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52 Ways To Enjoy Robin Hood’s Bay: #7 Go Rock Pooling

52 Ways To Enjoy Robin Hood’s Bay: #7 Go Rock Pooling

Go Rock Pooling

Have you been wondering what you can do on Robin Hood’s Bay Beach?

One of our favourite ways to enjoy the beach is to go rock pooling. And Rock pools we have in abundance.


Robin Hood’s Bay

Perched on the coast between the surrounding cliffs of Scarborough and Whitby sits a Bay. The backdrop of the Bay is the old Yorkshire fishing village Robin Hood’s Bay. Built on a steep hill the old 17th Century village heads down to the Bay. Winding streets, steep steps and cobbled alleyways make up what was once called Baytown. A maze of a village it’s easy to get lost here in Robin Hood’s Bay. Just all part of the magic of what makes it so special.

Robin Hood’s Bay harbours a deep rooted history of smuggling. Legend has it that contraband could leave the Bay and reach the top of the village without ever seeing daylight.

Robin Hood’s Bay is surrounded by an abundance of nature and wildlife. There are a whole host of animals that call here home living on the moorland, the cliffs, the beach and the sea. All just waiting to be observed and discovered.


The Beach

There are rock pools galore here, tons of seaweed, sand, boulders and the scaurs. Everyone will love exploring Robin Hood’s Bay Beach.

Dog Friendly all year round too you won’t find a single restriction here. There's lots to explore for both the pooch and the humans. You can pick up walks along The Cleveland Way and The Cinder Track (the old Railway Line) towards Whitby or Scarborough here in Robin Hood’s Bay.


Rock pools

Lucky for us we have one of the best beaches on the Yorkshire Coast for rock pooling. We have them in abundance here. No matter how much sand and seaweed are left by the tide you are guaranteed rock pools here. No day on the beach is the same, it changes with each tide and with the weather. Maintaining an air of mystery and a sense of magic about it.

Rock pooling is a great way for any age to learn all about the beach and sea life.


Basic Rock Pooling Kit

You don't need anything to go rock pooling other than a good set of wellies or other waterproof footwear. Especially in winter. You can buy a trusty net and bucket if you want to observe your critters a little bit more. But it's not necessary.

Nets and buckets are available from the local shops:

Thorpe Stores in Fylingthorpe

Baytown Stores in Upper Robin Hood's Bay

Muir Lea Stores in Lower Robin Hood's Bay

You will also find a fab range of colourful Scrunch Buckets at The Toy Shop in Robin Hood’s Bay. Foldable, squashable, scrunchable and rollable without losing shape. 


What To Look For

What Rock Pool Creatures you might find:

Hermit Crabs: Live in spiral shells

Small Fish: Up to 6cm in length & are grey or sandy coloured

Green Shore Crabs: Has a jagged front shell edge & are usually dark green

Velvet Swimming Crab: Has red eyes & is very snappy

Brown Crab: Large & brown in colour with black tipped claws

Common Starfish: Orange, brown or purple, has 5 or 6 arms and about 20cm across in size

Sea Urchin: A ball covered in spines

Dried Sea Urchin Shell: Spineless dried up shell of a sea Urchin, usually pink, purple or brown

Limpets: Pointed shell ash grey-white in colour

Periwinkles: Has spiral ridges, grows to 5cm’s, are grey, black, brown or red

Dog Whelks: Similar shape to Periwinkle, are white and grow to 6cm high

Anemones: Red, orange or brown blob at low tide, their tentacles come out as the tide comes in

You will also find many varieties of Seaweed which is plentiful here and if you're lucky you might find a Shrimp or Lobster.


Top Tips

You can enjoy our rock pools all year round. The best months for Rock pooling are the late spring to early autumn months. The waters are warmer and the seas less rough.

Don’t forget to check under rocks Rock Pool creatures.They like to hide in seaweed, nooks and crevices.

Do be careful when placing rocks back so as not to crush any of the rock pool residents.

Safety Tips

Here at Baytown Holiday Cottages we’re all about the Do’s and not the Don’ts. Here are a few Do’s to ensure you have a safe but fun time rock pooling in Robin Hood’s Bay:

Do read the safety signs at the top of the slipway in the Dock of Robin Hood’s Bay

Do try to head out when the tide is going out for the best rock pooling activity

Do check the tide table before heading out. If you are unsure do ask a local

Do watch your step and footing, the rocks and seaweed are very slippy in places

Do be careful when handling rock pool creatures as some may nip, bite or sting

Do return all your rock pool critters back to their little homes before you leave the beach

Do take your bucket and net home with you. If you have finished with them, why not give them to someone who has just arrived? Why not tell them about all the fantastic little creatures you found

Do, do the most important thing of all. Have lots of fun exploring the rock pools in Robin Hood’s Bay


Don’t Do As I Did

Do watch your step especially on stretches with large areas of thick seaweed. You don’t want to end up having an accident or an epic fail like the lady member of Baytown Holiday Cottages. I was happily walking along the scaurs near Saltwick Nab in Whitby. Let’s just say I definitely had a Vicar of Dibley Puddle Moment. I was wet from the waist down after plunging into the deepest murkiest Rock Pool we’ve ever come across. The squelchy smelly walk of wet shame across Whitby Town was almost unbearable.

Snap Your Rock Pool Creatures

It always makes us sad to see buckets of Rock Pool creatures outside the cottages. Why? Because they die. Then they start to decompose and smell.

Instead of taking your Rock Pool creatures home with you, please put them back in their homes. But first don’t forget to snap a photo of your Rock Pool finds. 


Stay A While

So, why not stay for a while?

Smaller properties are available from 2 nights and the larger properties from 3 nights. All dependent on the time of year. All of our cottages are priced accordingly throughout the year. All of our properties feature in size order. Largest to smallest as you scroll down the Accommodation Page.

For a quick look at our availability at any given time you can use our All Availability feature. Just click the green and yellow Check Availability button on the Home page of our website.

Explore Robin Hood’s Bay, the wildlife and marine life that call it home. You may just fall in love and be eager to discover more of what Robin Hood’s Bay has to offer.

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Built by Jack Barber in Whitby, North Yorkshire. Visit Herbal Apothecary for herbal practitioner supplies, Sweet Cecily's for natural skincare and Future Health Store for whole foods, health supplements, natural & ethical gifts.