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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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Birleys Sports Field, Canterbury (By grandad1950)

A large sports field with extensive facilities and a lovely old church hidden in the trees

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Co-ordinates: 51.29087, 1.083089 • what3words: ///fever.truth.badly

Middle Falls, Craven (By markas)

Not many people have heard of this waterfall compared to the more well-known waterfalls in Yorkshire, and you won’t see many photos of it as it’s a little off the beaten track in Upper Warfdale, however its quite near a roadside parking spot, and can actually be seen on the drive, but few actually park up and walk right up to the waterfall.

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Co-ordinates: 54.21232, -2.084683 • what3words: ///reassured.willpower.skimmers

Swanbourne Lake, Arun (By winglider)

Beautiful part of the countryside very close to Arundel. A beautiful park and lake that is open to the public. Parking is very limited in the summer when it gets very busy. There is a tea room and toilets at the entrance.
Unfortunatly they did not want me to TOAL on their property so found a spot by the road.

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Co-ordinates: 50.86196, -0.556248 • what3words: ///rinses.sketch.prospered

Porthcawl - Sandy bay and Trecco Bay Look Out Tower, Bridgend (By stubbyd)

Lovely open beach and area that I can't believe I haven't previously added.

At this hour it is generally empty, but with the introduction of one of two beach front saunas it has become popular with the early morning "sea dippers" (don't know if there's an official term for what these nutters do).

Also included a shot of the old Coney beach fun fair which is slowly being dismantled [thankfully]. This is meant to be replaced by a development of houses, shops, etc.

There is a large choice of parking, but the closest and easiest is the car park of the Hi Tide Inn, the same Inn that hosts the annual Elvis festival, and is literally right on the edge of Sandy Bay itself.

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Co-ordinates: 51.47858, -3.693852 • what3words: ///schematic.abruptly.studio

Cliffe Castle, Bradford (By Rick2522)

Cliffe Castle is a beautifully restored Victorian mansion and museum set within large landscaped parkland on the western edge of Keighley, West Yorkshire. The grounds include wide open lawns, ornamental gardens, glasshouses, fountains, and long tree-lined paths — all surrounded by gently rolling hills and views across the Aire Valley.

For drone flying, it offers a great mix of architectural detail, open space, and scenic landscape, ideal for both cinematic and aerial photography.

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Co-ordinates: 53.87495, -1.913091 • what3words: ///plank.united.remove

Sturry Road Community Park, Canterbury (By grandad1950)

A fairly wild community open space near canterbury with lots of room to fly

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Co-ordinates: 51.29203, 1.110955 • what3words: ///dolly.cabin.photo

Hall Garth Park, Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire (By CutThroatJake)

Hall Garth Park in Hornsea is a large green space that offers locals and visitors a beautiful place to relax. Just a short walk from Hornsea's town centre, this well-maintained park features lush lawns, mature trees, and flower beds. It’s the perfect place for a leisurely stroll or picnic.

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Co-ordinates: 53.91265, -0.169516 • what3words: ///detection.petulant.variously

Lower Town, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire (By stubbyd)

Nestled along the rugged Pembrokeshire coastline, Lower Town Harbour offers a tranquil glimpse into Wales’ maritime past.

This charming tidal harbour is surrounded by colourful cottages [reminds me of Ballamory], fishing boats, and rolling green hills that meet the sea. At low tide, the boats rest gently on the mudflats, revealing the textures and tones and along with the wooded hills and the open bay then I think it offers a lot for photography enthusiasts be they land or air based.

Lower Town has free parking - I didn't check for how long but more than enough for a drone flight or two.

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Co-ordinates: 51.99573, -4.969473 • what3words: ///prevented.glass.countries

Ruperra Castle, Caerphilly (By pete-the-geek)

This is a stunning Grade 2 listed building. It is unfortunately privately owned and you are not permitted to TOAL nearby. It has been devastated by fire and is in a state of disrepair.

The whole surrounding area is managed by the Ruperra Conservation Trust. On the top of the hill to the North, is a historic Hill Fort and some more modern transformations are still visible via another short walk up the hill which makes for another great location to fly around

Parking is some distance away with a 1km walk to the TOAL site that I used, which is a track that is also a bridalway. It provides a couple of spots that give you good line of site but beware, the surrounding building are private residences so the residence may have objections to overflights. It is also an equestrian business so there are horses and riders frequenting the area.

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Co-ordinates: 51.57003, -3.127177 • what3words: ///occurs.design.boost

Pen-y-Lan, Newport (By pete-the-geek)

This is a great area to fly for sunset views. It is possible to see from Cardiff to Newport and being elevated above the surrounding area it gives good views. In good weather, you can also see across the Severn Channel to England.

Be careful of the 2 wind turbines.

There are a couple of pull-ins where you can fly from and good views of the drone while flying.

As it is rural, it is possible to easily fly heavy drones there but as you have to take off on the road side, care must be taken to ensure adequate distance from the occasional vehicles.

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Co-ordinates: 51.55633, -3.077139 • what3words: ///surnames.because.myself


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