ROBIN HOOD WAS NEVER THERE!

Having climbed the 199 steps, we can look back over Whitby.

And here's the abbey, with its graveyard.

Hgh above the cliffs.

Now we take a walk along the clifftop Cleveland Way.

We soon arrive at Robin Hood's Bay. We look back on our route.....

.....and peer down into the village.

The railway station was up here, high above the village. Here it is in pre BR times - all gone now.

Once serving the station, the Victoria Hotel.

Looking down into the village of Robin Hood's Bay.

One of many alleyways and narrow streets.

Down by the sea, the Bay Hotel.

Slightly further up, the Dolphin, but I'm now told it's closed.

 Never mind, the Laurel Inn is just a bit further up the hill.

We now take a walk along the old railway line, heading back towards Whitby (You can follow the route here).

We pass the remains of the station at Hawsker.

Now we veer off, down into the Esk valley, and find the bridge at Ruswarp.

The NER had a station at Ruswarp. It's still open today.

The next station westwards is Sleights, seen in NER times, though Whitby to Middlesbrough trains still call.

The (then) new bridge and level crossing at Sleights.

Next stop, Grosmont, where we can sign in to the Crossing Club, owned by the villagers.

Now we can sample more real ales and spend the night at the Station Tavern.

In the next post, we'll take a look at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in Grosmont, before moving on.

WHITBY

From West Cliff station, the line led south to the Esk Valley, crossed by the massive Larpool  Viaduct.

It's even more impressive close up. No trains run over it these days.

From the viaduct, the gas works alongside the River Esk.

As we arrive at Whitby Town, we pass the loco shed, seen in NER times.

One of the LNER's Sentinel railcars, "New Fly", passes by.

Now it's 1979 and a resfurbished DMU sits in Whitby station, before the track layout was simplified.

By 1987, Pacers had taken over and just one bit of track remained.

These days, steam and diesel trains from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway use the other platform.

45428 departs for Pickering.

More steam now - a steam bus for tourists.

United was the main bus operator.

Now Arriva run most of the services.

A firm trading as Town & Country ran open-top and "Park & Ride" services for a while.

A more unusual bus, a Leyland National, bringing the Midland Bank to you!

Let's have a look at Whitby Harbour now.

There's still some commercial traffic.

The harbour is crossed by this swing bridge.

The mouth of the Esk/harbour entrance.

The crumbling coast to the north.

Into the town.....an old view of Skinner Street.

Built to serve the railway, the Station Inn.

In the station itself, a micropub, the Waiting Room.

Up a hill, the Little Angel, brewing its own beer.

By the swing bridge, the Dolphin.

Before crossing the Esk, we reach the Ship Inn.

Over the river, the Board Inn.

Finally, my favourite, the Black Horse.

Right, that's us done for today, all we have to do is get to the abbey, up on that hill.

There's 199 steps to climb! (Creative Commons License).

See you in the next post.