Robin Hood's Bay

With red-roof cottages and cobbled roads squeezed into a narrow ravine, this tiny fishing village is considered by many to be the prettiest on the Yorkshire coast. Its winding stone staircases eventually bring you to the headland. Despite its name, the village has no connection to the famous medieval outlaw, beyond a historic association with illegal activity. It was once a smuggling center, with contraband passed up the streambed beneath cottages linked to one another by secret passages. The rocks exposed at low tide on the beach are a good hunting ground for Jurassic fossils. Park in the pay lots at the top of the hill. Do not attempt to drive down the hill.