Robin Hood’s Bay

Situated on the beautiful North Yorkshire Heritage Coast, the village has always been connected with the sea. It is first mentioned in 1538 as a “fisher townlet of twenty boats” and fishing was the main livelihood here until the end of the 19th century. At its peak, Robin Hoods Bay’s importance as a fishing centre surpassed that of Whitby! Little has changed since the last century and despite the decline of the once thriving fishing industry you can still see local fishermen working on their nets and lobster pots before putting their boats out to sea.

Robin Hood’s Bay is one of the most charming and popular villages in the North York Moors National Park, 5 miles/8 kilometres south-east of Whitby.

Once a busy little fishing village Robin Hoods Bay is popular all the year round and is perfect for summer holidays and winter breaks. Explore the North East Coast, the North York Moors or stay close to the scenic old village with its cafes, pubs, fish and chips, gift and sweet shops and enjoy the spectacular landscape and fascinating beach with its Jurassic scars, rock pools full of diverse marine life and firm sand.

Robin Hoods Bay old village, situated in the lower bay, is a mass of narrow winding streets, alleyways and cobbled paths leading to many beautiful and curious cottages. It is easy to imagine the smugglers of old secretly moving and hiding their contraband! Robin Hoods Bay was an ideal location in the past for well-organised trade in smuggled goods! Many of the cottages in the Bay are said to connect by cupboards or underground passages some of which opened out into Kings Beck – it is still possible to see the blocked up tunnel entrances!