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Sailing By

whitby, north york moors & coast
  • 3 guests
  • 2 beds
  • 1 bathroom
  • Pet Friendly

Description

‘Sailing By’ is a delightful Grade 2 listed Cottage situated in the very heart of old Whitby on the East side of the town, crowned by the ruins of the 13th Century Abbey and St Mary’s Church. It has 2 bedrooms, a double and a single suitable for 3 people. The cottage is just off the cobbled street of Church Street in an area steeped in history. Hidden in a narrow ginnel (or passageway) called Borough Place, it is opposite the original marketplace that houses the Clock Tower. On entering the ginnel, away from the hustle and bustle of Church Street, it is a haven of tranquility as you are transported back in time to the Middle Ages. Dating from the late 1700's, 'Sailing By' is in an elevated position up 2 flights of steps which are quite steep. Many cottages in the old part of the town are like this, so may not be suitable for those with mobility issues. Outside to the front of the cottage is a small patio area with a wrought iron bench, ideal for relaxing after the day’s exertions, or simply chilling out with a glass of wine. The cottage possesses a quirky olde world charm with many original features, including cast iron fire grates (no longer in use), wood panelled doors and floorboards and a curved wooden staircase. It is beautifully presented throughout over 3 floors. You enter the cottage into the kitchen/diner. The dining table has 4 chairs. There are also 2 tub chairs in the dining area and a wall mounted tv. The kitchen is compact but adequately equipped for your stay, including a fossil embedded into the worktop! Of course, there is a varied choice of restaurants, cafes and Inns on Church Street and beyond if you enjoy eating out. The quarry tiled floor is a nice feature and dog friendly from the perspective of keeping it clean. On the first floor, the lounge is at the front of the cottage and benefits from plenty of light through the sash window. There is a double sofa bed and a tub chair. The lounge has sanded oak

floorboards. The fireplace is ornamental only. The option is available for a person to sleep on this bed if they prefer being on the 1st floor. There is a selection of books, CD’s, DVD’s together with a CD and DVD player. The stylish bathroom contains a roll top bath and is to the left of the living room. At the top of the house is the double bedroom overlooking the front and bathed in natural light through the sash window. The fitted wardrobe has plenty of space for an extended stay and it also contains a travel cot. A single bedroom to the left of the double has a pleasing aspect with a dormer window overlooking the rearm the trunk contains various games. Wander into enchanting Whitby to experience or struggle up the 199 Church steps (at the end of Church Street) to the Abbey. Or try the Donkey Road which is easier. The history of this fishing Port with the Captain Cook Memorial Museum is palpable. There is always something or someone to watch in the town! For most of the year the town hosts varied festivals and events. For some, the Goth weekends or Steam Punk are not to be missed, but Dracula always draws blood. Others prefer the 60’s weekends, Blues festival, Soul weekender or folk, if music is your passion. There are some fabulous walks or cycle rides along the coast, the North Yorkshire Moors or following the cinder trail (the old railway line) to Scarborough. We welcome well behaved dogs (and owners), though ask that your pampered pet remains on the ground floor. Please note that the approach to and the layout of our quirky cottage is not suited to those with mobility issues or very young children. As the cottage is so old, the walls are lime plaster and uneven. They are solid but it is different from a modern house. It is afterall a characterful

fisherman's cottage.The cobbled part of Church Street leading to the cottage has no car park.

It is possible to park temporarily for drop offs. The continuation of

Church Street alongside the river does have a public (paying) car park and is 5 minutes' walk to the cottage. We do provide at our expense prepaid parking by using permits (scratchcards). This is in *Disc Zone W* only - as allocated by the Council. This is street parking situated across the Swing bridge in the Westcliffe area. It is about 10 minutes from the cottage.


Your dates


Everything you'll need

  • Wifi
  • Baby Friendly
  • Garden / Patio
  • National Park
  • Pet Friendly

What guests are saying

3.0
Based on 20 reviews
Accuracy of the listing
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Cleanliness
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Comfort
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Facilities and Maintenance
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I'll start with the positives, the property is very close to the town, abbey and sea so makes it very easy to get into town and pop back if needed and the wi-fi worked well and was easy to use.

The property is up a side passage off the main street but is very quiet with no noticeable noise even when the nearby pubs are in full swing and the Sanders Yard Bistro is very close for an excellent breakfast. Now to the negatives, the bath and shower are pretty much unusable, the boiler is a gas combi boiler and isn't able to heat the water to have either a bath or shower, the same boiler is unable to heat the radiators in the property as well so its not ideal during cold spells, which it was when we were there. The property could do with a lot of maintenance / repairs for example the bathroom sink shelf is falling off, the chairs in the kitchen are at the end of their useful life, the key safe is terribly positioned and very difficult to open in the dark as it is nearly impossible to see the combination numbers. Overall I would not stay at this property again but would most definitely visit Whitby again, the town is truly wonderful.

N
NeilNov 2026

A lovely and quaint cottage which was a lovely break away for us.

The property was clean just in need of a little TLC and some updating. The toilet leaked and the sink/ shelf weren’t fixed back. Some of the Reed defusers looked lovely but had gone mouldy. Easy to book direct and all instructions were correct. No Wi-Fi however that we could see.

L
LouiseAug 2025

This property on a yard off Church St gave us a real sense of the history of the fishing port.

Narrow and basically one room per floor, with what looks to be an old (original?) spiral staircase made with solid baulks of wood. Very quiet at night despite being a few tens of yards from the bustle of the market and the crowds in Church Street. We will definitely stay here again in the future. I'm sure the owner realises that some basic maintenance is required with the bathroom sink wall fitting and the mains socket in the sitting room.

K
KeithNov 2024

Good to know

House Rules

  • Good housekeeping bond

    This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £100

  • Smoking

    Not permitted

Stay Information

  • Check-in / Check-out

    16:00 / 09:30

  • Property ref

    981087

Guest & Pet Policy

  • Pets

    Allowed

  • Children

    Not accepted

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