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Whitby Abbey and Harbour added to English Heritage in Yorkshire and the Humber by D0c.Col on 21/11/2024

Whitby is a fantastic place to visit, loads of parking (at a price @£8 for 4 hrs on my visit - see pin) and wonderful things to see and do. Obviously plenty of places to eat, but stay off the main streets for a cheaper dining experience. The Abbey is owned by English Heritage, so caution is required to fly there, but my TOALings were outside their perimeter so no issues.

Whitby Abbey and Harbour
At the heart of Whitby, lies its vibrant harbour that has developed over centuries, with human intervention building upon the natural estuary of the River Esk. Uniquely, the harbour mouth faces north, and its piers stretch east and west, creating one of the few UK spots where the sun rises and sets over the sea in summer.
The West Pier, accessible through an ornamental gate, commemorating Whitby’s seafaring tradition, has a scenic route that leads to the 80-foot-high lighthouse. You walk past capstans and mooring posts reminiscent of historic ship handling, evoking a time when ships were manually ‘warped’ or hauled into and out of the harbour by human effort. Local maritime character is enhanced by vessels like the Grand Turk, an old lifeboat, and a replica of Captain Cook’s Endeavour, which are frequently moored nearby.
Historically, Whitby’s location made it accessible mainly by sea due to the challenging North York Moors. Its natural harbour provided a safe haven along a dangerous 100-mile coastline between the rivers Tees and Humber. By the 1300s, traders from across Europe were visiting Whitby, primarily due to its famous abbey and its lucrative salt herring export. The abbey itself, founded in the 7th century, thrived until it was dissolved under Henry VIII. Its ruins later inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and they remain a landmark maintained by English Heritage.
The harbour was Whitby’s lifeline. People often said, “the only road to Whitby is the sea,” due to the challenges posed by the surrounding North York Moors until the first turnpike road was established in 1764. Unlike other towns that developed around a market square, Whitby’s heart has always been its harbour. The bottle-shaped estuary of the River Esk provided the only natural harbour along the 100-mile stretch of perilous coastline between the rivers Tees and Humber. By the early 1300s, merchants from overseas were regularly visiting Whitby to trade with its prosperous abbey. Over time, the harbour was expanded with quays, a bridge, and a pier to shield it from the North Sea. Salt herring was the main export, while imported goods included wine and supplies for the abbey. Notably, coal was shipped to the abbey from Sunderland as early as 1392, marking the beginning of a trade that would later drive Whitby’s prosperity.
Whitby Abbey itself, founded as a Christian monastery in the 7th century and later a Benedictine abbey, was a prominent center within the medieval Northumbrian kingdom, situated on the East Cliff above Whitby, it had flourished for centuries as a center of learning. However, the abbey and its assets were seized by the crown during the Dissolution of the Monasteries and was eventually destroyed by Henry VIII in 1540. Since then, the abbey’s ruins have served as a navigational landmark for sailors.
Soon after it’s destruction it was acquired by Sir Richard Cholmley and remained in his family’s possession until eventually passing to the Strickland family, who in turn transferred it to the UK government in 1920. Now managed by English Heritage, the ruins have endured, even surviving considerable damage in December 1914 when German battlecruisers shelled it during a raid that also targeted Scarborough and Hartlepool. The attack, aimed at the Coastguard Station, caused significant damage to the abbey buildings in a brief ten-minute assault.
Today, Whitby’s harbour and abbey ruins continue to draw visitors, celebrating the town’s rich maritime and cultural history.

Enjoy!

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Co-ordinates: 54.48854, -0.607896 • what3words: ///dumplings.extensive.clutches

The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 30/10/2024. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location. Landowner permission may be required before taking off.

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Kilnsey Crag, Craven (By Scaleber)

Bit of a paraphrase from Wikipedia - The village of Kilnsey is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Chilsie when it was described as waste. The most notable feature of Kilnsey is a large limestone cliff called Kilnsey Crag, overlooking the road and the River Wharfe from the west. The crag is around 170 feet high, with an overhang of 40 feet. It was painted by J. M. W. Turner in 1816. The crag contains several of Britain's most extreme sport climbing routes, such as Northern Lights 9a (5.14d), and North Star 9a (5.14d), by Steve McClure.

Just one more amazing feature of the Dales.

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Co-ordinates: 54.10868, -2.040651 • what3words: ///cowering.nooks.coasting

Cove, Argyll, Garelochhead (By Scaleber)

Cove is a beautiful place with an interesting history. In common with many villages in the area, Cove provided summer lodgings for the families of wealthy Glasgow merchants, shipowners and businesspeople in the 19th century. Many of the houses therefore are amazing. But it is Loch Long which makes it spectacular.

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Co-ordinates: 55.99358, -4.854133 • what3words: ///sprawls.handover.jeering

Doune Castle, Scotland, Carse of Stirling (By Scaleber)

Doune Castle sits near the village of Doune, in the county of Perthshire. Originally built in the 13th century it has a rich history. Of more recent note is its major role in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Due to all the original locations falling through, Doune represented every castle (Camelot, Castle Anthrax, Swamp Castle, French Castle) with the exception of Castle Stalker (Argyll) which was “Castle Aaargh”

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Co-ordinates: 56.18525, -4.050618 • what3words: ///surprises.having.native

Norman Park, Bromley (By grandad1950)

A very large park near Bromley with a fine Athletics track, multiple sports pitches, and a well known weekend park run.
Big car cark and loads of space to fly.

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Co-ordinates: 51.38694, 0.022112 • what3words: ///retail.dimes.gained

Walgrave Moated Site, Daventry (By Scaleber)

Extract from Historic England - "The moated site at Walgrave lies to the north of Walgrave village and forms part of the present village recreation ground. The site is considered to be the location of the manor house and of a small associated fish pond. The moated area is square and is almost completely surrounded by a flat bottomed ditch up to 3m deep and 10m wide. The moat system was supplied by the small stream which runs to the east of the site and the east ditch of the moat is still waterlogged. This stream also supplies water to the small pond which lies to the north of the moat and a water channel links the moat ditches and the pond. To the west and south of the moated site are the earthwork remains of further water channels which formed part of the water management system on the site. The moat island is about 35m square and is reached by a narrow causeway which crosses the west ditch. On the south side of the moat island a raised rectangular building platform indicates the site of a former building."

Walgrave is a lovely village as well.

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Co-ordinates: 52.34329, -0.82471 • what3words: ///factoring.breezy.reserving

Daltullich Bridge, Rafford, Dallas, Dyke to Dava (By cduncan)

18th Century humpback stone bridge over the River Findhorn. Steep sided gorge and rapids.
Turn off the B9007 at Relugas. There is limited parking on the far side of the bridge but some space to pull in either side of adjoining road.
Access to the river is down an uneven track. There are lots of trees but TOAL possible from rocks or small sandy patches.

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Co-ordinates: 57.51792, -3.693911 • what3words: ///tiling.downsize.marble

Whiteness Point, Nairn Rural (By cduncan)

Park at the Hilton of Delnies car park and walk or cycle along the beach, there is also a track that runs through the gorse bushes to the point if the tide is in.
This area falls into the Whiteness Head SSSI. There are also major construction works in the adjacent Adersier Port which you need to be mindful of.

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Co-ordinates: 57.59588, -3.982773 • what3words: ///galloped.wagers.mingles

Secret Beach at Hilton of Delnies, Nairn Rural (By cduncan)

Big wide beach extending about 5 miles to Whiteness Point with views across the Moray Firth. Accessed down a farm road off the B902. There is parking for a few cars at the end of the track. The area is covered by an SSSI. This relates mainly to risks of erosion and invasive species, as well as two non-breeding birds.
This can be a busy spot in summer months but there is plenty of space on the beach and in the lagoon area behind to avoid people.

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Co-ordinates: 57.58619, -3.937455 • what3words: ///meanders.bracing.qualify

Dulsie Bridge, Nairn Rural (By cduncan)

18th Century stone bridge spanning a narrow gorge over the river Findhorn. Signposted turn-off from B9007 down a single track road. Small parking space next to the bridge. Short walk down a marked path to the view point.

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Co-ordinates: 57.45048, -3.781271 • what3words: ///cries.warm.motels

Dragon's Teeth , Medway (By Scaleber)

Extract from Historic England - "Concrete anti-tank obstacles forming a north-west to south-east line approximately 570m long on the foreshore to the north of Grain village. The line consists of concrete asymmetric anti-tank pimples (truncated pyramids also colloquially known as Dragon's Teeth) in offset rows approximately 1.2m apart."

Amazing these are still there! Worth a flight.

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Co-ordinates: 51.46384, 0.71292 • what3words: ///saving.income.silent


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