Weekend Wanderings: The Whitby Adventure I didn’t Ask For
Another weekend, another YHA hostel checked off the list! This time, it was all about that precious mother-daughter bonding, plus some quality nana-grandchild time thrown in for good measure. Meanwhile, my husband J stayed behind to tackle a long list of house jobs that were growing more urgent by the day. So, off we trotted—me, the kids and my mum—on a little seaside escape to Whitby.
Spoiler alert: It didn’t quite go to plan.
🚗 False Start Shenanigans
Ah, Saturday mornings. The dream: we’d leave the house at 10:30 sharp, get to Whitby just in time for lunch, and the drive would coincide perfectly with my one year old’s morning nap. The reality? Chaos. Naturally.
Mum did arrive at 10 as planned (full credit where it’s due), but the rest of us were nowhere near ready. The usual flurry of bags, baby wipes, forgotten toys, and last-minute wee stops meant it was already pushing 10:45 by the time we were herding kids into car seats.
Then, a plot twist: just as we were leaving, Mum casually mentioned she’d forgotten her passport. Now, she wasn’t planning to flee the country (I checked), but you do need ID to check into a YHA hostel. Cue a detour across Harrogate in the wrong direction, smack bang through the worst traffic the town’s seen in months.
Then came a petrol stop. Then another emergency toilet trip (shout out to Sainsbury’s). By the time we were finally “ready” to leave again, it was 11:45. And, because the universe enjoys a good laugh, the car’s engine warning light pinged on. Classic.
I faced a moral dilemma: ignore it and just hope and pray that we make it to Whitby and back (tempting), or get it checked and face more delays. Sensible mum voice won this round, so we stopped at a nearby garage where two kind souls took a look and gave us the all-clear. Even better—they didn’t charge us a penny. WIN.
Snacks were deployed. Naps were ruined. Spirits remained... cautiously optimistic.
🗺️ Where Were We Even Going?
The drive itself was mostly smooth (bar a few classic wrong turns from me—on brand), and the kids were surprisingly chilled. Things only got a little confusing when we arrived... at the wrong hostel.
You see, in my mind, we were off to the magical YHA Boggle Hole—perched right on the beach, highly recommended by mum-friends, and firmly lodged on my family travel bucket list.
👉
But where had Mum booked instead? YHA Whitby. 👇 Which, to be fair, is a gorgeous old building right next to the Abbey with fab views over town. So not a total disaster, and seeing as Nana was footing the bill (thank you, Nana!), I wasn’t about to complain.
Bonus: my husband J was a bit gutted we were going to Boggle Hole without him, so now we have to book in there next summer—with Dad in tow. Funny how things work out…
☠️ Pirates arrrr-ound every corner!
I’m really proud of this pun. Can you call it a pun?
In a happy twist of fate, we’d unknowingly arrived during Whitby Pirate Weekend! Yep—pirates, everywhere. Hats, eyepatches, swords, the works.
Naturally, this meant we had to jump aboard a pirate-themed boat ride, pirate hat and eye patch included!
After a giant ice cream and a windswept walk along the pier, we tackled the famous Abbey steps with a pram (note to self: never again), only to realise we’d forgotten essentials like milk... and food.
So, being the hero of the hour, I volunteered to brave the drizzle and head back into town for supplies. Meanwhile, the kids unleashed full gremlin mode on Nana back at the hostel. Teamwork, right?
Dinner was a glamorous floor picnic of fish and chips in our room. Getting the kids to sleep was a mission and a half—they were wild—but eventually they drifted off. If you’ve read my blog post on our trip to Chester, you know what this means: Mum and I, sitting in the dark, whispering and passing each other snacks. This time, I came prepared with a laptop and managed to get some work done. Small wins!
🥣 Hot Breakfast, Cold Beach
You could tell the kids were tired the next day. The morning came with a side of full-blown Four-Year-Old Meltdown™️. I’d heard of the ‘terrible twos’ and the ‘threenager’ phrase, but who knew age four would bring such big feelings? The tantrums were fierce and the negotiations intense, but after a few deep breaths, we got through it.
Breakfast helped. The hostel’s spread was great—continental and hot options, and plenty to fuel the morning ahead.
We spent some time enjoying the lovely gardens up by the Abbey. The views over Whitby from there are beautiful—especially when the sun decided to join us!
Then it was back down those Abbey steps because Ray Ray insisted on visiting the beach. Unfortunately, the North Sea is still... well, the North Sea. After a very quick paddle (toe dip and immediate retreat), we called it and grabbed a coffee before heading home.
🧳 The Final Word
Despite the rocky start, a bit of toddler turbulence and some damp weather, we had a great little adventure. The YHA Whitby hostel itself was fab—full of character, clean and comfy, and our private en-suite room was ideal for the kids.
It might not have been the trip I imagined, but it turned into something even better: messy, memorable, and filled with laughter. (Luckily for me, my mum is a patient woman with a good sense of humour!)
You just can’t beat good old-fashioned family time. And where better to get that, along with some fresh-air, than at the British seaside!?!
Until next time,
Katie
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