I don’t think I’d ever been to Runswick Bay before, which is a terrible admission having lived in North Yorkshire for nearly a quarter of a century. Watching videos of my favourite photographers has highlighted the fact that the pandemic has forced us to look more locally for inspiration but for me the creation of this blog has been the important driver in exploring new areas.
As I’m a carer for my mother who lives next door, whilst still working as a trainer, I only usually manage 2-3 hours to visit somewhere, so Runswick Bay is probably the furthest I can currently manage. The 45 minute drive proved well worth it however – what a magical place!
I got there late afternoon so only a few people were about – some on the beach, others heading back to their cars. I left exploring the village until later and dropped down the steep road from the car park to the beach.
I’m so jealous of whoever owns these huts:
I liked the seating area with the individual benches just dotted around on the headland. I thought it looked a bit weird as nobody was sitting there (as if people had been snatched by aliens) so I tried to capture something of that – probably unsuccessfully!
Leaving the beach I started to explore the village but was drawn back by an old tractor parked outside the lifeboat station. I’m a bit of a sucker for old rusting tractors, such workhorses, and this one had definitely endured a long working life.
The old lifeboat station reflected nicely in a large rock pool.
Runswick Bay’s most photographed house is probably the Thatched Cottage, which has an unrivalled view of the bay, so it comes as no surprise to learn that it was once the coastguard’s home. This is where James Herriot holidayed, but it’s now a grace-and-favour residence of the Marquis of Normanby, so we won’t be able to follow in his footsteps.
The streets are steep and winding, like something you’d find in a Greek mountain or coastal village, with extremely gorgeous cottages and equally lovely gardens.
I’ll certainly return to Runswick Bay, perhaps on a lovely warm evening with a setting sun. It started drizzling this time so I cut short my exploring, just snapping one of the old telephone box as I headed back to the car park.
