This atmospheric, split-level cottage is a bijoux treasure, with heaps of charm and perfect for a couple’s getaway. It is hidden down a quite lane off Church Street, close to Whitby’s bustling harbour and the start of the 199-step climb to the gothic ruined abbey, said to have inspired Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. Tate Hill Beach is steps away, the larger West Cliff beach just half a mile, and exploring the town is always a delight, from cobbled streets to quirky cafes and boutique shops (look out for Whitby jet jewellery in particular). Festivals and fairs take place throughout the year, including the well-known Goth Weekend, an alternative music festival. Venturing further afield but without the car, you can climb aboard a heritage train and be whisked 24 miles through the North York Moors to the market town of Pickering, with its 1930s-themed station. The Yorkshire coast is lined with beautiful fishing villages and quaint market towns, with Robin Hood’s Bay, for example, just 6 miles from Whitby, Staithes 11 miles and Ravenscar 14 miles.
The open-plan living area of the cottage is dominated by a huge brick fireplace containing a wood burner – an impressive original feature that contrasts with the modern kitchen-in-a-cupboard that enables you to cook on the hob or in the combination microwave/oven, and also provides a built-in fridge, cupboards, shelves and a hanging rail for storage, and a basin for washing up. For dining, there is a drop-leaf table and folding chairs by the window. Up a short, turning flight of steps you will find the double bedroom with its built-in wardrobe, and a modern shower room.