Staithes

Why we love STAITES

The tiny fishing village on the northern edge of the North York Moors has so much charm and beauty that it will simply take your breath away. Walk its back lanes to find your own unique perspective, have fish and chips a few yards from the beach, or simply admire the views out to sea.

Where:

Located on the North Yorkshire coastline on the very edge of the North York Moors National Park, Staithes is a tiny fishing village and former ‘smuggling port’ that was once of the busiest fishing ports in the north-east of England.

History:

Considering the size of Staithes, the villages has a quire remarkable place in local history. As well as being the pivotal fishing port in the region for many centuries, Staithes was at the heart of a thriving mineral trade from the North York Moors and nearby Cleveland Hills.

Captain James Cook moved to Staithes when he first left the family home (long before he became a captain), taking a job as an apprentice at William Sanderson’s shop and working as a grocer’s lad. Although he only lived in Staithes for two years, the villages can take some credit for shaping his future life – he is said to have been inspired to pursue a life on the seas after watching ships and boats coming in and out of the harbour in Staithes.

Today:

Staithes today is a popular tourist destination, with a delightful setting and charming beach. It’s a lovely village to head to for lunch with a sea view and for a day at the beach with the family. It’s a quirky, colourful village that never seems busy; every street offers a different photo opportunity with a new perspective on life in this truly picture-postcard location.

Origin of the name:

Unlike many place names in Yorkshire, Staithes has a fairly straightforward origin to its name. A ‘staithe’ is an old term for a riverbank and a more recent (albeit still fairly archaic) term for a harbour. Deriving from both Old English and Old Norse, Staithes is simply ‘harbour’.