fact it sets further north behind Sunderland), the arms of the piers stretching out in the North Sea to welcome the ships coming safely into the harbour and a flotilla of yachts with sails displayed dipping in the waves against the backdrop of Sandsend on a Sunday afternoon.
In the wintertime, the beaches are fully open to dog walkers as in summer time there are restrictions at either end of the stretch of beach from Whitby to Sandsend. At numerous times of the year this beach plays host to a lot of events. At Whitby Regatta in the summer, you will find motorbike gymkhanas and sand races and at the exact same point on Boxing Day there is the charity Boxing Day Dip where hardy folk in all manner of fancy dress run into the sea up to their waists in order to raise funds for their particular charity. No matter the weather Brrrrr!
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Whitby Beaches, a wonderful Stretch of Coastline in North Yorkshire_67430.aspx
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For more information about Whitby and the surrounding area, visit
Whitby Beach
Things to do in WhitbyWHitby UK
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Keywords :
whitby beach, whitby beaches, things to do in whitby, whitby uk,
Category :
Travel and Leisure
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Destinations
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