The natural harbour in Whitby, North Yorkshire has been a place of shelter for boats for centuries. Possibly as early as Roman times (there is evidence of a Roman lighthouse on the East Side cliff top) the port of Whitby has been host to a wide range of ships from merchants to whalers and even invaders!

Our most famous maritime connection with Whitby is obviously, Captain James Cook. Having been apprenticed in Whitby, he left to enlist in the Navy and started his well-known career. The ship Endeavour, in which he sailed whilst charting the coast of Australia, was infact a Whitby Cat (coal vessel).

With the growth in the whaling trade another Whitby son, Sir William Scoresby along with his son, became well-known Whaling Captains. The crow's nest was the invention of Sir William Scoresby which allowed the easier visibility of the location of schools of whales. It was adopted by many other kinds of sailing vessels for the function of both lookout for pirates and hazardous rocks. A structure of a crow's nest dedicated to Sir William Scoresby is located alongside Whitby Harbour near to the Tourist Information Centre.

The amount of commercial trade carried out at Whitby Harbour, has decreased in recent times. The unloading of freight and storage at Dock End has all but ceased alongside the work of the Custom men.

Nowadays the harbour continues to be vibrant, but this is largely due to tourism. There are still a few boatbuilders and repairers, further upriver, and the few remaining full-time fishermen, who fight to make a living with the current economic climate and legislation.

A colourful sight in the harbour nowadays, are the boat trips and pleasure trips to sea each day. The calls of the boatmen attracting attention to the different boats available, the shriek of the seagulls swooping above the harbour searching for titbits and leftovers left by the visitors and the constant hum of engines beating like hearts in the engine holds, guarantee that Whitby Harbour is still alive and continues to provide both income and pleasure to the townsfolk and the ever increasing visitors.

There's a wide range of different boat trips on offer. These include a mini replica of Captain Cooks Endeavour, and the Mary Anne Hepworth, Whitby's Old Lifeboat. There are bigger craft that take lengthier trips, including sunset cruises and whale watching trips.