Twice over the last two weeks, Matt and I have walked along the Cleveland Way towards Whitby and seen dolphins. Then, a few days ago, we saw dolphins, seals and a whale. It was just amazing.  It was one of those pinch me moments, when we thought how lucky are we to live here and see this on a morning dog walk.

We have not long moved to Robin Hood’s Bay, and seeing wildlife like this on a morning dog walk is definitely a wow moment.  From what I have read June to November in Robin Hood’s Bay and along the Yorkshire Coast is a great time for spotting marine wildlife.  I am writing this at the beginning of September.

How to Spot Dolphins and Whales in Robin Hood’s Bay

If you are walking along the Cleveland Way, keep your eyes out for large collections of seagulls and gannets on the water. It is likely they are feeding on a large shoal of fish, and where there are lots of fish, there is a good chance they may attract dolphins, seals and whales too.

Stand still for a while and watch the sea. You may see the gannets diving dramatically into the water as they plunge down to catch the fish. Even if you don't spot any dolphins or whales, watching the gannets dive into the sea is a real sight in itself.

And don't forget to look out for seals bobbing around in the water. We are not far from the seal colony at Ravenscar, so they are likely to be there too.

Even if you don't see dolphins or whales, the scenery along the Cleveland Way is beautiful and you can do a short circular walk along the Cleveland Way then head back on the Cinder track.  It is a great morning walk from Dock Cottage or Sherwood House.

Coastal Whale and Dolphin Boat Trips from Whitby

If you would like to get a little closer to the action, why not take a boat trip from Whitby?

While it isn't guaranteed that you will see whales or dolphins, a wildlife boat trip makes a great day out and there is plenty of other wildlife to look out for along the Yorkshire Coast.

Whitby Coastal Cruises operate the famous ‘yellow boats’ from Whitby Harbour and run two-hour wildlife cruises. Keep an eye on their Facebook page too, as they sometimes run special tidal trips, with adults at £10 and children just £5.  You can book a trip online through their website.

Coastal Whale and Dolphin Boat Trips from Staithes

If you fancy a whole day out why not head to the picturesque fishing village of Staithes which is about a 30 minute drive from Robin Hood's Bay.  The village has a similar vibe to Robin Hood's Bay, but also has its's own harbour.  You can experience watching wildlife at sea on trips run by Yorkshire Coast Nature or Three Sisters.  If you do go out to sea just remember you are going often a few miles into the North Sea, so it can be cold & windy so please make sure you have plenty of layers a waterproof/wind proof coat/trousers & sun lotion. Don't forget your camera. 

Keep Your Eyes on the Sea!

So, next time you are staying at Dock Cottage or Sherwood House, take a walk along the Cleveland Way towards Whitby and keep your eyes on the sea.  Also, don't forget your binoculars as it makes them so much easier to spot.   June to November offers the highest chance of seeing whales and dolphins.  There is also a really useful Facebook page that posts sightings, so I would recommend giving them a follow.

You could be lucky enough to spot bottlenose dolphins, minke whales, seals and gannets and maybe even all four on the same walk.

We certainly didn't expect to see a whale when we headed out for our walk the other day.   It just goes to show that you never know what you might see along the Yorkshire Coast.  However, if you don't manage to spot any dolphins or whales on your walk, don't worry.  You can always head to the Dolphin Pub in Robin Hood's Bay for a bite to eat and a drink instead.

Unfortunately I didn't get any photos that were worth sharing on my walk, they all look like little black dots in the sea!  So if you have any photos you would be happy to share with me to add to my blog post that would be amazing.

See you by the sea

Sian x