How to Spend a Long Weekend Break in Staithes
- Rachael Hand
- Aug 3
- 6 min read
(with dogs, and without disasters)
Last weekend, the one just before Easter 2025, my mum, dad, sister, the dogs (Fred and Luca), and I headed off for a long weekend in the seaside village of Staithes. Tucked up on the East Coast, just into North Yorkshire and right on the edge of the North York Moors, it’s honestly one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been (and I’ve been to the Cotswolds and the Lake District).
Here’s how we spent a long weekend break in Staithes, without falling out, getting lost, falling off a cliff, or suffering too badly from the endless (but beautiful) uphill walks.
First: the Airbnb
I have to start with the amazing Airbnb we stayed in for our weekend break in Staithes. Fun historical fact: Staithes is absolutely riddled with chapels , apparently due to the superstitious nature of the fishing folk who once lived here. That’s relevant because our Airbnb was in one of these converted chapels, and let me just say: the space was incredible.
Staithes is a higgledy-piggledy sort of village (in the best way), and most of the houses are tiny, cosy cottages. Perfect if you’re a couple , less so if you have two dogs, one of whom is the size of a small human (that’s Fred). So a tiny cottage just wasn’t going to cut it.
Thankfully, Kindly Light , the name of our Airbnb , was not only spacious and full of natural light, but also dog-friendly and perfectly located in the heart of the old village.
We arrived sometime after half past four on Friday, after a quick stop in a small village on the way called Goathland (despite Dad repeatedly telling us we were heading to “Grosmere”…).
We had a lovely cup of tea in the garden of a tearoom on the edge of the village green , mainly to stretch our legs, get some fresh air, and enjoy the sunshine. We were very lucky with the weather.
A Quick Word on Parking
Let’s take a moment to talk about parking in Staithes. In short: there’s none in the old village. Visitor parking is limited to a council car park at the top of the hill , and it’s a steep hill.
Luckily, our Airbnb host had tipped me off about a private parking spot just outside the old village , closer than the council car park, and reserved for the whole weekend. Shout out to Glen Vale Car Park , a total game-changer.
That said, we did initially drive into the old village to unload the car and dogs. We knew getting back out might be tricky , the roads are only one car wide, yet somehow not one-way , but we risked it.
In hindsight, I think my mum deeply regrets that decision. After unloading, Mum and I hopped back in the car to nip to the local Co-op for some evening snacks, and then return the car to our spot at Glen Vale. Easy, right?
Not quite.
First challenge: turning the car around. We had to continue further down into the old village, squeezing (literally) past the Crab & Lobster pub, after a friendly local assured us we’d fit through the gap and could turn around by the harbour.
So far, so good.
The real fun started on the way back. As we reached the tightest corner in the village, stone wall on one side, cottages on the other, we met oncoming traffic. Cue the most stressful right-reverse-around-a-corner manoeuvre ever, expertly performed by Mum with the help of a kind local couple who made sure we didn’t take out the village with us.
Eventually, we made it out, grabbed the snacks, tucked the car in at Glen Vale, and walked back down the hill to Kindly Light to start our weekend properly.
Saturday: Whitby, Seals, Staithes Museum & Sunshine
On Saturday we made an early start , even earlier for Mum and Dad, who took the dogs for a dawn walk only to find their harbourside route blocked by a seal.
By 8:30am we were on the road, heading 12 miles down the coast to Whitby. Good job we left early, because with the glorious weather came the crowds, and parking was tight.
We spent the morning walking along the beach and exploring some of Whitby’s best shops.
Highlights included Nordsjon, where Jessica picked up some amazing Swedish socks, and a lovely little homeware shop on Grape Lane. Of course, no trip to the seaside is complete without an ice cream, which we got from Caedmon’s Rest.
We didn’t visit the Abbey this time, but I’d highly recommend it if you’ve never been. For us, the beach stroll won out, especially because I found a particularly nice pebble. Sounds silly, but I’ve had a lifelong habit of collecting things on walks. Last year in Elgin, it was sticks and pinecones; this year, a pocketful of pebbles. I don’t know why I do it, but I do, and I love it.
By midday thanks to the glorious sunshine, Whitby was absolutely heaving and that was our Q to leave. I'm not saying we’re all anti-social, but when it gets too crowded to walk down the street without bumping into several other people on the way, that's a good time for us to go home. We’re all much happier getting up early and doing things when it's quieter.
Back in Staithes, we had a home cooked lunch (thanks, Gousto delivery), then wandered across the road to Staithes Museum, a little treasure trove of local history. Afterwards, we strolled through the village shops and galleries, including a stop at Staithes Craft Centre.
Sunday: Robin Hood’s Bay & the Staithes–Port Mulgrave Circular
Sunday brought another early start, this time to Robin Hood’s Bay, another beautifully jumbled coastal village, and one of Mum’s all-time favourites. It didn’t disappoint.
We started with a beach walk (with me picking up pebbles as I went), and had a peaceful cup of tea on the cobbled streets in the sunshine before the shops opened. Then came a little shopping spree…
We’d spotted Bertie’s of Bay in Whitby the day before, so when we found it again in Robin Hood’s Bay, it was a must-visit. I came away with the most incredible fisherman’s smock, and Jessica picked up a lovely beanie. That shop marked the start of a bit of a shopping spree: we couldn’t resist The Higgledy Pig, Jessica Hogarth’s studio, and a few more little local gems.
Between us we came home with a crab cushion, two vintage-inspired tins, and a fish-themed chopping board. After exploring the winding alleys and soaking in the cliffside views, we wrapped up our visit with another ice cream and headed back to Staithes.
The afternoon was all about a circular walk from the village to Port Mulgrave , a spot Dad had wanted to visit for, in his words, “about 30 years.” Once a thriving mining hub, it’s now a fascinating, slightly eerie place to explore.
We followed the cliff-top path with help from the AllTrails app, and it turned out to be the perfect final adventure , stunning views, fresh air, and just the right amount of walking.
Monday: time to head home after our successful weekend break in Staithes.
On Monday morning, there was nothing left to do but hand the keys back to our lovely hosts at Kindly Light, thank them for a wonderful stay, and hit the road after what was, genuinely, a brilliant weekend on the East Coast.
