Overview
- About nine miles north of Whitby, the village centers on a wide, little‑visited beach below cliffside cottages.
- Seals are frequently seen, rockpools appear at low tide, and gentle waters suit paddleboarding and kayaking.
- The Cleveland Way National Trail meets the coast at Runswick Bay, with many walkers tackling short sections rather than the full seven to eleven days.
- The original settlement was destroyed by a 1682 landslide before being rebuilt slightly to the south on the cliffside.
- Holiday rentals push the summer population to roughly 2,300, leaving a far quieter scene through the colder months.