Whitby Folk Week

Saturday Aug 22nd to Friday Aug 28th

A week of  traditional music, song and dance with many musicians and dancers displaying their skills in the open air and impromptu music-making in many of the pubs throughout the town - plus, of course, a full programme of concerts and dances in larger venues showcasing some of the best traditional folk artistes in the country. Booking is essential for most concerts as visitors come to Whitby from all over the world, especially for this event.
For more information, please visit the Folk Week website here

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Apart from the special events above, what would you enjoy most?

Based on what our visitors have told us, some of the most popular activities are highlighted below and there are more detailed pages available through the menu alongside. With long sandy beaches, fossil-filled cliffs, National Park Moorland, ancient buildings, beautiful vistas and quaint villages, all steeped in history, the Whitby area is a remarkable holiday destination for all ages.

 

You can check all the events taking place during your visit on our Events List.

 

Fresh air and scenery

At its simplest, just enjoy a gentle stroll along the beach or through ancient woodland. There are well-marked trails offering a vast selection of walks taking from a few hours to a full day.  For those who want more of a challenge, we offer the famous Coast-to-Coast walk, the Lyke Wake Walk and the Cleveland Way.  For the more sedate visitor, the entire area is wonderful to drive around, with fantastic views round most bends of most roads - or even better, travel by train or Moorsbus so that the driver can also relax and enjoy the views.

There is good surfing and bathing in the sea at Whitby, Sandsend and Staithes and acres of rock pools to investigate all along the coast, if you grow tired of looking for fossils.  Excellent fishing is available, either from the shore or sea-angling, and the Esk is a salmon river for those with permits. The disused Whitby to Scarborough railway line and nearby Dalby Forest offer excellent locations for cycling, mountain biking, and orienteering.

Good food and drink

Most villages have at least one traditional country pub, usually several.  Whitby town offers rather more night-life and has some very popular pubs, with real ales and live music.

If you’re a bit of a food lover then you are in luck, whatever your budget.  Take your pick from freshly oak-smoked kippers and fish and chips, to traditional tearooms with home-baking, right up to top-notch restaurants offering fantastic five star cuisine.  Most accommodation providers, pubs and cafes take great pride in offering locally-sourced and prepared food.  We do not have a Marks & Spencer or Tesco - no need, since excellent freshly-prepared meals for self-caterers are available from local butchers,  fishmongers and delicatessens.

 

Heartbeat, Harry Potter and Dracula

Want to see the places where your favourite TV series or film is set? Goathland village is Heartbeat’s Adensfield, although filming for the series takes place all over this area so you may spot places you recognise somewhere else altogether.  For Harry Potter fans, both Goathland and Grosmont railway stations were used to provide the setting of Hogwarts station.  Of course, Dracula fans really need to see the 199 Steps and St Mary’s Churchyard by moonlight. Since Dracula is undead, he should not need a grave in the churchyard…. but many think it is the tombstone bearing a skull and crossbones.

Festivals and Shows

Music and dance festivals are particular features of the Whitby calendar.  Folk Week, MusicPort, and the Eskdale Festival of the Arts are the largest, but many visit especially for the Gospel Music Festival or Spirit of the 40’s Weekend.  The fantastic Gothic Weekends are hugely popular - whether you are a Goth or just come to watch, the town will be full so you will need to book well ahead.

During the summer there are many events to interest to families with young children. Whitby Regatta in particular, offers three days of treasure hunts, raft races, amusements and parades. The Red Arrows usually perform their amazing display on the Sunday and a traditional travelling fair, complete with candyfloss and fairground rides spills along Pier Road and the West Pier on Regatta Monday.  Out of town, the Glaisdale and Hinderwell Scarecrow Festivals offer highly inventive and often very amusing walks around those villages and are well worth viewing.

 

Traditional Events

Many visitors from large towns and cities remark that taking part in a traditional local event has added that extra bonus to their holiday.  From centuries-old customs like the Penny Hedge and Blessing of the Boat ceremonies, to the annual lifeboat days and traditional country shows, you are most welcome to join in with the locals.  Though mostly small-scale, we have listed them in the Events Calendar so that you can check out any that will take place during your visit.

 

Whatever the weather,

whatever the season,

there’s always something to see and do.