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Whitby sits on a particularly rugged stretch of the North Yorkshire coast, uniquely split into two halves by the mouth of the River Esk. Life here is defined by the geography; the East Cliff is dominated by the sprawling ruins of the 7th-century Abbey and the parish church of St Mary, while the West Cliff carries the majority of the town’s residential streets and Victorian-era developments. Because the town is built into the steep banks of the river valley, getting around often involves navigating narrow yards and a fair number of stone steps. It remains a functional deep-sea fishing port with a working harbour, meaning the local economy is still tied to the North Sea, even though the historic whaling industry has long since vanished. While the town can get busy during the summer months, its position on the edge of the North York Moors National Park means you are never more than a few minutes' drive from quiet, open moorland and the isolated villages that sit inland. It is a place of steep hills, cold North Sea winds, and a very strong sense of independent maritime identity.