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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.

Where to fly your drone

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Meadowbank Park, Mole Valley (By grandad1950)

Meadowbank Park is a very large park in the centre of Dorking. In addition to the usual sports pitches and playgrounds there is a large lake to explore.

Dorking Wanderers stadium is also in the park.

Lots of room to fly and parking is free on Sundays.

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Co-ordinates: 51.23587, -0.329053 • what3words: ///gladiators.oval.oven

Knaresborough Castle, Harrogate (By JockyB)

Knaresborough Castle. Lovely place to fly. Nice views across the River Nidd to the railway bridge crossing.
During the week this is inside a warning zone for Yorkshire Dales LFZ ( 08:00- 1700hrs) check on Dronescene, but honestly if an aircraft is flying at a height that interferes with your flight, then that pilot has more problems than you have. 😂😂

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Co-ordinates: 54.00692, -1.469346 • what3words: ///washroom.grudges.held

Blaen y Glyn waterfall, Powys (By gasbag43)

Blaen y Glyn waterfall is within Talybont Forest in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.

You can walk to Blaen y Glyn waterfall from either of two car parks - Blaen y Glyn Isaf is the lower car park and Blaen y Glyn Uchaf is the upper car park - the location mapped here is the lower car park.

The walk up to the beautiful waterfall takes about 20 minutes - there are plenty of other waterfalls in the area, but most have extensive tree cover that make flying a drone challenging

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Co-ordinates: 51.84441, -3.363748 • what3words: ///nerves.marketing.initiates

Thistle Viaduct, Carlisle (By Trainman)

Border Counties Railway viaduct opened 1862 and closed 1969. Only the Down line remains the Up line side of the viaduct was removed soon after closure.
I parked at the church and walked to the viaduct along the river side.

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Co-ordinates: 55.04687, -2.955773 • what3words: ///draining.stunt.inch

Kirklinton Hall, Carlisle (By Trainman)

Interesting old building with a bit of a past history . Ample parking and cafe on site , l emailed the owner via their website and was granted permission to fly . Extremely friendly response to my request.

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Co-ordinates: 54.99817, -2.883697 • what3words: ///failed.varieties.tinned

Priory Park Reigate, Reigate and Banstead (By grandad1950)

A very large park in the centre of Reigate. An interesting old priory, lots of formal gardens, a large lake and a very good Cafe awaits your visit

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Co-ordinates: 51.23524, -0.206248 • what3words: ///orchestra.remind.drain

Gray Hill stone circle, Monmouthshire (By gasbag43)

High up on the edge of Wentwood in Wales overlooking the Severn Estuary, lies the Gray Hill Stone Circle which dates back to the Bronze Age, around 4,000 years ago

The circle itself is around 32 feet in diameter, with nine stones laid out on the circumference. Unlike some stone circles where the stones stand tall and proud, these stones rest on their sides, forming a low wall. One intriguing feature is a solitary standing stone positioned just outside the circle, accompanied by a larger "outlier" stone nearby. Archaeologists believe this outlying stone may have served as a marker or even part of an entrance to a chamber tomb once located within the circle.

The presence of the fallen stones within the circle adds another layer of mystery, hinting at a potential chamber tomb that time may have worn away.

The circle itself is worth a visit, but just 100 meters away at the summit of the hill is a perfect alternative TOAL location for Wentwood Reservoir with a much higher starting altitude than from the car park as marked on Drone Scene

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Co-ordinates: 51.63755, -2.813358 • what3words: ///annual.alley.bleaching

Reigate Castle, Reigate and Banstead (By grandad1950)

Little left of the castle but the well kept Keep gives a great vantage point to look at the castle grounds and Reigate

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Co-ordinates: 51.23913, -0.207193 • what3words: ///unity.glory.thick

Caversham Bridge, Reading (By Kirky)

Caversham bridge set in a lovely surrounding with the river Thames running through, its a lovely walk along the Thames, with a cafe on the corner of Richfield avenue that serves good food all day, can get very busy at most times of the year with visitors dog walkers & families feeding the ducks & swans so be mindful of that, has a hotel right next to it & pretty much everything within a couple of minutes walking distance which is great for a day out, I know this place well & have been a visitor for the last 50 years plus, also in the summer you have a local ice cream van here with refreshments, the only time id try to avoid is when reading festival is on as it can be mayhem, other than that well worth a visit & a great attraction .

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Co-ordinates: 51.46628, -0.976925 • what3words: ///varieties.lived.going

Helm crag Grasmere, South Lakeland (By D0c.Col)

Helm Crag is a fell in the English Lake District situated in the Central Fells to the north of Grasmere. Despite its low height it sits prominently at the end of a ridge, easily seen from the village. This, combined with the distinctive summit rocks which provide the alternative name 'The Lion and the Lamb', makes it one of the most recognised hills in the District.

There are plenty of websites that list walks to this great summit the easiest of which start in Grasmere.

Parking is a premium in Grasmere but there is a layby just off the A591 at the North end of the village.

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Co-ordinates: 54.47467, -3.040595 • what3words: ///bounding.submits.panting


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