Jo’s Monday walk : Peaceful Staithes

Shall we start with a bench?

Shall we start with a bench view, in Staithes?

You can probably guess how this post is going to go, from my opening shot.  This month Jude is featuring benches ‘by the beach’ in her Bench challenge.  It just so happens that on a windy, partially sunny day this week I had the good fortune to be in Staithes.  It’s one of North Yorkshire’s more characterful seaside villages, with houses tumbling pell-mell down the cliffs. And, importantly, it has a good collection of benches.

Shall I share them now, then we can go walking?

A 'plaice' to bear in mind for your lunchtime fish and chips?

A ‘plaice’ to bear in mind for your lunchtime fish and chips?

Click on any image to see the galleries in detail 

Here are a few of the pub benches
And this is the beach they look down on
Or you can look in the opposite direction
There are benches for those who just like a view
Benches for readers
And even for those who like to be near the icecream van
Everything looks better in the sunshine but those railings do need a coat of paint

Everything looks better in the sunshine but those railings do need a coat of paint

Now that we’ve established where you can eat, or just sit and enjoy the view, let’s go back up to the clifftop where my walk starts.  There’s a car park up there and a nice little TI- not always open because it’s staffed by volunteers. (another job I’d like!)

A map is always helpful

A map is always helpful

As Jude will know, we are in James Cook territory.  Cook had his first employment in Staithes, for a local merchant named William Sanderson, whose quayside shop was destroyed by a violent storm in the early 19th century. Materials from this shop may have been used in the construction of the new premises in Church St., now known as Cook’s Cottage.  A footpath leads off to your right from the top of the village and descends gently between a hodge podge of houses. Beyond the rooftops the cliffs stand guard, keeping a watchful eye on the sea.

Little garden niches hug the cottages
Some grander than others
With a garden wall and a frog
The sea waits patiently below

Below, the sea waits patiently

Descending, the steps squeeze between the houses
Some nicely manicured
Others sharing their garden indiscriminately
Many with a nautical theme
Like this porthole
Communal living
In a confined space
Reminders of the sea, a constant

In the harbour there’s a sense of drama.  These cliffs can both shelter and entrap.  Today not even the chimes of the icecream van disturb the peace, but a wind whips the sand in little flurries. I try to capture the movement with my camera but it craftily eludes me.

Can you feel the motion in the sand?

Can you feel the motion in the sand?

And yet, looking back, all is calm

And yet, looking back, all is calm

The boats sleeping peacefully on the shore

The boats sleeping peacefully on the shore

The baskets, empty

The baskets, empty

Time to climb back up to the cliff top.  Dawdle up Church St. and, if you like, pop into the Arts and Crafts Centre.  It has a lovely little garden at the rear.

Follow the sign
And here’s the pretty garden
And another bench (but not beside the beach)
The crafts are lovely too

The crafts are lovely too

On the cliff top you can join the Cleveland Way– 110 miles of walking, much of it beside the sea. I don’t suggest that you do all of it right now, but I can give you a glimpse of what you might find up there.  It stretches from the hub of Helmsley- a totally different kind of village- inland and down the coast to Filey.  I spent most of my childhood holidays on this coast and I love to return.

Church St.- home to Cook’s Cottage and the Arts and Crafts Centre
Heading for the cliff top
The gorse is blooming
I like these National Trust signs
And these guys were lovely
Completely intent on the job in hand

It was blustery on the cliff tops so I didn’t stay long.  A path off to your left will bring you round behind the village and back to the car park, or you can simply retrace your steps.  Another Monday, another walk!  I hope you’ve enjoyed this one, and please don’t forget to seek out those benches for Jude.

walking logo

Again I have some wonderful shares for you so thank you very much to all who support me and contribute.  You are my happy band of walkers.  Details of how you can join in Jo’s Monday walks are on the logo above.  Time to rest those weary legs and put the kettle on for a good read.

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I can always make time for a day trip.  How about you?  The company’s good!

Day Tripper

It’s many years since I was in beautiful Salzburg.  Debbie had much better weather :

Sunny Stroll along the Salzach

Blossom to die for! (or is that a tad melodramatic?)  Gorgeous, anyway!  Thanks, Violet :

Sakura in the sunshine

Speaking of sunshine, anyone been to Scotland lately?  Cheers, Anabel!

Sunny Dunny : Dunbar

I know that Jude loves the Cornish beaches and sunshine, but the gardens?  Just fabulous!

Garden Portrait : Tremenheere

And while we’re looking at Spring sunshine, let’s visit Meg in Warsaw and those cute ladybugs of hers!

Another day of Spring glory

Praga is a little known area in Warsaw.  This guided tour is fascinating.

Across to the Dark Side

More conjectures and Thames footpath with Geoff :

The Thames Path- Bablock Hythe to Oxford

And Amy, enjoying nature and sharing so beautifully :

Monday Walk 

Prepare yourselves!  It’s tumbling time!  You’ll enjoy this terrific post from Yvette (did you catch the icecream man, hon?)

Force of Nature- walk with Jo

A little more sedately, Jaspa tackles some history, ‘down Panama way’ :

A stroll through Old Panama City, Part 1- Panama Viejo

Down in the southern hemisphere, thoughts are turning to Autumn :

Day 3 of the road trip and we revisit Eastwoodhill 

Brilliant, aren’t they?  I hope you have a happy week.  It’s a Bank Holiday in the UK next weekend but I’ll still be here.  Hope that you will be too.

165 comments

  2. Thank you Jo for taking me on this walk. Your words and photos capturing the charm of the stressed paint railing the quaint cottages, picturesque steep narrow lane ways, the typical costal photo of the upturned dingoes.
    Then your easily read photo of the sing and the information you added about an exceptional man, perhaps the best of those old sea heroes that charted the unknown world, unknowns that is to the empire builders.
    Blogging at its most enjoyable.

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    1. Thanks a lot, Jack 🙂 Though just the other week, this walk feels like a lifetime away, largely due to some family problems. It really is the most beautiful spot and I think you’d love it. Will try and catch up soon. Love to Pauline 🙂

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  3. Pingback: Bench series #21 | TRAVEL WORDS

  4. ed eccomi ad uno dei tuoi grandi reportages che adoro e che esprimono tutta la tua grande passione e gioia per i viaggi e per la fotografia e che cie ne fanno pienamente partecipi
    la foto che più mi è iaciuta è quella del molo che si scorge fra i tetti rossi delle case
    🙂

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  6. Another lovely, bracing walk, Jo. I’d much rather be there than sitting at Heathrow waiting for a long plane ride, but then I wouldn’t be able to walk along my favourite beachfront, so I’ll just have to suck it up and smile. 😄

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  8. Hi there Jo, lovely to meet you. I was pointed in your direction by Anabel Marsh from “Anabels Travel Guide” as she thought I would enjoy your posts and she was right. What a lovely place Staithes is, so charming and quaint, it almost looks like it could be somewhere on the coast of Europe. I have a love of the outdoors and these little fishing villages have a place in my heart. Just reading your post makes we want to put my boots on and go exploring! I recently posted about a short walk I had in Falkirk, Scotland. I hope you enjoy it.
    https://nimphh.wordpress.com/2015/05/20/a-walk-through-history/

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    1. Hello Paul 🙂 Lovely to meet you. I was just about to abandon ship for the evening and go in the bath with my book but I’ll have to hang on a while. Thank you for your kind words 🙂

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      1. I apologise for my late intro in your world and sincerely apologise for getting in the way of your book! I love reading almost as much as walking so I know how good a book and a bath is. I like a glass of red with mine though!

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    2. It’s morning and I’m here again 🙂 Sorry if I sounded churlish last night.. It’s always an effort to prise the laptop from my hands but my book habit is one I’ve clung to down the years. Sometimes I don’t get very much read though 🙂 I’ll try to find time to have a look around at your place.

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    1. I think I’d rather have brisk beauty than sunny ugliness, Jaspa, but don’t quote me on that 🙂 Many thanks for your contribution. I enjoyed it 🙂

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  10. Oh I want to live in one of those cottages by the sea, so idylllic and yes, everything is so much better when the sun shines isn’t it? Gorgeous walk, thank you for taking me with you Jo 🙂

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  13. Hi Jo, I’m now 6 months pregnant, and this post make me wanna go to the beach. Feel the calm and see the blue sky, i think it’s good for me and baby 😀

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    1. That’s wonderful news, Noe! Congratulations 🙂 I hope that you and the baby are keeping well? Boy or girl- do you know, or mind which? So long as it’s healthy is the main thing 🙂

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    1. Never assume, I told myself, as I typed TI. But I was sure you’d have a picture in mind of me behind the counter in that nice little Tourist Information office, Karen. 🙂 Sorry!

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    1. Some of it like your Maine coast (but different 🙂 ), Mary? The scenery, that us. The weather is crazily unpredictable right now. Yesterday we had sunshine, rain, thunder, lightning and hailstones, then back to sun (much later 😦 ) Part of life’s rich pattern 🙂

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  16. I truly envious of all the walking you do, especially through just scenic spots. I most definitely need to exercise more, I must start putting on my trainers and heading off more often. 😉

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    1. Conversely I could happily have explored much of France from your vantage point. It’s always a regret, Keith 🙂 Grass being greener, etc. but I acknowledge how lucky I am with my surrounding scenery. Even this morning I went for a fabulous walk at Finchale Priory, Durham, though now the rain is hammering down. 🙂 Thanks for your visit.

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