The story of Yorkshire's picturesque coastal village of Sandsend

The destination for lots of those people will be God’s Own Country, whether or not they call the region their home, and with historic cities, national parks and some stunning coastline, it is perhaps not surprising Yorkshire will be welcoming a wave of tourism.

To the north of its coast, Runswick Bay has recently topped a list of Britain’s best beaches for 2020, awarded the accolade by The Sunday Times.

Other Yorkshire destinations to feature include Spurn Head, Hummanby Gap and Fraisthorpe. The village of Sandsend, pictured here, also has a lot to offer. Located just north of Whitby, and south of Runswick Bay, it is part of the unspoilt stretch of coastline defined as the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast.

The village is divided, as seen here, by a stream which runs into the sea and there are views from the beachfront over to Whitby Abbey.

Sandsend was the birthplace of British shipping magnate George Pyman and is home to a number of former fisherman’s cottages, though the village’s origins are believed to hark back the alum industry.

Indeed, large mounds of shale waste at a site known as Sandsend Ness are the result of quarrying for alum for more than 200 years from the early 1600s right through to the mid 19th century.

Sandsend’s own railway station helped bring in tourists for decades from the Victorian era until well past the end of the Second World War after opening in 1883 and closing in 1958.

Today, the area counts walkers, surfers and fossil hunters amongst its visitors, with the UK Fossil Network claiming you can find reptile remains on the foreshore, along with many ammonites and shells.

With much to offer, the picturesque village will undoubtedly remain a firm favourite this summer.

Image technical details: Shot on a FujiFilm X-E1, 18-55mm lens,1/250th @ f7.1, 320 ISO.

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