Whitby bags …

at Venus Trading on Sandgate. There used to be a shop unfortunately, or perhaps deliberately, named Whitby Bags. A bag is slang for an unattractive teenage girl, referring more to character than to appearance. For a lovely view of the harbour side of Sandgate, go here.

What we did on our holidays …

well, on our church weekend away. The title reference is to Fairport Convention's second album, and while holidays does not really convey the idea of a mini-conference, there was time for a 5-mile country walk, returning along the cliff-tops, and some exploration of the old town. Our speaker was Tim Davies of Christ Church Central, Sheffield which describes itself as a church for people who don't go to church.

The youth hostel, pictured above, was a brilliant venue, right next to the iconic Whitby Abbey at the top of the famous 199 steps. The accommodation was comfortable and the service very good. 

A little Whitby night view

A first excursion into night-time photography which demonstrates how difficult it is to keep the camera steady without a tripod . This is Whitby from the east side, near the bottom of the 199 steps and looking over the harbour. It's no wonder it's such a popular destination; the town itself has many attractions and then there is so much to see and do nearby: Scarborough, Robin Hoods Bay,  Goathland for Heartbeat and Harry Potter fans, the North Yorkshire Moors centre at Danby, great walking, the Roman road, Pickering - endless!

But every silver lining has a dark cloud: the popularity of the town has led to a rise in house prices in recent years as the demand for holiday lets has intensified, making it difficult for local first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder.

Whitby, 199: The First Step

The Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps

Blackburn's Yard 3

We've been to Blackburn's Yard before. This is the Church Street entrance;  take it as an alternative route via the Donkey Path to St Mary's church and Whitby abbey. Just inside the yard is Wash House Pottery  views of which are to be had here. These yards are a feature of old Whitby both on the east and west side of the River Esk harbour and there are cottages to rent in many of them. 

Esk Valley Walk: Ten Linking Walks from Westerdale to Whitby

Trillos of Whitby

Trillo? Not a Yorkshire name, you might say, and you would be right - and wrong. Neil Trillo is one of the third generation of an Italian family who arrived in Britain in 1912, so he is Yorkshire born and bred, but justly proud of his roots. Service is friendly and personal, and Neil engages easily with customers young and old.  We caught him on the last day of the season, at least for this location by Whitby Abbey and Youth Hostel. Down in the town, his Full of Beans kiosk at the bottom of Khyber Pass serves quality coffee at reasonable prices. For more information and photographs, go to Off the Beaten Track. Go here for a 360º view of Whitby from Spion Kop.

Bucolic beauty, Whitby

A beautiful autumn scene just out of Whitby, with dramatic sky and lengthening shadows. This is yet another Martin Ashburner composition; the juxtaposition of the shed, hedge and shadow pull it together, and the contrast of dark sky and sunlit meadow is very atmospheric. 

Walks on the North York Moors: Bk. 2: An Illustrated Guide to Thirty Walks of Outstanding Beauty and Interest (Jack Keighley's Northern England)

Walking to Crosses to the North York Moors (Lonely Planet Walking Guide)

Frank Meadow Sutcliffe, Hon. F.R.P.S: Whitby and its people as seen by one of the founders of the naturalistic movement in photography : a second selection of his work

Autumnal River Esk

Another Martin Ashburner contribution, this time of the River Esk just out of Whitby. To make further acquaintance with this delightful river and its descent from the heights of the North York Moors, visit Doc and Molly Brown's wonderful site. Phil Brown taught chemistry at Whitby Community College, whilst Molly taught in the primary sector.