Perched on the North Yorkshire coast of England, Whitby is a much-visited seaside town now-a-days, with a long maritime heritage, and much loved literary connections. Tourists flock from all over the world to see the beautiful Abbey remains, take boat trips out into the North Sea, look for fossils on the beaches and delve into the Town’s cultural history. Central to its story are the ties to the explorer, Captain James Cook and the writer, Bram Stoker, each leaving an indelible mark on the town.

James Cook

The young explorer, born a little up the coast, in Marton near Middlesborough, set sail on the HMS Endeavour from Whitby’s shores in 1768, sailing on his first of three major voyages over the next eleven years, charting and mapping the Pacific Ocean. In 1769, from Tahiti, he watched and made records of the transit of Venus across the Sun, and his observations went a long way to enabling scientists to work out how far the Earth was from the Sun.

His second and third voyages upon HMS Resolution, took him to complete the mapping of New Zealand, a lot of Australia and many of the remote Islands of the world, such as Easter Island, South Georgia and finding the infamous “North-West Passage”, linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

By 1778 Cook had been made Captain, retired, made a Fellow of the Royal Society and set out on his third and last voyage. An immense sailing taking in Hawaii, North America, Alaska and back to Hawaii, where he finally met his death, at the hands of Hawaiian villagers. He left an incredible legacy of scientific finds, navigational heroics and many,  now controversial, first or early meetings with the indigenous peoples of islands far and wide.

Bram Stoker

Whitby’s connection to literature is embodied in the Irish Writer, Bram Stoker’s seminal work, “Dracula.” Stoker spent time in Whitby during the 1890s, drawing inspiration from the town’s haunting landscape. It’s said that he stayed at the Royal Hotel, perched atop East Cliff, with its commanding views of the harbour and the ancient abbey ruins.

The brooding atmosphere of Whitby found its way into “Dracula,” where the town becomes a pivotal setting in the novel. The iconic scene of Count Dracula’s arrival in England, transforming into a black dog, unfolds on Whitby’s shores. The haunting silhouette of St. Mary’s Churchyard, overlooking the sea, adds a chilling dimension to the tale. 

Whitby’s roots trace back to medieval times, though signs of humans having lived close by have been found, dating back to the Bronze Age. With the hauntingly beautiful Whitby Abbey standing as a testament to the town’s ecclesiastical past. The abbey, perched on East Cliff, offers panoramic views, creating an atmospheric setting for any ghost story. There are some signs that the Abbey itself, sits on the remains of a Roman signal Station, dating back to around 250AD. The Abbey is looked after by English Heritage, and there are charges to visit, but if you can manage to walk up the 199 steps, you may as well see the main attraction – it is magnificent!

Whitby is steeped in local hauntings and folklore. Eyewitness accounts tell of ghostly apparitions at the abbey ruins and along the cobbled streets. The ghostly echoes of sailors lost at sea are said to linger near the harbour, adding a poignant layer to Whitby’s maritime lore. A Phantom Coach, Hobs, Boggles and Bogarts are just some of the other paranormal sightings which have been seen over the centuries.

The area also has its share of the infamous black dog legends. Folklore tells of the Barghest, a spectral black dog with fiery eyes, said to roam the town’s lanes. This ghostly canine is believed to be an omen, foretelling misfortune. Local tales warn of encounters with the Barghest, heightening the air of mystery in Whitby.

And were those stories why Bram Stoker had his fictional Dracula come ashore in the assumed shape of a black dog? Had he heard the legends in the ale houses of Whitby on his stay there?  Who knows! However, what we do know, is that there is enough to do, see and find out about in Whitby to fill a couple of days – and don’t forget to call in for fish and chips at one of the Town’s many fine establishments….