The Old Coastguard Station

Overview

About The Old Coastguard Station

Why stop

Sea-edge setting with boats, bay and shore geology in one view

Heads up

Steep walk down and a tougher climb back to the upper village

This building sits at the very edge of the sea in Robin Hood's Bay, right beside the beach slipway. The village drops steeply through narrow lanes to the Dock, so arriving on foot feels like descending into the shore itself. It is a good base for anyone who wants the beach, the cliffs and the old fishing village all within a few steps.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy stop

Map

Where it is

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SightThe Old Coastguard Station54.43018, -0.53219

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Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to go

Crowds build on summer weekends and school holidays, while early morning and late afternoon are calmer. Photographers should look for low sun on wet rock, which brings out the ridges and reflections. Offshore you may spot kittiwakes and dolphins, though sightings are never guaranteed, so treat them as a bonus rather than the reason to come. The coast here is exposed and the weather can change quickly, so bring layers and a windproof even on a bright day.

Access and drawbacks

There is no public parking in the lower village. Use the upper-village parking and walk down, and be ready for a steep climb back up at the end. Do not drive beyond the small roundabout. If you plan to walk to Boggle Hole, note that the beach route is inaccessible for roughly three hours either side of high tide; the Cleveland Way cliff-top route is the alternative when the sands are cut off. Check the tide times before setting out so you are not committed to a longer return than you expected.

8 active North York Moors alerts

ClosureHawnby Bridleway 110 closurePublic Bridleway 25.122/110/1 in Hawnby is closed to pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians because its bridge is unsafe. - The closure is between grid references SE 5309 9073 and SE 5335 9097.Official details
ClosureWest Ayton Footpath 1 closurePublic Footpath 1 in West Ayton (Forge Valley) is temporarily closed because its boardwalk is unsafe. - The closure is between SE 9860 8494 and SE 9839 8712.Official details

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

North York Moors Tour Guide

Your drive to The Old Coastguard Station, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for North York Moors National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

Recorded for this place

Robin Hood's Bay

0:00 / 0:38

“Up ahead is Robin Hood's Bay, where a tight knot of cottages and narrow alleys tumbles steeply down to the sea.”

Plays as you drive up to The Old Coastguard Station in the Parkwolf North York Moors Tour Guide.

More about The Old Coastguard Station

What to see and doThe bay supports rockpooling, fossil hunting, beach-combing, exploring, playing and…

The bay supports rockpooling, fossil hunting, beach-combing, exploring, playing and birdwatching. At low tide the beach reveals a rock platform of alternating soft and hard rock; erosion strips the softer bands and leaves the harder layers standing as curving ridged scaurs that sweep out across the sands. Plan the visit around the tide, because the same beach looks entirely different when the water is in.

Heritage contextRobin Hood's Bay was a fishing stronghold and, in the 1700s, a major smuggling spot on the…

Robin Hood's Bay was a fishing stronghold and, in the 1700s, a major smuggling spot on the northeast coast. That history explains the tight, tangled lanes and the way the houses are stacked down towards the Dock. Knowing it makes the walk down more interesting than a simple stroll to the water.

Wildlife

Wildlife in North York Moors

All North York Moors wildlife maps

15 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

10 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

79 sightingsGrey SealMost seen around noonSighting map

26 sightingsWestern Barn OwlMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

33 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

10 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around noonSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across North York Moors. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.