Wednesday 14th March 2001
Weather: Sunny and very mild
Runswick Bay
Runswick Bay is a picture-postcard seaside village much loved by both artists and holidaymakers alike
Lying about 5 miles
north of Whitby, the village is split into two parts - a few
houses at the top of the cliffs contrast sharply
with the red-roofed cottages that appear to tumble down the
cliffside to the seafront below
The cottages are sheltered from the northern gales by Lingrow
Knowle - the lofty crag above
The beach is accessed via a very steep (1 in 4) road - there's a large public car park near the bottom
Today we strolled along the bay towards Kettleness - here we look back towards Runswick village
In the far
distance, the wierd shape of the waste heaps left over from the
old alum mines at Kettleness
are a common feature on this particular stretch of the Yorkshire
coast
Although it was low-water, we decided to turn back at this point as the tide can come in very quickly
On the way back we pass the Runswick Bay Beach & Sailing Club . . .
. 
. . . and a few ramshackled old fishermen's huts that are dotted along edge of the bay
Today, all is peace
and quiet, but nearby is a reminder of the defences that were
built all along this coast
against the threat of invasion during World War II - I hope it
remains as a memorial to those terrible times
At low tide, exposed rocks along the mile-wide bay are a fossil-seeker's paradise
A stroll along these golden sands is a real treat in calm conditions like today's
Runswick Bay beyond
the brightly-painted fishing cobles in the Boat Park
- there are still a few fishermen based here but nothing like in
the old days
Further along is the lifeboat station
In 1901 the village
women launched the heavy lifeboat themselves to save their
fishermen husbands
whose boats had been caught in a storm
. 
One of the pleasures of visiting Runswick Bay is to wander along the narrow alleys that meander between the cottages . . .
. 
. . . many of which are now holiday-homes which can be rented
. 
There's a surprise around almost every corner
From here, on the way back to the car park, the scene looks almost tropical
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