Staithes in North Yorkshire ranked alongside Pico Island in the Azores, the colourful villages of Villajoyosa in Spain and floating houses of Lake Bokod in Hungary as one of Europe’s hidden gems
A charming UK fishing town was recently named one of Europe’s ‘hidden gems’.
In a new list by European Best Destinations, Staithes in North Yorkshire ranked alongside Pico Island in the Azores, the colourful villages of Villajoyosa in Spain and the floating houses of Lake Bokod in Hungary as one of the continent’s 18 most special and overlooked attractions.
And if you’ve ever visited, like I did recently, you’ll definitely understand why. Nestled between two rugged cliffs above the North Sea, a nice stroll in Staithes feels like you’ve stumbled upon some idealised version of coastal living. I was even lucky enough to catch a bit of picture-postcard sunshine on my short but sweet trip.
Staithes is the same town that gave the world explorer Captain Cook, but it’s now home to a sweep of artsy shops, good pubs and high-quality restaurants. One great way to get there is to walk a few miles along the dramatic North Yorkshire coastline from Saltburn. From there, you can peer over the top of the town onto the fishing cottages below, before descending into the village to check out what’s around.
You’ll notice straight away that there’s a big emphasis on arts and crafts around the place – and that’s how they like it here, as the 19th century saw the town populated by the Staithes Group – a collective of painters drawn by its fishing traditions and seafaring way of life. While people’s lifestyles have moved with the times, the creative feel has stayed, and in the town’s Staithes Gallery I gazed through some intriguing modern artworks inspired by life next to the sea. Dotted around the town are also a number of tiny gift shops and blink-and-you’ll-miss-them bits of public artwork.
Despite being quite cosy in size, Staithes is nowhere near as packed as nearby Whitby – and quieter even than Robin Hood’s Bay, another delightful fishing town located just down the coast. So I was able to wander down to the harbourside quite easily, where the Cod & Lobster pub offers the chance for a quick pint overlooking the beach and, I’m told, some very decent seafood.
One of the delights this town offers is how it is split in two sides by the Staithes Beck river, allowing for a scenic walk along the beach before you go up the steps and head around the corner, all while still by the water and in full view of the cliffs. There’s also a rise back into the cliffs on the side to the north of the river, offering great views back into the town, beach and sea.
I stayed a short drive away in Whitby, but if you’re fancying an overnight stay there’s plenty of accommodation around in terms of bed and breakfasts, some of them directly next to the beach. I’d certainly suggest spending the night if you can.
There’s plenty of pretty seaside destinations we perhaps don’t treasure enough here in Britain – Staithes I think might just be the loveliest of them all – so I’m glad to see that recognition is now coming from a little further afield.
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