Runswick Bay for a Postcard Perfect Cottage Break - Runswick Bay is one of Yorkshire’s best coastal villages when it comes to its charming qualities and is an excellent place for a self-catering cottage break. For an unspoilt seaside location with reminders of its fascinating past, this North Yorkshire spot is hard to beat. As you stroll its streets, you can picture the bustling fishing village that it once was. This industry went into decline, but many artists discovered its attributes and reproduced the dramatic coast on canvas. Smugglers were also attracted to Runswick Bay and used the local caves to hide their ill-gotten gains. Enjoy browsing for coastal cottages in this pretty village and self-catering accommodation nearby.
About Self-Catering Holidays in Runswick Bay
The village of Runswick Bay is geared toward families on holiday and you will be made most welcome. Cosy cottages, cobbled roads and red pantile roofs are all easy on the eye. However, it’s not always easy on the legs, as it can be very steep here! To compensate, the bay and the sheltered sandy beach is ‘picture postcard’ perfect. Children love exploring the rock pools for signs of life and it’s a good place to find fossils when the tide is low. Surfers and water skiers also make their way to Runswick Bay. Walkers like this area too, as they can join the Cleveland Way from the village, a popular trail that stretches for 109 miles.
Runswick Bay has often won the ENCAMS Seaside Award, which is the blue and yellow flag award. This indicates good water quality and clean beaches. It’s also noted for safe swimming, which is not too common on Yorkshire’s rugged coast.
Also recommended for a visit during your holiday, further up the coast is Staithes, another attractive, old fishing community. Again, steep hillsides, cobbled streets and quirky cottages entice the visitor. It’s famous locally for Dog Loup, an extremely narrow street, said to be the narrowest in the entire county. In common with Runswick Bay, it’s fun to wander round the harbour and go hunting for fossils and rock pools.
Just over eight miles north of Whitby, Runswick Bay is ideally suited for a drive over to see Whitby’s many attractions. Whitby has to be one of Yorkshire’s best loved coastal towns and is well worth a visit. See the imposing ruins of Whitby Abbey, stroll round the harbour and glean information about the life and adventures of the explorer, James Cook at the Captain Cook Memorial Museum.
This coast is a fascinating one for tales of smugglers and shipwrecks. Today, Runswick Bay and its nearby coastal villages and towns offer warm hospitality, cosy cafes and crafts. This is a great place for a self-catering break for both families and those on romantic breaks. Whether you rent a quaint fisherman’s cottage or a cottage inland, we trust that you’ll enjoy browsing through the available options in and near the pretty village of Runswick Bay.
Whether you choose to book a holiday cottage in Runswick Bay, an apartment, a lodge or another type of self-catering holiday accommodation, we hope you have your best holiday yet in North Yorkshire.