Robin Hoods Bay is an old fishing village found on the Heritage Coast of the North York Moors National Park and there are plenty of things to do in Robin Hoods Bay.
North Yorkshire is a beautiful part of England. Home to beauty spots such as Harrogate, the Yorkshire Dales and Knaresborough. This part of ‘God’s own country’ is well worth visiting, and Robin Hoods Bay is a UK hidden gem not to be missed.
Despite being a small village there are certainly plenty of things to do at Robin Hoods Bay.
Things to do in Robin Hoods Bay
This is a guest post by Emma who is the UK blogger behind The World by Emstagram. She specialises in writing about female, solo backpacking, as well as UK travel. Based in the UK Midlands, she has experience solo backpacking Europe and Southeast Asia, as well as taking solo road trips around the UK. She shares her travel advice and destination guides on her blog. You can find her on instagram and contact her via email.
1. National Trust Old Coastguard Station
First on my list of things to do in Robin Hoods Bay is paying a visit to the Old Coastguard Station.
Found nestling on the slipway at Robin Hoods Bay, opposite the Bay Hotel, this small building boats a lot of history.
The ground floor exhibition room is home to interactive installations, teaching visitors about tide and wave action, as well as information on wildlife, geology and life where land meets sea. There’s even a rock pool with real sea creatures!
The Old Coastguard Station is open from March to October. Entry is £1 for adults, or free to National Trust members.
2. Takeaway Fish and Chips at Maid Marion’s
Whenever I go to the seaside my go to for dinner has to be a fish and chip shop. I’ll always get a takeaway and sit at a harbour or on the sea front to eat it.
I found Maid Marion’s Fisheries down in the village. It’s a really lovely spot and the chips are delicious.
3. Coastal Walk via Boggle Hole
Of course a trip to the seaside wouldn’t be complete without a coastal walk, and Robin Hoods Bay certainly isn’t short of those.
Boggle Hole is deemed one of ‘north Yorkshire’s best kept secrets’ and should be on your list of Robin Hoods Bay things to do!
This unique cove, with curved out hollows, is found along the Cleveland Way, about 1 mile south of Robin Hoods Bay. It’s one of the best photo spots in Robin Hoods Bay and best Yorkshire dog walks if you have your dog with you on this trip!
The name Boggle Hole is derived from ‘Boggle’, the local northern dialect name for a hobgoblin. Legend has it that ‘boggle’s haunt the slopes on the cliffs here. Smugglers used to hide their contraband in the caves here at Boggle Hole. This area is now a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) because of the huge range of fossils that can be found it.
It’s a geological haven! Boggle Hole is situated in front of an old watermill, which is now covered to a YHA Hostel. There’s a cafe here too.
4. The Cove Cafe
A list of things to do in Robin Hoods Bay would not be complete without a coffee shop recommendation.
With an outdoor terrace overlooking the North Sea, The Cove Cafe is the place to go for your morning coffee in Robin Hoods Bay.
The cafe takes the space of an old, converted chapel. They serve food and drinks here (with vegan and gluten free options!), and The Cove Chapel is license as a wedding venue! The Cove is also a popular events venue so check out what on in Robin Hoods Bay when you’re visiting.
5. Wander Round and Visit the Shops
This stunning, picturesque fishing village of Robin Hoods Bay just totally sells itself.
Simply wandering around then narrow, hilly streets, and checking out all the small shops is enough to pass by an hour or so.
For shops in Robin Hoods Bay, it’s home to an array of independent gift shops, clothes stores, book shops and antiques stores. One of my favourites was a small place selling fossils, stones and crystals.
There’s plenty of cafes and restaurants to drop into as well, if you find yourself needing some sustenance and you’re looking for places to eat in Robin Hoods Bay.
Looking for other places to visit in North Yorkshire? The spa town of Harrogate is a great place for a day trip.
6. Robin Hoods Bay Ghost Walk
The dark, winding streets and alleyways of Robin Hoods Bay, lend themselves to ghost walks!
The walks have featured on local and national radio, as well as Channel 4 and in the National Press so they are one of the top Robin Hoods Bay attractions.
The Robin Hoods Bay Ghost Walk is designed to suit all ages. The walk is a storytelling tour of magic, legend, folklore and ghostly tales.
The walks last around 75 minutes, costing £7 for adults and £4 for children (under 14). There’s no need to book, just turn up at the meeting place – the slipway at the dock, next to the Old Coastguards House.
Times will vary throughout the year – a new timetable for the walks is released every month. For more information see their website here.
7. Old St Stephen’s Church
There’s been a church here for a thousand years, but the current building was built in 1822 and it overlooks the village of Robin Hoods Bay.
When looking at where to visit in Robin Hoods Bay, it’s worth taking a look inside St Stephen’s Church, as opposed to just from the outside. It’s free to enter, but donations are are welcome!
The graveyard is the burial place of local families, mariners and farmers. There are memorials to victims of shipwrecks, some of whom came from places as far flung as Rio de Janeiro or the Baltic.
8. Robin Hoods Bay Museum
Make sure you add Robin Hoods Bay Museum to your list of things to do at Robin Hoods Bay where you can learn about the local history.
The museum includes displays on fishing, shipping, history and geology. he museum is free to visit, although donations are greatly accepted as it is run by local volunteers.
Their passion for the village is evident through the eagerness to share their knowledge about the Bay so try to go and show your support.
9. Walk Along the Beach
Just simply walking along the Beach at Robin Hoods Bay is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon. If you’re feeling brave, why not take a dip in the North Sea?!
In the summer you’ll often find an ice cream van on the beach, so you can enjoy a little energy boost ahead of your stroll. Check the tide times, as Robin Hoods Bay beach is a great place for rock-pooling and beach-combing which are great things to do in Robin Hoods Bay for children.
10. Coastal Walk to Whitby
The 7 mile coastal walk to Whitby is certainly worth attempting on a nice day.
The coastal path and Whitby are well signposted from Robin Hoods Bay. This stretch of coastal path makes up some of the Cleveland Way National Trail.
If your legs are feeling a bit tired ahead of the journey home, you can jump on a bus from Whitby to Robin Hoods Bay. It should only take around 20 minutes.
Around 90 minutes from Whitby is the small market town of Knaresborough, another great place to visit in North Yorkshire.
11. Day Trip to Whitby
Whitby is definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for things to do near Robin Hoods Bay.
The coastal town is lovely to just wander around. Or you could make the worthwhile climb up the 199 steps to visit the ruins of Whitby Abbey, overlooking the town and the North Sea.
If you don’t fancy the walk to Whitby from Robin Hoods Bay and want more time in the town on a day trip to Whitby from Robin Hoods Bay, you can drive there within 15 minutes.
Alternatively there’s a bus route connecting Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay. Take the X93 MAX from Thorpe Lane in RBH to Whitby. The journey should take around 20 minutes.
12. Visit Falling Floss Tea Garden
Another small trip out of Robin Hoods Bay takes you to Falling Floss Tea Gardens which is just an 11 minute drive from Robin Hoods Bay and 15 minutes from Whitby.
The tea gardens sit right next to the impressive Falling Floss waterfall.
The closest car park is the Forestry Commission Car Park, which is around 5 minutes from the Tea Gardens. It is free to park here but it can fill up quickly in peak times. There’s an overflow car park close by. This costs £3 for the day, and is around a 15 minute walk from the tea gardens.
The tea gardens are completely outdoors, which can sometimes be problematic with the north English weather. But with their homemade cakes and Sandwiches made to order on locally made bread, it is certainly a spot worth checking out and is great to visit if you are wondering where to eat in Robin Hoods Bay.
Falling Floss Tea Gardens are Open 10-4 dail, from April to October, 10-4 daily (weather permitting). For more information check out their website here.
13. May Beck and Falling Floss Waterfall Walk
Of course you could just drop in on Falling Floss after your cup of tea and homemade cake at the tea gardens, but there’s great woodland walk close-by which incorporates all the best bits of this area of the North York Moors National Park and is one of the best things to do around Robin Hoods Bay and places to visit near Robin Hoods Bay.
Park for free at May Beck car park, and from here follow signs through the woodlands to Falling Floss. The 2 mile circular walk walk is idyllic on a hot summers day as it is well shaded, and you could even go for a paddle in May Beck.
For more info see their website here.
14. Go Hiking in the North York Moors National Park
The North York Moors contain SO many opportunities for a good hike. Of course, the north of England can’t always promise the best of weather but that shouldn’t stop you, just pack hiking clothes for all weather conditions.
Here’s some inspiration for North York Moors walks near Robin Hoods Bay.
- Roseberry Topping
- Gisborough Moor
- Farndale Daffodil Walk
- Wainstones
- Levisham Moor
