The team here at H&N Magazine have an ongoing love affair with Whitby and it just keeps growing stronger with every visit.
Recently we experienced a stay at the fabulous Raithwaite Sandsend Hotel and Spa, a unique coastal retreat in the heart of Yorkshire with woodland-filled grounds, a home-grown restaurant, stylish rooms and Sandsend beach and the north Yorkshire moors on the doorstep. Does it get any better?
Our journey from Leeds took us through beautiful Yorkshire scenery in gorgeous late summer sunshine, however – approaching Sandsend we saw a thick blanket of what looked like the whitest cloud below us, hanging over the town and the beach and as we dropped down towards it, we were quickly enveloped in a magnificent ‘Sea Fret’, a real pea souper and very eerie.
Climbing up out of the dip to the hotel, we drove out of it again and back into beautiful sunshine. It was very strange and as we were to be told on check in, the ‘sea fret’ had been in place for three days and had actually completely enveloped the hotel, it had just started to lift and within an hour it had gone and we were able to appreciate everything Raithwate Sandsend and the town of Sandsend has to offer.
Our experience of the hotel started in grand style as we were staying in a Mini Suite, with the added bonus of a balcony giving full relaxing views of the lush grounds, extensive patio and al fresco dining area. We quickly realised that this beautiful hotel made all guests extremely welcome, including four-legged ones, with specially allocated dog friendly accommodation and dining areas. They are one of the most dog friendly hotels in Whitby and the surrounding area.
The thing we loved the most was that we could just drop our bags and relax with a glass of bubbles on the balcony. This hotel hits the switch off button immediately!
It was time to explore so we headed out into the expanse of beautiful grounds and discovered lots of walking paths to various places, we decided to walk to Whitby as it was Regatta Weekend and there was a lot happening. But that was for tomorrow, today was all about relaxation, a few drinks in the evening sunshine, followed by a great meal in the hotel restaurant and a good night’s sleep.
The next morning, after a freshly cooked breakfast, we were fuelled and ready to hit the trail into Whitby, a three mile walk each way with a couple of miles added on once in Whitby, we knew we would build an appetite for dinner.
The walk started in the hotel grounds and took us through farms, a caravan park, along the coast, through a golf course and onto the beach. We filled our lungs with fresh, sea air and soaked up the vitamin D from the wall-to-wall sunshine. This coastal retreat was ticking all of our boxes.
Whitby was buzzing! The regatta was in full swing and the weather made sure people attended in huge numbers. It was a really good day and by the time we had walked back to the hotel we were more than ready for a pint of iced water each, swiftly followed by a pint of chilled beer and a gin and tonic! Bliss.
Shortly after we were showered, changed and ready for dinner. The food here is excellent and as you would expect fresh fish and crab are in abundance on the menu. During our stay we enjoyed Scorched North Sea Mackerel, Hand-dived Scallops, Butter Poached Whitby Lobster, Dressed Whitby Crab, Nettle Crusted Lamb Rump and Holme Farm Venison Loin. Beautiful fresh, local produce crafted into delicious dishes that everyone was raving about.
With just picked veg from the Dales, the freshest seafood from Whitby, mushrooms foraged from their very own grounds and herbs from Raithwaite Sandsend’s organic garden, they don’t need to look far to find the best produce in Yorkshire.
At Raithwaite Sandsend you can be as relaxed as is necessary, if you don’t fancy hiking or being active, you can leave the world behind in the spa with a few hours’ downtime by the heated indoor pool, a relaxing circuit through the steam room and sauna, or a fragrant and rejuvenating treatment.
Does this sound good to you? Well this is Raithwaite Sandsend, the relaxed country, coastal retreat with a warm Yorkshire welcome you will remember for a very long time.
Check out availability and prices here and make sure you tell them we sent you.
