The old lady of Scarborough slowly made her way down the steep cliff side providing a stunning view of colourful beach huts and near deserted sands.
After 151 years of taking people up and down the South Cliff, the old-fashioned wooden tramway is still looking good with everything in perfect working order.
With a strong whiff of nostalgia in the air and a sense of excitement, the 30 second journey came to a halt outside the impressive Victorian spa, a beautiful Grade II listed building and a real hub of entertainment.
It’s just one of many impressive pieces of architecture in this picturesque part of England’s North Sea coast.
And to capture the best of the county, Route YC has been launched. Led by local baker and Great British Bake Off winner, David Atherton, it aims to encourage short out of season breaks from October to March.
More than 250 tourist and leisure businesses have teamed up with local community groups to put Yorkshire on the map and why not, when you have some of the friendliest people, stunning scenery and fabulous places to explore.
There are gorgeous beaches on tap in this part of the country. With six carefully thought out routes, Scarborough is a great place to stop off and an ideal base is the Bike & Boot on Cliff Bridge Terrace, a stone’s throw from a lovely old promenade which takes you to the spa.
The hotel is dog-friendly and has great facilities for walkers and cyclists, with a free cinema a must for children and tasty meals in the Bareca restaurant.
With sea view is to die for in the comfortable well stocked bedrooms, the hotel also offers free parking permits and a hearty breakfast.
Two beautiful bays are divided by a headland and a 12th century castle with the Rotunda Museum exploring local coastal geology, marine displays in Sea Life and the well-kept Peasholm Park Japanese gardens to enjoy.
Café Fish is a well-established place to eat and serves up absolute beauties from seafood chowder to Scarborough crab, seared scallops and lobster in suitably decorated seaside surroundings.
A fifteen minute drive is Cayton Bay, sweeping sands and great surfing waves. The Farrier is an equestrian inspired restaurant with rooms and a former winner of TV’s Four in a Bed series.
With four beautiful bedrooms named after horse classics, there’s four poster beds, ethically sourced Noble Isle toiletries, underfloor heating in the en suite bathrooms and top of the range tea and coffee and television and radio facilities.
Foodwise, the popular spot has a creative menu with starters ranging from mussels to koftas and mains including venison and fish of the day, rounded off with delights such as trio of chocolates to crème brûlée. Breakfasts are sumptuous too and local produce is a must.
The Route YC is 240 miles long and takes in sustainable and eco-friendly tourism with a major aim to allow the visitor to immerse themselves in culture, adventure and local experiences.
A peek at the wildness of Whitby is a must. Best known for its abbey, which is said to have inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, it’s a typical seaside town, with winding streets, cosy cottages and independent shops.
The gothic abbey cared for by English Heritage is a special place to see and can be reached by a stroll up the 199 steps from the heart of the town. Perched on the cliffs, it’s a great spot to look down and see the soft sands and busy boats bobbing in the nearby waters.
History is a big thing and Botham’s of Whitby have been in the town for more than 150 years, serving up delicious traditional afternoon teas in old-fashioned surroundings as well as the finest lemon buns and gingerbread. A tempting bakery is downstairs, and an online shop means no missing out on the delicacies.
The beauty of the Route YC is that it can be done on foot, bike, car and motorhome and with a wealth of wildlife and costal crackers, such as the sand spit of Spurn Point, golden sands of Hornsea and Bridlington, once home to artist David Hockney and everything in between from Filey to Withernsea.
But as the campaign promotes, there is more to “sea than beaches” with stunning moorlands, market towns including Yorkshire’s food capital, Malton, crammed with independent shops and plenty of walking and bike trails, as well as fossil hunting.
Dubbed “God’s Own Country”, Yorkshire is a place bursting with energy and ee bah gum, it’s a real belter!
For more information about Route YC and its new autumn and winter campaign for the Yorkshire Coast, please visit: www.routeyc.co.uk, and you can also follow Route YC on social media, including Facebook and Instagram.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
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