Yorkshire was the venue for all my holidays until I was nine. More than forty years down the line I have travelled all over the world but the siren call of the North Yorkshire coast remains strong. So it was that we packed our bags and my Mother into the car and headed for Robin Hoods Bay. Boggle Hole Youth Hostel nestles in a ravine tucked behind the bay. There is no space for parking or turning at bottom of the cliff so you park at the top and carry your bags down. We checked in only to discover that our room was in the Crow’s Nest which required a steep assent up the opposite side of the valley.
Deep in the mists of time, before I was born, my Mother and a chum ventured forth on a tour of the Rhine staying in Youth Hostels (rumour has it that she was a youth at the time). She therefore found that many things have changed since then. Chores are no longer a required part of staying in a Youth Hostel and whilst all have self-catering kitchens, many have restaurants and licenced bars. Curfews and having to be out of the hostel by a certain time are also a thing of the past.
We were lucky and had both bright sun and deep obscuring fog during our visit. Wide views of the spectacular bay were afforded by the sun. Strangely it was the fog that brought a sense of the mystery of the place, you felt cut off from the world and could imagine yourself a smuggler taking full of advantage of the remote location. No surprise that Dracula chose nearby Whitby for his UK holidays. We wandered along the beach to Robin Hoods Bay poking around in rock pools, hunting (unsuccessfully) for fossils and marking out works of art in the sand as we went. Once in the village we found a splendid shop that sells rocks, shells and second hand books; we left with four lumps of magnetite, a sample of labourite, a piece of quartz topped with a gilt mouse, a fossil set in a necklace, an ammonite and a copy of Len Deighton’s Faith – everybody happy and all for less than £15. Lunch was fish and chips eaten outside with seagulls swirling above our head. Perfect day.
Our departure coincided with the Youth Hostel Landrover making a trip up the hill. We pushed my Mother forward and emphasised her advancing years (no matter that the day before she had been skipping downhill and up dale along the coast path) she was offered a lift up. Bags and children could go in the back; departure in style!
Climbing up to bed is done via a particularly lovely set of Bookish Steps click here to see our photo
Sounds great fun. Love Yorkshire.
I feel like Yorkshire is my spiritual home (Haworth, specifically. I want to be a Bronte). Your trips sounds lovely. The Boggle Hole is a wonderful name, it sounds like it should be for hobbits 🙂
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A boggle is a small hobbit like creature, closely related to the boggart!
Oooh I know what I’ve heard of a boggle now, Bewilderwood!
I have never heard of this place. Another one for the list.
Looks lovely, I have never been there. Loving the sand art, I like to do this too but its even better when you can see it from a height.
Amanda #weekendblogshare
Oh, I know this place! We have never stayed at the YHA, but we discovered Boggle Hole on our honeymoon back in 2010, and last year we took our children there for a visit. We walked all the way along the beach into Robin Hood’s Bay, and it was fantastic! One of my favourite hidden hotspots, for sure. 🙂
https://spookymrsgreen.com/2012/09/11/the-north-yorkshire-coast-and-cycle-champions/
Ah brilliant. Personally I think that a few chores here and there dont hurt anyone. I would stay there just for the name and the nearby rockpools but it does look like a fantastic hostel. Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFilles
How lovely that you stayed at the hostel where your mother stayed in her youth. It must have been special, revisiting the places she enjoyed with her.
What a lovely break – some of my family come from Robin Hood’s Bay originally but I’ve never visited (although my parents have). It always sounds like such a beautiful part of the world. #farawayfiles
Sounds a bit like a day in Lyme Regis – fossil-collecting, fish and chips and the essential purchasing of rocks and second-hand books! I just love the name, Boggle Hole! I want to write a children’s story about it. Thanks so much for introducing me to this part of the world and for joining up with our first ever #FarawayFiles
I only know of Boggle Hole because of the Youth Hostel. I remember reading about it years ago when YHA members (as I was then) received a year book with details of the hostels in. It’s always intrigued me but I’ve never actually visited! #farawayfiles
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Really just the Youth Hostel and the beach but very special
I loved the Yorkshire and Northumberland coast when we visited in May. We loved Whitby and I can imagine living this charming little hidden gem away from those crowds up the coast. (I too remember youth hostels locking up during the day and curfews at night – but no chores!) Thanks for engaging with new Faraway Files community – we’re happy to add Boggle Hole the growing collection of inspiring places! Cheers from Copenhagen – Erin
So fantastic to take you mom to a hostel. Glad to hear of your trip together.
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It was the perfect place for a family break
Looks lovely Catherine. I’ve never heard of Boogle Hall. A place to look out for when next in Yorkshire.
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Even just for the name it’s worth visiting!