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This weekend, C & I worked out that we'd been together for around 5 years. This means I moved up to Yorkshire around 4 and a half years ago.
Whilst we've explored most places within an hour's drive of our home, one place we had failed to visit was Robin Hood's Bay. So, with my parents in tow, we decided to take a trip up to coast and check it out.
The place is easy enough to find as it's just 6 miles south of Whitby on the coast road. Once you turn off the main road you are faced with a series of very steep hills - enough to make you test the brakes once or twice.
There is a well signposted car park as you enter the village and cost £2 for 2 hours.
From the car park, everything goes rapidly downhill - in a literal sense of course! There are a few pubs and guesthouse along the main road into the village, which starts to get steeper and steeper, until finally you reach a very steep section overlooking the sea.
There are quaint little craft shops and cafes along here, until you finally reach the bottom of the hill where you can either turn left up a tiny path or follow the road over a bridge.
We took the path and came across a small pie shop. Now, for those that know me, I'm a sucker for all things encrusted with pastry, so this is where we stopped. We were the only customers and I selected the "Pot Black" which was a pork pie to all intents, but instead of the usual filling, it contained a slab of black pudding surrounded with sausage. Definitely my sort of thing!
We followed this pathway which at one point threatened to lead to a dead end, but, after manoeuvring our way round a wedding party, we finally found our way to the top of yet another hill.
There was another pub on this road, which appeared to be in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, and it led down to the slipway and beach. Again, there were a couple of cafes and a lifeboat station here.
We ventured down and down again onto the beach. Only then do you truly discover the description of the village is very accurate - it truly is a bay, with cliffs at either end (but not a cove, as my Dad - a former Geology Teacher - would go on to describe in great length).
That was really the extent to the village, and we made our way back up via the road. Our youngest was fascinated by all the dinosaur models in the gift shop and we also stopped at a chocolate and sweet shop for some well-earned treats.
I'm not going to lie. The climb back up was absolutely gruelling. The pavement was stepped, but as I was pushing the buggy, it was a calf-burning couple of minutes getting from bottom to top! Thankfully, mid-way up, my Dad was on hand to take over!
There are quaint little craft shops and cafes along here, until you finally reach the bottom of the hill where you can either turn left up a tiny path or follow the road over a bridge.