Dog-Friendly Attractions in Whitby

The dramatic ruins of Whitby Abbey crown the East Cliff headland above the town, a haunting Gothic silhouette that helped inspire Bram Stoker's Dracula. Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome across the abbey grounds, as are assistance dogs, so you and your dog can wander the ruins and take in the sweeping views over the harbour together.

The famous 199 Steps climb from the old town up to St Mary's Church and the abbey headland, a Whitby ritual that most dogs happily bound up. The steps and the atmospheric churchyard, with its weathered gravestones and sweeping views, are all outdoors and dog-friendly, and the climb is rewarded with one of the best panoramas on the Yorkshire coast.

The working harbour is the heart of Whitby, with fishing boats, the swing bridge, the whalebone arch and the Captain Cook statue up on the West Cliff. Several operators run short pleasure cruises and coastal sightseeing trips from the quay that welcome well-behaved dogs on deck, a memorable outing that no beach restriction touches.