Salt Bay

Salt Bay sits on the southern side of the River Esk, on a quiet residential street where you can leave the car in the garage and forget about it for the week. The town centre is a five-minute walk. The beach is ten. Parking in Whitby is a headache for most visitors, but here you get a garage with space for two cars and a third spot outside, plus EV charging in the garage if you need it.

Inside, the ground floor is open-plan and finished to a standard that catches you off guard. The kitchen has a large central island that doubles as the social hub of the house, with sleek units and enough appliances to cook properly. It's the kind of kitchen where someone always ends up leaning on the island with a glass of wine, half-watching whoever is at the hob.

Bi-folding doors run the full width of the back wall, and in summer they concertina open to blur the line between the kitchen and the patio outside. The living and dining area wraps around the other side, with deep sofas, a Smart TV, and a dining table for four.

Step outside through those bi-folds, and you're on an enclosed patio with outdoor seating and the hot tub. Stone walls keep it sheltered and private, so even on a breezy Yorkshire evening, you're out of the wind. The tub fits four comfortably, and on a clear night, the sky above is properly dark once you're away from the streetlights. A glass of something cold, no sound except the odd gull, and the warmth of the water doing its job.

Upstairs, two bedrooms keep things simple. The king-size master has an en-suite shower room and its own Smart TV. The twin is bright and well-decorated with plenty of storage. The ground floor has the wow factor here; upstairs is tighter on space, but both rooms feel clean and considered rather than cramped. Fresh linen, towels, and robes are all included.

What catches you off guard is the welcome. Prosecco, biscuits, slippers, and robes are laid out when you walk in. It sets the tone before you've put the kettle on. The whole place is kept immaculate between stays, right down to the cloakroom on the ground floor that saves any bathroom queues in the morning.

Walk down to the river and follow it towards the old town. The 199 steps start at the harbourside and switchback up the cliff to the Abbey, where the rooftops and the coastline open up below you. Back at harbour level, the choice of fish and chips alone could fill a week. Cross the bridge and wander the narrow streets on the east side for independent shops and galleries. The sandy beach runs below the West Cliff, backed by colourful beach huts and the Pavilion. Whale-watching boat trips run from the harbour between spring and autumn, heading out past the piers in search of minke whales, dolphins, and seals.

Drive twenty minutes south along the coast road, and you hit Robin Hood's Bay, a steep village tumbling down to a rocky shore that's worth an afternoon. The North York Moors start on the doorstep, and the Cinder Track, a traffic-free path along the old railway line, runs all the way to Scarborough if you fancy a long cycle or walk. The Cleveland Way traces the clifftops in the other direction. The shop is a five-minute walk, the pub even closer, and one well-behaved dog is welcome with a small supplement.