Lucy's View

The walk up to Lucy's View, perched above Whitby, rewards you with one of the coast's most arresting panoramas. On a clear day you're looking straight down the coastline - all golden cliffs and churning sea - with the town's famous abbey silhouetted against the skyline. It's the kind of view that makes the climb worthwhile, even when your legs are telling you otherwise.

Getting there is half the point. The route climbs steeply from the town itself, so allow a good half-hour if you're not a regular hiker. Wear decent shoes; it's muddy after rain. The viewpoint itself is modest - there's a bench and a bit of fencing - but the space feels properly wild once you're up there. You're standing on the edge of something genuinely dramatic.

Families with older kids will get on well here. Younger ones might struggle with the climb and there's not much to do once you arrive except gaze and take photos, so don't expect them to occupy themselves for hours. History types will appreciate the views of Whitby Abbey, and walkers should build this into a longer coastal ramble rather than treating it as a standalone destination.

It's free, naturally. Best visited in the morning or late afternoon when the light catches those cliffs properly - midday sun can flatten everything. If you're based at Broadings Farm Caravan Site or Whitby Holiday Park, this makes for a solid half-day outing. Bring a windproof; it gets breezy up there.