Looking up, looking down- in Whitby!

Looking down on Saltwick Nab

Looking down on Saltwick Nab

The cliff tops at Whitby are a great place from which to look down.  Can you see those two tiny specks of people way out in the bay? The tide was as low as I’ve ever seen it, and I think that they might have been seeking fossils, normally hidden beneath the waves.

The Nab is beautiful

The Nab is beautiful as the light catches the hump of its back

Click on a photo to open the gallery

Withstanding the rub of the sea
What might lie beneath these rock pools?
These two are keen to find out
What stories these rocks might tell

What stories these rocks could tell

As we approach the outstretched arms of the pier at Whitby

As we approach the outstretched arms of the pier at Whitby

Stories of shipwrecks

Stories of shipwrecks

And pirates!

And of pirates!

At the bottom of Whitby’s 199 steps (I never remember to count) W. Hamond is Whitby’s original jet shop, established in 1860.  The jewellery looks fabulous, and nowadays there’s a tea shop, if you don’t mind a few more steps.  Or there’s always icecream!  For once I had a project in mind as I was walking around.  As I paused to look up at some cherubs on the HSBC building, an elderly gentlemen grasped me by the arm.  ‘You should come inside’ he said, leading me firmly through the heavy doorway.  The old carved wood was highly polished and beautiful (and the bank clerks totally ignored me), but the ceiling was the surprise.   Who would have thought?

Click on a photo for a closer look

Looking up- doesn’t the window box look good?
Or maybe the icecream looks better?
Looking up!
The HSBC building
I wonder what the ceiling’s like in this one?

And the project I had in mind?  Joining lovely Debbie on Travel with Intent.  She spends her Thursdays looking up and looking down. This week she has some wonderful photos of the Forth Rail Bridge, and it’s week 96 of the challenge.  What are you waiting for?

So let's finish with a look up at the abbey

Let’s just finish with a look up at the Abbey

And down those steps!

And down those steps!

 

148 comments

  1. Lovely! Quite a mix with the abbey and the novelty sign at the ice cream shop! Love the idea of looking up and down – might have to join in on that one sometime !

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  5. stunning views from the cliff top, Jo! sad story about the hospital ship but i would love to see the ruins of the abbey! lovely walk as always, Jo! thank you so much for sharing!

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  6. I love those views, Jo, and I especially like the one of the steps into the village. We have pirate history, too. My son and his family arrived in London yesterday by Chunnel after a week spent in Ireland. I wish I were there with them, but Whitby through your eyes will do.😊

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  7. Jo I love the views from the cliff tops! Wow what a stunning place. I would love to explore with those two below. Like a treasure hunt!
    You certainly get around. Have you ever thought of doing a book or e-book on walks?

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    1. If only I’d had the wellies, Sue! 🙂 Actually I was out with the walking group on Monday, when I took most of these, so it wasn’t feasible, but one day I will! If I didn’t spend so much time on the blog, I might think about a book, but I don’t really know if there’s a market or even how to go about it. Maybe I need to take some time off blogging and focus? (I was out at the coast again today- another lovely walk coming up 🙂 )

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      1. Not that I personally know about it Jo but lots of travel, or other genres of bloggers have e-books and then sell through Amazon or such. It actually could fit nicely into your blog. you already have a lot of the info right in your blog that you could pull out. Anyway I’m always dreaming up things. 🙂

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      2. Yes, i agree that I have a good basis, Sue. Just maybe not the necessary oomph 🙂 Thanks for the thought. I appreciate your input (and the vote of confidence 🙂 )

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      3. I would be the same way. If one doesn’t have the passion for a big project then it’s just work. Better to keep walking and having fun. 🙂

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      5. Haha! Well I had another idea. I know just tell me to shut up. You could start doing your walk posts in a format that later on you could just cut and paste so to speak into a book. Just add a summary – start point, duration , difficulty, and special tips.
        Shutting up now. I promise. 🙂

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      6. I’m glad you’re alert and paying attention. Perhaps I should pay more 🙂 I like my ‘ramble-along-a-Jo format’. It gives me the freedom to write in any way I feel at the time and include irreverent bits. But you do have a point, and it would save me a little trouble along the line.
        I’ve never been good at saving myself trouble 😦 Thanks so much, Sue.

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      7. I know I said that was it but what I meant was I love the way you write about the walk! Don’t change that at all. It feels like the reader is right there. I just meant at the very end to add a little detail blurb for quick reference.
        Off to get the duct tape to keep my fingers off the keyboard…..

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      8. I think I knew what you meant, Sue. 🙂 I’ve been fighting with some very clever abstract photography (not personally- just trying to get it to load on my antique laptop). That’s one of the problems. I’m not very swift with IT, or very clever. If you didn’t have your own highly individual and fun thing going on I might have to hire you as my PA. 🙂

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  8. Fascinating captures and such an inspiring place calls for “full steam imagination”.

    If we only have been North Sea pirates, dear Jo,
    so this would be a perfect place for our ship… 😀 😀 😀

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    1. We cheated this time and went up a different set of steps, through the houses on the harbourside, Pauline. Just as far up though 🙂 I was with the walking group and following our leader (though he says I’m rebellious 🙂 Me!) Back down the 199 and off to the chip shop 🙂

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  10. This is an interesting area for an Aussie who has done a bit of fossicking for gemstones and fossils. But it was Cook that drew me to the area only to find there is so much more.
    Your posts always reveals even more. The Abby and the last photo of the steep narrow village street is about all that sticks in my memory as my visit was 1990.

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      1. Time just rolls along I wonder what the next adventure will be. We may go back to visit Pauline’s friend since school days. Margret lives in Withernsea. We keep in contact on Skype. Enjoy your walks we love sharing them.

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  11. Love the light in the last photo, and yes, there are 199 steps. I HAVE counted them. I don’t mind so much looking up, looking down has its challenges these days, more so if I have to clamber down, and those cliff faces don’t look too stable to me. Well, they did say that Doncaster would be “by-the-sea” in 2050 😀

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    2. It would take more than that! 🙂 I was further north of us on the coast this afternoon. You might remember Seaton Delaval Hall, that I did for Paula. Return visit and distant lighthouse shots 🙂

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      2. Making the most of Summer. There’s a noticeable change up here. Already feeling more Autumnal- horrors! And I need to keep walking to stay one step ahead of you lot 🙂

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      3. Oh, no! Really? It is very warm here, but I am inside watching the tennis. Need lots of positive thoughts for Murray!! Federer looks unstoppable 😦

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  12. I love the idea of looking up but I am not so keen on the looking down, especially looking down to the bottom of those cliffs at Whitby. Sad story about the hospital ship.

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    1. There have been many wrecks off these rocky coasts, Ann, but not in recent years. I love being up there, but not too close to the edge(or I have to sit down 🙂 ) Thanks for the likes!

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  14. If you didn’t mention it, I would have thought those two tiny figures out at sea were rocks. You have very good eyesight to have spotted them. What great views from the top. I would gladly walk up for ice-cream, Jo. Who wouldn’t after all that exercise. And we all need a treat every now and then for ourselves 😉

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    1. I watched them put their wellies on and go down there from the cliff top, Mabel 🙂 Climbing back up the cliff path won’t be so easy as the steps. Icecream reward definitely needed, if not fish and chips!

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      1. A serving of fish and chips sounds good too. Work for it, and you’ll deserve it. Sounds like you eat good food. Maybe we’ll see more of that in your blog at some point 😉

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  17. Girlfriend … I have visit Whitby – many years ago … and I waked those steps … great images and thanks for bringing back the memories, I had a sunny pleasant day in Whitby. It looks like you have the same summer as I have. Really like the last image .. can see how the sun is trying it’s best and the view is stunning.

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    1. My not so smart phone says sunny but when I look out of the window it isn’t, Vivi. 😦 But I’m still hopeful 🙂 And even on a day with clouds Whitby can be beautiful. How are things today? Any better?

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      1. Thank you, a lot better … we had autumn for 2 days now. Only 14C – what has happen.???? Time for ironing and some TV watching at the same time. Have a lovely day.

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      3. Sunshine???!!! We can’t be on the same planet … you and I. Here it has been rain and wind …. just like autumn for 3 days now. What happen to the summer. I hope I will get it back in Poland.

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      4. I’d forgotten about Poland! When do you go? It’s been quite hot over there. Fingers crossed! It’s murky again here today but there are so many jobs I need to do. Can’t get anything done in the sunshine but play 🙂 🙂 Hugs, darlin.

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      5. Next Friday …. it’s only going be one day of sunshine during my 5 days .. as it looks today, but no heavy rain, but the temp around +24C. That’s okay … so long as I don’t need a jacket.

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      8. I didn’t know when I bought it that you’d already been. Maybe you have your own postcards from Whitby? I did like it though 🙂 Glad it arrived so swiftly. 🙂

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      9. No I don’t have a post card from Whitby … didn’t even bring a camera. Where there with one of our suppliers. I love to get postcards from any and everywhere. *smile … it brighten my day. Now we have evening sun. Sunny hug …

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  19. Welcome Jo!
    And I couldn’t have picked a better place to look up and down. I have fond memories of visiting as a child and I really must return. A lot will have changed in 50 years!
    But for now, I’m happy to enjoy it through your eyes – thanks Jo

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  20. That’s a very low tide! Wonder where the water went? Love your beautiful photos and the descriptions with them

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