Staying and sketching in Robin Hoods Bay

We are having a short break in Robin Hoods Bay. Staying in Bramley Cottage a lovely four-story cottage, nestled into the old part of the village. It’s very cosy and well-equipped. Robin Hoods Bay is tucked into a steep-sided valley. With little alleyways joining the cottages up. It’s ‘main’ road leading straight down to the harbour and beach. We carried our bags down the steep hill, from the car park at the top of the village. We got to know that hill up and down very well by the end of our stay! Whilst here we are looking for fossils on the beach, going to the local museums, walking along the coast, and sketching.

Featured painting above:

‘Room with a view’

This is the view from the top-floor bedroom window of the lovely, little cottage we are staying in. Watercolour.

Materials Used

These sketches were drawn & painted in an A4 Pink Pig sketch book. I’m also using a small watercolour
field paint box, with a round brush – sable no.6 + a no. 2, fineliner black pen and a soft 6B Pencil.

Watercolour sketch of a lighthouse nestled on the grassy cliffs.

‘Whitby Lighthouse’

Walking from Robin Hoods Bay to Whitby along the coast path. It was a beautiful sunny day and we had taken our packed lunch with us to eat on the cliffs. There were several other people out doing this popular walk in both directions. This is a watercolour sketch of Whitby Lighthouse, broodingly looking out to sea, on Ling Hill. Lots of ups and lovely coves and beaches to look down on. However, as we walked down the famous steps from Whitby Abbey, it got busier and busier. With the streets of Whitby being completely rammed with people. We strolled around the town a little before ducking into a tea shop, for a sit-down and cup of tea. We then caught the bus back to Robin Hoods Bay, which sounds all very easy. However, the bus was an hour late and this wasn’t helped by a small group of people and their boom box. Blasting out music at the bus stop. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, but the large queue of people wasn’t. However, being all very English, nobody said anything and we all just stood there shuffling our feet and rolling our eyes. It was nice to be back to the peace of Robin Hoods Bay and the fish and chips we had for tea.

It was a lovely walk though!

Watercolour and pen sketch looking down the road to the sea in Robin Hoods Bay.

‘King Street to the harbour’

Watercolour and fineliner pen sketch, looking down King Street. This was once the main road village, but storms have taken a toll on it. It now stops after a little way, with just the little ginnels (alleyways) going off from it. At low tide, we were out looking for fossils. Finding a few ammonites, belemites, and gryphaea. However, it was now the end of the summer holidays and I think the beach had been pretty picked over. Still very pleasant and enjoyable.

Sketch of a rocky outcrop at Saltwick Bay, looking like the Sphinx.

Saltwick Bay Sphinx

At low tide we went to Saltwick Bay for a fossiling walk along the shore. Much of this is on a wave-cut platform. Again we found ammonites, belemites, but no remarkable specimens! There are two shipwrecks on the beach and the rocky outcrop known as the ‘Sphinx’. Which I sketched with a 6B pencil. On it’s back are small ammonites, within the rocky pavement.

Conclusion

We loved our stay in Bramley Cottage. Explouring the little ginnels of Robin Hoods Bay was a delight. We went back to Whitby to look around the Museum. Which was fantastic, a little walk out of the main town, lots of fossils, and a wealth of other interesting things. We also went to Scarborough’s Rotunda Museum, which was also fab for fossils and all things prehistoric.