Perched on the picturesque harbourside of Staithes, historic Ash Cottage, is a Gd. 2 listed holiday home with stunning sea views on 3 floors. Watch boats come and go while still in bed.Back door to the harbour rail. Cosy log stove after beach walks.
The space
Sea views on 3 floors, historic, well located, comfortable cottage with double aspect - front door onto high street and all amenities, back door onto footpath over looking harbour and sea.
200 year old features but modern comforts including wood burning stove.
Guest access
As soon as you walk into Ash Cottage you see the sea. Make a coffee, open the back door and hang on the harbour rail out back to take in fantastic views of the harbour, life boat station and the sea.
There's a wood burning stove to make the best of chilly nights. Bring seasoned logs and kindling if it's that time of year. There's a washer/dryer tucked under the stairs. Liquid wash if needed. No tablets please!
Take your tea in bed up in the master bedroom and look out to sea as you sip.
Upstairs we have now added folding doors to create a private, cosy, single bedroom. Or leave the doors pushed back if you prefer. Beyond this is the twin bedded room with floor level (sealed) windows, giving you a view right down onto the high tide.
You can nip out of the front door in slippers if need be to the friendly butcher's opposite. Ask Richard and Marianne for the best local meat and other produce including honey and jams.
Staithes' peaceful atmosphere is also due to the fact it does not have through traffic. We do have our own free parking space at the top of the village. You can unload outside the cottage but then leave your car and your stresses at the top of the village. The cliff path back down takes you to our front door. The famous Cleveland Way, popular with hikers, also goes past the cottage and takes you to breathtaking cliff top views, pubs, tearooms and beaches close by and all along the coast.
Suitable for all ages. There are licensed fishing and wildlife boats trips in the village from a professional fisherman. Foraging walks along the beach, fossil hunting. Also art classes at the gorgeous Staithes Gallery with Al and Dave with a new gallery and studio recently opened in the Old Sunday School. A further gallery, Staithes Studios, is run by artists, Stef and Ian Mitchell. Graphic and fine art, ceramics, jewellery, friendly workshops and breath taking views from their top floor. Say Hi from me to them and to Al.
You can see two pubs when you step out of the front door as well as the Endeavour Restaurant just 50 metres away. The beach is about 1 minute from the house. The new painted Illusion Trail is close by with leaflets and information at the cottage. It was inspired by the view from my kitchen window. Just look to your left out of the back door and you will know why immediately.
There 's a new piece of public sculpture - a giant wire lobster sited at the top of the village. It's something I helped to bring to life with Whitby Prince's Trust artist Emma Stothard. It's twin (non identical) hangs over your head at Andrew Pern's new Star Inn the Harbour seafood restaurant in Whitby.
Fishermen landing fish and sea food including lobster are happy to sell on the spot or you can find fantastic fresh sea food for sale at the outlet in the car park.
Great tea rooms, a vintage shop with tea room - Dotty's (say Hi to Trudie), a Captain Cook Museum, art, music and Old Jack's Boat(cBeebies TV series) locations to visit. Try the Fox and Hounds at Goldsboro for a meal (if you are pushing the boat out); Sue and Jason are your wonderful hosts. Or grab a crab salad, grouse, pheasant (in season), mussels, oysters, large fish and chips at the Cod and Lobster - luckily it's only a few steps back to Ash Cottage.
If you visit at the weekend and want to try the best afternoon tea for miles around, walk up Church Street and follow the cliff walk to Port Mulgrave and to Tom and Jane's Ship Inn. Dairy free options among homemade lemon polenta cake, choc brownies, homemade lemonade, smoked trout sandwiches and other temptations. A pretty garden or roaring fire depending on season.
There are some delicious new additions in the village - Betty and Bo's chocolate shop and high class grocer with colourful pasta, olives, pasta sauces, chorizo, octopus and chunky logs with bags on loan to carry them home.
Try pizzas at the new Cobbles Cafe across the street.
Other things to note
The village has a steep hill which may make access an issue for people with mobility difficulties. There are two short flights of stairs in the cottage with no stair gate on the first floor. There is a door to the stairs on the ground floor so they can be closed off. There is also a door to the top floor, so again access can be limited if children can't reach the latch (it doesn't lock).
There's a heated towel rail in the bathroom which you may want to leave switched off in case of young children.
The window in the main bedroom has a linen chest beneath it so pull it away from the window and keep the window closed, if there are small children around.
