A few hours in Whitby...

On our drive south to York, we first stopped at Stewart Park in the village of Marton, as we had heard that there was a museum dedicated to Captain James Cook there. He had been born in the old village; this village was later razed to build a large country house...which in itself is no more. 

This colonnade is all that is left of that grand house...

Stewart Park had acres of parkland, a huge playground, a mini fun fair and a small zoo...if you look closely in the next photo you can see the alpacas having a lie down after their breakfast! Lol

After a lot of walking and following signs, we found the building we were looking for...

Alas...the museum was closed...so we then continued to Whitby...

As we drove into Whitby the thing that dominated the landscape was the old ruined Abbey high above the town on the headland. So we headed there first...

It is easy to understand why the Abbey was used in a Dracula film...very brooding but magnificent! 

The Abbey was destroyed on the orders of Henry viii...as were most Catholic Churches and abbeys. 

Just below the Abbey is a more modern church...a Church of England which was built in the 1500s.

Inside the old church...

What an artifact to have! 

The views from the Abbey and the C of E church were magnificent!

From the headland there are some steps which lead down to the town below...there are reportedly 199 stairs...we didn't bother to go down that way as the thought of climbing up them to get to the carpark didn't seem that appealing! Lol

From the headland we had seen a statue in the distance...Captain James Cook? 

Yes it was...

We waited but that seagull wouldn't move...

Breakwaters protecting the inlet at Whitby...

While we were still up on the headland I was inspired by all the little daisies in the lawn...I got this crazy urge to pick some and make a Daisy chain just like I used to when I was a little girl...and I still remembered how to do it. The little split in the stem with a thumb nail, then thread a flower through...

Not long enough for a coronet...so just a tiara! Lol.

What fun we had exploring Whitby that day :-)