Last month we experienced our first little family holiday with baby in tow. I had plans to hop on a plane with Theo when he was a few months old. But Theo’s prematurity threw us a huge curveball and plans changed. Instead, we’ve decided to work our way up to an overseas trip next year by doing some UK staycations first. Living in Leeds, I wanted somewhere in close driving distance that would still feel like a nice escape. Being by the sea and only 1 hour and 20 minutes drive away, a Whitby mini break was an obvious choice for us.
Our base for our 3 night Whitby mini break was the Rose and Crown Yard cottage, which we booked via cottages.com (read my review of the cottage here). I loved the look of the nautical interiors, the baby-friendly amenities and the fact that is was right in the heart of Whitby town. Being so central, it also meant that we were only a few minutes walk away from the harbour and 10 minutes from the beach.
Day 1
After taking some time to load up the car with all our stuff (including a ridiculous amount of baby paraphernalia), we were en route to Whitby and crossing the beautiful North York Moors. Luckily, Theo slept the whole journey. We followed the sat nav directions to our holiday cottage, which was tucked away down a historical alley way off of Whitby’s Flowergate. I loved the hidden and quickly location of the cottage, which was a surprise even for me.
After getting settled in the cottage, we went for a little stroll around Whitby Harbour. I hadn’t visited Whitby for about 10 years, and it had been even longer for Scott. We put Theo in the baby carrier and got our bearings during golden hour. The light against the water was beautiful and I started to feel myself relax into our little break. As Theo’s usually in bed by 7pm, we grabbed a fish and chips takeaway from The Magpie for dinner and it didn’t disappoint. Anyone that visits Whitby has to try The Magpie’s famous fish and chips.
Day 2
I woke up excited for our plans to take Theo swimming for the first time at Raithwaite Coastal Retreat. The pool is located in the spa area, so it was lovely and warm for Theo’s first swim experience. He loved the water and it was such a joy to see him splashing around and take it all in. We also stopped for lunch at The Brasserie and I enjoyed a 30 minute back, neck and shoulder massage in the spa. It was such a treat!
By mid afternoon we were back at the cottage so we decided to put Theo in the carrier and walk up Whitby’s famous 199 steps to Whitby Abbey. It felt amazing to explore the cobbled Whitby streets with Theo comfortably in tow. We took in the views of Whitby Harbour from the cemetery and took a stroll around the Abbey. The 199 steps is one of the most iconic parts of Whitby.
Day 3
On the final day of our Whitby mini break we went for a long walk along Whitby Beach, with Theo in the carrier again. The trip definitely made me realise that exploring with a baby has to be done at a much slower and more leisurely pace, but that’s OK with me! We rounded off our final day in Whitby with an early dinner at Trenchers, which holds the prestigious title of best fish and chip restaurant in the UK in the 2019 Fish and Chip Awards. I opted for a fish pie which was delicious and Scott went for the famous fish and chips which he raved about.
TOP TIP: A carrier is an absolute must for anyone visiting Whitby with their baby. It’s the perfect way to carry your baby around and means you don’t have to tackle the beach, steps or cobbles with a pram.
I was surprised just how relaxing it was to go on holiday with a baby. Obviously there’s still the lack of sleep but there’s less pressure to do the other things around the home plus you have your partner there to help entertain the baby and to give you some down time too! What a perfect first holiday for Theo!!