Captain Cook’s Village and the Dinosaur Coast
- Rating: Good Beach
- Terrain: Tricky
- Level: Intermediate
- Dog friendly: Yes, no restrictions
- Location: Staithes, North Yorkshire
- Sat Nav: TS13 5AD (Bank Top car park)
- Common colours: Green, brown, white
- Rare colours: Cobalt Blue, Black, Lavender
Best For:
- Sea glass hunting
- Harbour finds
- Sea pottery
- Family visits
Why Staithes deserves a place on your list
There are prettier villages on the Yorkshire coast than Staithes. I’ll say that upfront. Actually, no, there aren’t. Staithes is one of the most extraordinary places on the entire English coastline: a clutch of fishermen’s cottages packed so tightly into a cliff-sided valley that they practically lean on each other, cobbled lanes so narrow a dog can barely pass through them, and a harbour that’s been sending cobles out into the North Sea for centuries.
The name itself comes from Old English, which means “landing place.” People have been standing on this foreshore since the Vikings arrived.
For sea glass hunters, Staithes is a Good Beach, reliable rather than spectacular, and better suited to people who want the full experience of the place rather than just the glass in isolation.
The beach and harbour area is small and enclosed, which is exactly what you want for trapping and tumbling glass. The surrounding coastline has centuries of maritime, fishing, alum and ironstone history written into its cliffs
A note on pronunciation before you go: locals call it “Steers” or “Steeas.” Say “Stayths” in the pub, and you’ll be gently corrected.
What you’ll find here
Colours commonly found: Green, brown, white
Occasional finds: Blue, Aqua, Amber, Turquoise
Rare finds: Cobalt Blue, Black, Lavender
Bonus: Ammonite fossils in the cliff base and foreshore, Victorian pottery, harbour debris, ceramic pieces
When to go
Low tide is essential. The beach at Staithes is small and enclosed at high water; much of it disappears, and the most productive hunting ground is the rocky foreshore and shingle that only opens up as the tide pulls back. Aim to arrive an hour before low water and work through to an hour after.
A spring tide makes a real difference here. The bigger the range, the more foreshore is exposed, particularly around the northern harbour wall and the rocky sections on either side of the beach. After a North Sea storm with easterly winds, fresh material gets pushed into the harbour and up the beck; these are your best days.
Winter is quieter, and the storms are more frequent. Summer brings artists, fossil hunters and tourists in significant numbers, and the village, which is genuinely tiny, can feel very busy indeed by mid-afternoon.
Today’s tide times & Sea Glass Score
Staithes sits on the North Sea coast of North Yorkshire, sheltered between the headlands of Cowbar Nab and Penny Nab, with a spring tidal range of around 5.5 metres, one of the more generous ranges on the Yorkshire coast, which means the difference between high and low water is dramatic, and the exposed foreshore at a big low is considerably larger than it looks at high tide.
The widget below uses Whitby tide data to show today’s Sea Glass Score, tide curve and best hunting window. Aim for the hour before and after low water on a spring tide; on neap tides, the beach is less productive, as less foreshore is exposed and glass concentrations tend to be thinner.
Where to look on the beach
Getting to the beach itself requires effort, and that effort is part of what keeps Staithes relatively productive. No cars can access the old village. You park at the top (Bank Top car park, TS13 5AD) and walk down a steep cobbled lane to the harbour. It’s a good ten minutes downhill. Which means it’s ten minutes back up, and the climb is punishing with a dog, a rucksack, and the mild smugness of a decent haul.
The harbour and beck mouth are your primary area. Staithes Beck flows into the sea here, and the junction of fresh and salt water, combined with the protected harbour walls, creates conditions where glass gets trapped and held. Work the shingle and pebble beds carefully at the beck mouth.
The beach proper– the small sandy and pebbly area below the harbour is worth searching systematically at low tide. It’s not large, so take your time. Glass tends to collect in pebble clusters and along the wrack line.
The rocky sections north of the harbour – accessible at lower tides by crossing the footbridge toward Cowbar hold glass in crevices and rock pool edges. This is where patient hunting pays off.
The harbour wall area itself is worth checking after storms. Glass gets pushed up against the base of the walls and into the corners.
Stay well clear of the cliff faces, rockfalls are a genuine hazard at Staithes and along this entire stretch of coast. Never hunt directly below the cliffs.
Key Tip:
Start at the beck mouth and harbour area before moving onto the beach itself. The combination of the stream, harbour walls and tidal movement creates natural collection points where glass and pottery become trapped and concentrated.
Difficulty Level – Intermediate
- Several productive areas are only fully accessible around lower tides
- Rocky sections require careful footing
- The best finds are often hidden within pebble beds and crevices
- Harbour and shoreline features need to be searched methodically
- Success comes from patience rather than covering large distances
Hunting Style – The Harbour Detective
Staithes rewards hunters who slow down and investigate every promising pocket of ground. Work the beck mouth carefully, search the pebble beds around the harbour, then move onto the rocky sections where glass becomes trapped between the tides. The beach is small, making thoroughness more important than distance.
Beach Personality
Few places feel as characterful as Staithes. Narrow cobbled streets tumble down to a historic fishing harbour where generations of maritime life have left their mark on the shoreline. Hunting here feels more like uncovering pieces of local history than searching a conventional beach. The scenery is spectacular, the atmosphere unmistakably Yorkshire, and the best finds often come from the corners and crevices that others overlook.
Dog friendly?
Yes -no seasonal restrictions apply at Staithes. Dogs are welcome on the beach year-round, on or off lead. The village itself is pedestrianised, and your dog will be perfectly at home on the cobbles and down at the harbour, though the narrow lanes mean you’ll want them close on a lead. The cliff sections north toward Cowbar are also fine for dogs, and the Cleveland Way beyond the village is excellent walking country.
A word of caution: the water quality at Staithes beach has historically been poor, according to various sources, which flag it as one to avoid for swimming. It won’t stop a determined Jack Russell, but it’s worth being aware of if yours insists on paddling.
Looking for somewhere dog-friendly nearby? Check our Yappy Places listings for the Staithes area, the Cod & Lobster pub at the harbour is a well-known stop, and there are options in the village for a post-hunt warm-up.
Practical information
Parking: Bank Top car park, TS13 5AD – 122 spaces with 4 coach spaces. Charges apply 9am–6pm from 1 March to 31 October; free to park November through February. Two car parks operate here under different operators, one takes coins at a machine, the other requires the RingGo app or contactless. Worth having both options ready. No parking is permitted in the old village itself.
Toilets: Public toilets next to the Bank Top car park at the top of the village. A second set near the Seadrift Café, closer to the beach.
Food and drink: The Cod & Lobster pub is right on the harbour and is the obvious choice for fresh seafood, harbour views, and genuinely good fish and chips. Dotty’s Vintage Tearoom does teas and homemade cakes. The Seadrift Café is near the beach. All can be busy in season arrive early or come in the shoulder months.
Getting there without a car: Arriva X4/X4A bus service runs regularly between Middlesbrough, Saltburn and Whitby with a stop at Staithes. Whitby is around 14 miles south. The Cleveland Way National Trail connects Staithes to Runswick Bay (2.5 miles south) and Saltburn (8 miles north), making it possible to walk in from neighbouring beaches.
Accessibility: The cliff top approach is manageable, but the descent into the old village is steep and cobbled not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The beach is via further steps from the harbour area. The upper village and car park area are accessible, but the full sea glass hunt requires the descent.
What to bring
- Sturdy boots with grip – the cobbles get slippery, the rocks around the harbour are weed-covered at low tide
- A small container for finds – glass and pottery in your pockets will get damaged
- Layers and a windproof – Staithes sits in a valley, but the harbour mouth is fully exposed to the east
- A lead for the cobbled lanes and the narrow passages through the village
- Something for the uphill walk back – it’s more of a climb than it looks on the way down
- Tide times checked before you leave Staithes sits on the North Sea coast of North Yorkshire, sheltered between the headlands of Cowbar Nab and Penny Nab, with a spring tidal range of around 5.5 metres, one of the more generous ranges on the Yorkshire coast, which means the difference between high and low water is dramatic, and the exposed foreshore at a big low is considerably larger than it looks at high tide. The beach disappears fast on a rising tide
The history behind the glass
The glass at Staithes comes from a long layering of human activity on this small stretch of coast, and understanding that history tells you exactly why the beach rewards patient hunters.
Staithes was one of the largest fishing ports north of the Wash by the early 19th century, with over 300 fishermen working from the harbour and 80 full-time fishing boats putting out to sea. The coble, a distinctive flat-bottomed vessel built to launch from shallow beaches, was the boat of choice, and the harbour was busy with the trade of fish, alum and ironstone for generations.
A century of active fishing community life means decades of glass bottles, jars, and domestic vessels finding their way into the sea.
The alum industry was significant here from the 17th century onwards. The cliffs at nearby Boulby were a rich source of alum-bearing shale, and the material was quarried, processed on site, and shipped out from the coast, some of it through Staithes.
Women on the beach burned seaweed to create kelp as part of the alum-making process. That industrial activity, and the communities it sustained, is part of what put glass into the water along this shoreline.
Ironstone mining came later, from the mid-19th century into the early 20th century, with the harbour at Port Mulgrave a mile north along the Cleveland Way built specifically to export the ore. The narrow-gauge railway that brought ironstone to the coast ran over three wooden viaducts and through two tunnels. Mining communities generate glass; the evidence is still washing up today.
And then there is the sea itself. The harbour has been battered by storms for centuries, houses washed away, boats lost, the coastline constantly reworked. The most famous storm victim was the grocer’s shop where young James Cook worked as a 16-year-old apprentice in 1745 before the call of the sea proved irresistible, and he moved to Whitby to join the Navy.
The shop was eventually destroyed by the sea. Every storm that has ever broken over this harbour has churned the seabed and returned something to the beach.
From beach to jewellery
Find something worth keeping at Staithes? At Mermaid Tears, every piece of jewellery starts exactly where you’re standing — hand-hunted from UK beaches and handmade into something you’ll keep forever. Browse the collection →
Disclaimer: Tide times, dog restrictions, parking charges and beach conditions change regularly. Always verify before visiting. Beach byelaws are updated annually. Check with the local council or beach authority for the most current rules.
Last updated: May 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is Staithes good for sea glass hunting? It’s a reliable Good Beach, particularly at low tide and after storms. The enclosed harbour and beck mouth create good conditions for trapping glass, but the beach is small; this is quality-over-quantity hunting rather than a carpet of finds.
What’s the best time to visit Staithes for sea glass? Low tide on a spring tide, arriving about an hour before low water. Winter is quieter, and storms are more frequent. The day after an easterly storm can be very productive in the harbour area.
Are dogs allowed at Staithes? Yes, year-round with no seasonal restrictions. The village lanes are narrow, so a lead is sensible through the old village, but the beach and the clifftop paths beyond are very dog-friendly.
How do I pronounce Staithes? Locals say “Steers” or “Steeas.” It’s one of those Yorkshire coastal village names that sounds nothing like it looks.
What else can I find at Staithes besides sea glass? Ammonite fossils are common in the cliff base and on the foreshore — this stretch of coast is known as the Dinosaur Coast for good reason. Victorian pottery and ceramic shards are regular finds alongside sea glass. Rock pools at low tide are excellent for marine life.
How far is Staithes from Whitby? Around 14 miles north by road, about 25 minutes. The two make a natural pairing for a Yorkshire coast day out: Whitby for the town, abbey and harbour glass, Staithes for the atmosphere, fossils and a more secluded hunt.
