We narrowly avoid an unplanned wade at Robin Hood's Bay

Peering through the leaded panes of the dinning room, the rain poured down so, following breakfast, we retreated to our rooms until by 10.00 it had cleared somewhat so the decision was made to rerun yesterday's plan for beach mooching at Boggle Hole and Robin Hood's Bay.  Having put my bag in the car, however, we discovered that the trailer we had parked next to had blown into the car during the night.  Fortunately the situation was better than it at first seemed.  On moving the trailer we had got away with a slight scratch.  

Once parked up at Boggle Hole we were soon down on the beach having noticed water pouring over the weir by the youth hostel with a force we had never known.  Wading through the beck to the beach we were greeted by the loud grumbling roar of the huge surf rolling into the bay.  The sharp whiteness of the breakers was set against a thunderous black sky which at one time sported a superb rainbow.  We revelled in pottering along towards Stoupe Beck Sands, beachcombing and bird watching.  Peter and I enjoyed close views of a flock of turnstones with a purple sandpiper in its midst.  As we made our way along the beach our progress was puntuated by the crump of debris falling from the shale cliffs. I wandered along  enjoying the crackle of bursting bladderwrack vesicles under my feet.  The flask of Heinz tomato soup at Stoup Beck Sands was most welcome; the ultimate comfort food.  Making our way back towards Boggle Hole we gradually began to realise that the tide was coming in much more quickly than we expected [ it was still 3 hours to high tide] and we had to run to avoid an unplanned waist deep paddle; as it was water came over one or two wellies.  As used as I am to watching tides and as well as we know this beach, it was a timely lesson not to treat the sea lightly.  

Having reached dry land we climbed up the steep path to walk along the cliff top to Robin Hoods Bay for a mooch around Bay Town and tea and stickies in the Old Chapel Cafe.  The light along the way back was superb with the sunset colouring up the sky.  It was time to return to the hostel for some rehydration before heading down into Whitby for our evening meal at The Marine.

To view large, please click on a thumbnail.  All images December 2022.