Staithes – Harbour, Fishing History and Coastal Paths

Several local features can help guide your search for a hotel in Staithes: the harbour setting between two protective headlands, the fishing history, the artistic connection and two paths with different route formats. Depending on whether the coast, maritime past, art or a specific route length matters most to your plans, different aspects of the town may take centre stage. This lets you tailor your choice to the topics that interest you during your stay.

Harbour and Coastal Landscape

Cowbar Nab and Penny Nab form the two protective headlands of the small harbour. During storms, they shield it from the sea’s fiercest fury. Their protective role directly links the shape of the headlands to the harbour. If you are exploring Staithes’ coastal landscape, you can therefore consider these two names alongside the harbour: they refer not just to individual points, but to the headlands that protect it from the sea.

Fishing History and Boats Today

In the 19th century, Staithes was one of the largest fishing ports in the northeast. More than 300 men brought in the catch in wooden boats known as cobles. These historical details specify both the scale of the fishing industry at the time and the type of boat used. Today, a small number of fishing boats still head out to sea from Staithes, mainly to catch mackerel, lobsters and crabs. This places a major fishing port of the past alongside a small fleet in the present. Details about current fishing activity may change.

Artists, Gallery and Museum

Artists have been drawn to Staithes for centuries, inspired by the quality of its light and landscape. One current connection to art is Staithes Gallery, which exhibits work by contemporary artists inspired by the wild North Sea and the surrounding North York Moors National Park. Artists and exhibited works may change over time. Staithes’ longstanding connection with artists and the gallery’s current exhibitions thus offer two distinct perspectives on the subject of art.

Staithes Museum is located on High Street in a restored Grade II listed Methodist Chapel. Alongside the gallery, a specific historic building is therefore another of the town’s cultural features. Its location on High Street and the building’s designation help place the museum within Staithes, both geographically and architecturally, without equating it with the contemporary art shown in the gallery.

Walks from Staithes

Two different types of route are mentioned for walks. From Staithes, you can follow the Cleveland Way National Trail for one mile to the hamlet of Port Mulgrave. The Staithes and Port Mulgrave Walk, by contrast, is a four-mile circular route starting in Staithes. Port Mulgrave is the stated destination on the Cleveland Way; the other route is described as a loop. When planning, you can therefore distinguish between a walk to a named hamlet and a circular route starting from Staithes.

The Staithes and Port Mulgrave Walk follows quiet lanes and paths, passing through fields and woodland and along the cliffs. This route description gives a clear impression of the different landscapes included in the circular walk. Check access and path conditions before setting out, as they may change. The route details and description help you consider the circular walk as a separate option alongside the Cleveland Way.

Discover more destinations: Redcar, Green Hammerton, Busby, Spofforth, Commondale, Hovingham, Gristhorpe, Malton

For the regional travel overview: North Yorkshire.