To be fair, the old fishing village is pretty, but now that I have been there once, I think it is unlikely I will return as a tourist, and this is why.
The beach. I am a little spoiled as I live right by a beautiful golden sand beach, so this made our visit to Robin Hood’s Bay a little underwhelming.
While we loved the journey down the winding streets of the town, filled with boutique shops, ice cream parlours and cute cafes, the beach itself was disappointing compared to what I am used to.
The sand appeared dull and muddy, there were lots of flies and there was a sewage smell on the air the day we visited. But it is dog-friendly if you wanted to bring your pet.
After setting up camp for the morning, my husband and my eldest son went to explore the rock pools nearby, which they said were interesting but also something they could do at home.
The bay wasn’t too busy when we went, although there has been some discussion about the increase in tourists to Robin Hood’s Bay over the last few years, which has become a burden and is pushing up property prices.
Once you have been to the beach, you have to make the killer climb back uphill to the car park—although you can stop for fish and chips on the way, which is what we did.
Robin Hood’s Bay town is lovely, postcard-perfect in parts, the people friendly and welcoming, but for a family, I think there are better beaches.
That said, I could easily see a couple enjoying a romantic staycation, as there are plenty of places to eat after walking the cobblestone streets hand in hand.
While I probably won’t be going back, I do think some might love a wander round the Instagram-friendly town as a perfect way to spend an afternoon many of the cottages are included in the conservation area, meaning they are almost exactly like they were when they were built.
There is a museum where you can learn about the town’s history and there are regular ‘ghost walks’. Find out more about things to do, parking and tide times here.