As far as seaside towns go Whitby in North Yorkshire has to be up there with the UK’s best.
The stunning North Yorkshire coastal resort has such dramatic scenery that it inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the hauntingly beautiful Whitby Abbey and, of course, fish and chips that some say are world beating.
But Whitby’s popularity might mean that people are missing out on its cool cousin Sandsend – which is just an eight minute drive up the coast.
Originally two villages, Sandsend and East Row, Sandsend really is a picture perfect seaside enclave.
Tourism site Yorkshire.com explains more about the cute seaside village.
It says: “Just up the delightful Yorkshire Coast from the busier town of Whitby, Sandsend still has the same amazing sandy beach, but is an altogether more peaceful spot, for those looking to get away from the crowds for a while.”
It reveals that the village – which is set between Runswick Bay and Whitby – was the birthplace of fishing magnate George Pyman and has a pub and restaurant.
The clean, sandy beach has small rivers running into the sea on either side and at low tide a large area of beach is exposed with plenty of rockpools for children to explore.
A large part of the western side of the village – The Valley – is one of the most expensive areas to buy property on the Yorkshire coast. Properties in The Valley had an overall average price of £805,000 over the last year.
Tourists are flocking to travel review site Tripadvisor to point people in the direction of the pretty seaside village.
Samantha M from London said: “Incredible place, absolutely loved it, gorgeous beach, beautiful scenery.
“Highly recommend the area, over Whitby.”
Trail781585 said: “Beautiful and clean gorgeous beach great when the tide is out and dog friendly.
“Lovely views with easy access.”
And for those who are more tempted by its more famous counterpart just up the coast, TheBeachGuide says that visiting both is entirely doable.
It said: “There are fine views down the coast towards the romantic ruins of Whitby Abbey which is said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
“It is possible to walk all the way along the beach to Whitby, and this may take up to one and a half hours, depending on how often you stop to admire the views or play in the waves.”
