saltwick bay

Saltwick Bay Whitby

Saltwick bay is located on the East coast of Yorkshire just a short walk from Whitby. 

Why visit Saltwick?
Saltwick Bay appears to be a beautifully sculpted bay that offers glorious views out to sea. The Bay is actually packed with history and astounding geological features that make it a place you must visit and see for yourself.

Access to this breathtaking walk is via Whitby Holiday Park where there are steps leading down to the beach. You should, however, check tide times to ensure you don’t get cut off and be wary that the steps can get slippery in winter.It is also good advice to be very careful at the base of the cliffs as rock falls are common, with loose fragments of shale falling regularly. 

History.

The first alum mine on the East coast was opened by Thomas Challoner in the 16th century due to the good old Henry VIII’s famous reformation! Why? Well, because before this Britain had sourced this essential chemical compound from Italy, and the industry was under papal control. On breaking with Rome and the Catholic church our supply of alum was halted.

It wasn’t until 1649, however, that a supply of alum was discovered in Saltwick Bay. This discovery was thanks to Sir Hugh Chomley who subsequently opened a mine there with the help of highly experienced Italian Alum workers. 
In 1673 permission was given for a harbour to be built to aid in the transportation of alum. It would mean that no longer would they have to transport their wares to Whitby before shipping it out. Soon after in 1770, an alum house followed, being built on the southeast side of the quarries. 
In 1791 the mining ceased at Saltwick Bay, probably due to alum being replaced by the creation of aniline dyes. These dyes contained their own colour fixative making alum redundant. Though the mining ceased, proof of the existence of the quarries and harbour still exists in Saltwick Bay today.

Wrecks at Saltwick Bay 
Admiral Von Tromp Throughout history, the sea has proved to be a cruel mistress time after time claiming ships and lives in abundance. However, in the case of the trawler the Admiral Von Tromp this may not have been the case. You see, the sinking of this ship has proved to be a bit of a mystery that the sea herself may not have been responsible for!
On the 30th June 1976, the Admiral Von Tromp left Scarborough Harbour with a course set for Barnacle Bay. However, tragically this ship would never make its destination, instead, it would run aground on rocks at Saltwick Bay.

HMHS Rohilla

The HMHS Rohilla also made its final resting spot here in just as tragic, but altogether different circumstances to the Admiral Von Tromp.

At 4 am on the 29th October 1914 the HMHS Rohilla struck rocks at Saltwick Nab with 229 people onboard. It had been headed for Dunkirk on a route that would take her down the East Coast, a route that could be fraught with danger. German subs and mines were scattered along this coast, and to make things even more difficult the captain was new to navigating the rugged North sea.
As the HMHS Rohilla made its way along its route, a coast guard on duty in his shelter located on the cliffs noticed that she was heading for Whitby Rock. This was a treacherous section of reef system that would be the end of the Rohilla.

The SS Brentwood

The Brentwood was a trawler that was struck by a German mine on the 12th January 1917. It sank in just an astounding four minutes due to the amount of damage sustained by her fore.
The Master and thirteen of her crew survived this sinking whilst just two people, the 2nd mate and fireman, who were on watch at the time went down with the ship. Those rescued were picked up by the SS Togston and taken to Sunderland.
The SS Brentwood can only be reached by those able to dive competently. It is upright at the bottom of the sea but broken into two section.

Where to stay to enjoy the views and the beauty of Saltwick Bay.

Whitby Holiday Park has a wide selection of contemporary, high quality holiday homes available for hire as well as to buy. The park also offers a large, cliff-top touring area, with grass touring pitches for tourers and motor-homes. All pitches are supplied with 16 amp electric hook-ups and have good access to park facilities.The Holiday Park welcomes customers on to its Touring Park. This cliff top area, with its great views of the North Sea & Whitby Abbey, has grass pitches & 16 amp electric hook ups. The area is served by a Toilet & Shower Block & has access to all the park facilities. Whitby Holiday Park has Static Caravans for Sale and offers competitively priced site fees, with a 10.5 month season. There is access from the park to the nearby Saltwick Bay beach for families and dog owners. Modern park facilities include a well equipped Laundry, Park Shop (open daily), and a Cafe serving homemade snacks & beverages. A Family Club & Bar is open during the main season offering great evening family entertainment.

Visit www.whitbypark.co.uk to book your holiday or call us on Whitby 01947 602664 we are happy to help.

Maria Reception

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A Sunny Day in Whitby

A Sunny Day In Whitby

Your nearly at the end of your stay.  You've run out of things to do.  You've already walked round the town more times than you can remember.  You've done all the touristy things like taking a trip on the Open Top Tour Bus, been brave enough to take a trip through the Dracula Experience; done all the museums and country houses that are not too far away and even gone to the local Theme Park and gone on all the roller coasters.  You've got two days left so what do you do??

There's only one thing you can do when there's blue skies and the sun is shining and that is to spend the day on the beach!!  And what a perfect way to spend your last days.  A nice relaxing day on the beach.

In Whitby there are several beaches you can choose from.  There is one on the West side of the Town as well as one on the East side.  The one on the East side is only small so you would have to get there early, and be mindful of the tides as it sits just inside the harbour!  The access to this beach is tucked neatly down the side of The Duke of York Pub, just at the bottom of the 199 steps!

If you're looking for a beach which is a little bit bigger, then you want to head to the West side of town.  This beach stretches for miles and if you time it right you can walk all the way down to the next village of Sandsend.  To get to the beach on the West side of town is really easy.  Just follow the path or the road down towards the piers then down the ramp and your on the beach! It's as easy as that!! Then all you have to do is find the right spot where you can lay your towel down and then pass the hours sunbathing, building sandcastles, or if your brave enough, taking a dip or a swim in the North Sea!!

There's plenty of cafes close by if you get hungry or thirsty, and even several fish and chip shops.  If you fancy a 99 or a lemon top there may even be an ice cream van on the beach so you won't even have to leave the beach!!  If you've got kids with you then don't panic as i'm sure they will entertain themselves for hours digging holes, burying each other, building sand castles or playing games.  Or why not treat them to a ride up and down the beach on one of the Donkeys if they are out that day.

When the tide starts coming in then it's time to pack up and head back to the car.  But before you do that, don't forget to spend an hour in the arcades having a go on all those 2p machines.  You could even have a go at Pirate mini golf - the kids will love it!  When you've run out of 2ps you definitely know it's time to go.

If you're stopping at Whitby Holiday Park and do not fancy going all the way into Whitby to spend the day on the beach then why not spend the day at Saltwick Bay.  There is even access to the beach from the site.  Once down on the beach it's all about finding the right spot to lay your towel down, but don't forget to check the tide times outside reception before you go down as you don't want to be caught out by the incoming tide!  This beach is ideal if you want a nice quiet day as it is well hidden from the crowds from town.  If the tide is out you may be able to see the wrecks of  the Rohilla, a hospital ship or the Admiral Von Tromp both of which sank just off the coast here at Saltwick Bay .  You could even go crabbing or hunting for fish in the many rock pools.  At the end of the day its just a nice stroll back up the hill where you can either go straight back to your caravan to relax or you can pop into the Galleon Bar for a nice refreshing pint or the cafe for a lovely cooked meal.

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Whitby

Whitby England is famous for many things: it's a traditional seaside resort with Blue Flag beaches, and has some of the best fish and chips around. But there's so much more to visit in Whitby...

With Blue Flag beaches and many attractions, including the world-famous steam train, North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Whitby is the perfect base for a family holiday. But it doesn’t end there. Whitby wallows in history, including fishing, the jet industry (did you know that it’s still the best place in the world to find the gleaming black gemstone so beloved by the Victorians?), Captain Cook (who was born nearby, and whose famous ship the Endeavour was Whitby-built) and whaling. And its literary connections – Bram Stoker’s famous Dracula features the town, with the vampire first coming ashore here from Transylvania in the guise of a black dog – have inspired the world famous Goth Festival, which now takes place twice a year, in the spring and around Halloween.

Whitby Holiday Park - Touring Park

VISIT ENGLAND 4 STAR HOLIDAY AND TOURING PARK, SUITABLE FOR OLDER AND LESS MOBILE, SUITABLE FOR HEARING LOSS, WTY MEMBER, BELLAMY GOLD, DYCMEMBER

Situated in the National Park, magnificently perched above the sweep of Saltwick Bay, this park commands spectacular views of the coastline in a beautifully rural cliff top setting. To complete the panorama the striking silhouette of Whitby Abbey pierces the skyline dramatically defining the point at which the moors meet the sea. The moody ruins of Whitby Abbey, made famous by Bram Stoker's Dracula, provide a stunning backdrop to the beaches in this area where bathing, rock pooling and fossil hunting are popular pastimes.

Whitby Holiday Park has a wide selection of contemporary, high quality holiday homes available for hire. The park also offers a large, cliff-top touring area, with grass touring pitches for tourers and motor-homes. All pitches are supplied with 16 amp electric hook-ups and have good access to park facilities. Other amenities include WI-FI (Free for the first 24 hours), a well-stocked Shop, a Cafe, a Club with family entertainment, a Children's Playground, Amusements and a Laundry. Pets are welcome all season at Whitby Holiday Park and there are many wonderful coastal and countryside walks to enjoy direct from the park.

Other amenities include free WI-FI, a well-stocked Shop, a Cafe. Our Galleon Club has a nice relaxed feel for all the family to enjoy.  Don’t forget we still have the patio area for you to sit out and relax in the sun with a nice cold drink and pets are also welcome! If you don’t fancy sitting out on the patio area, then there is plenty of space in our newly upgraded Club with new seating areas. We also have a Info Hub Room set up with Ipads and an Xbox for all the family to enjoy. You can use the Ipads to search for local days out or information on a place you would like to visit. Why not have an hour on the Xbox competing against each other, this is a great way to spend an afternoon and the kids will really enjoy it! Still in use is our Cinema room which will be open throughout the season. With comfy seating and an array of films available for you to watch, this makes this the perfect way to spend an afternoon if the weather isn’t fine!

Visiting cabaret acts will be on over Bank Holiday weekends and Summer Holiday weekends only, with local acts and some favourite acts coming to entertain you for the evening. The rest of the time you will be able to relax in a nice atmosphere. We also have a Laundry. Pets are welcome all season at Whitby Holiday Park and there are many wonderful coastal and countryside walks to enjoy direct from the park.

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