Michelle Jensen says parts of the town make you feel like ‘you’re walking through a film’
An American travel writer who has returned to the UK repeatedly says there is one seaside destination that stands out above all others. She says its stunning landscape and rich heritage make it an “incredible” location and she could instantly grasp why it inspired a world-famous novel.
She said parts of the town make you feel exactly like “you’re walking through a film”. Michelle Jensen established Travel Her Story 12 years ago with the goal of inspiring and offering guidance to others, as well as generating an income for herself. You can see the places Which? named as the UK’s best and worst seaside towns here.
“I’ve travelled around the UK on several occasions and my favourite town is Whitby for its scenery and history,” Michelle, who lives in California, she told the Express.
“Arriving from Edinburgh, I was at first overwhelmed, dragging my suitcase up the hills of Whitby, but once I saw the incredible view of the abbey across the bay, I understood why Bram Stoker had been inspired to write Dracula here.
“After dropping off my luggage, I wandered the streets of this seaside town and took in the Whalebone Arch, Captain Cook’s Statue, had fish and chips at Magpie Cafe and then sat and watched the sunset at a bench dedicated to the famous author.
“The following day, as fog rolled in, I climbed up the 199 stone steps, which offer sweeping views of the harbour and town of Whitby. Along the path are benches said to have been created for those carrying coffins up the hill to rest.”
Whitby is renowned for numerous reasons that extend far beyond its expansive beach and stunning landscape. The town sparked Bram Stoker’s imagination when penning Dracula – with Whitby Abbey, which reportedly particularly influenced the writer, still towering majestically above the settlement.
It’s also the place where Captain Cook mastered seamanship before setting off on expeditions to distant corners of the globe. A previous residence in the town now carries his name as a museum, exploring his life and achievements.
And it’s a remarkable destination for fossil enthusiasts, as countless specimens are deposited along the coastline. Visitors seeking to take home something distinctive can buy Whitby Jet, a semi-precious organic gemstone created over millions of years from petrified tree remains.
Michelle, who grew up in New York, explains she took an audioguide tour of the abbey and its museum which she “thoroughly enjoyed”.
“A short walk away, I entered St Mary’s Churchyard. I found it hilarious that they were compelled to post a sign on the door that states ‘Please do not ask where Dracula’s grave is as there isn’t one. Thank you’.
“While the fantastical creature isn’t to be found there, this lovely church surrounded by gravestones truly makes you feel as if you’re walking through a scene in a vampiric film.
“After descending the steps, I made my way to the Captain Cook Memorial Museum. Nestled in Walker’s House, once home to Captain John Walker to whom James Cook was apprenticed in 1746, it now serves as a remarkable museum dedicated to Captain Cook and his contemporaries.
“What struck me most was how Captain Cook was light years ahead of his time in virtually eradicating scurvy amongst his crew by insisting on a balanced diet. Despite not understanding the scientific basis behind a nutritious diet’s role in preserving his crew’s health, he managed to keep the majority of them alive who would have otherwise fallen victim to the disease on other ships.”
She also popped into the Whitby Lifeboat Museum, a quaint museum that was formerly an RNLI lifeboat station and now commemorates Whitby’s illustrious lifeboat history, and the Whitby Museum, which chronicles the life of this historic seaside town from the Jurassic era to the present day.
“On my final afternoon, I spent it scouring the beach of Whitby for fossils. Although Saltwick Bay Beach is reputed to be a superior spot for searching, I didn’t have the opportunity to venture there myself, so instead went just below the Captain Cook statue,” Michelle shared.
“I met others on the beach who’ve visited several times and said they’ve found fossils there in the past, but had not much luck on this trip. Apparently, it’s dependent on the weather if any prehistoric fossils wash up. Although I didn’t find any, walking on the beach was still a very enjoyable way to take in the scenery.”
You can visit Michelle’s Travel Her Story blog here.
