Just a short distance from Whitby lies a magnificent beach brimming with fossils, shipwrecks and unparalleled sunrises.

Saltwick Bay is merely a two-hour drive from Huddersfield and a five-minute trip from Whitby. The stunning and dramatic North-East coastline is a sight to behold in itself, but it encircles a sandy stretch steeped in history.

If you take the brief 1.5-mile stroll from Whitby, you can admire the Gothic Bronte-esque ruins of Whitby Abbey and the charming harbour entrance.

This breath-taking walk winds past Whitby Holiday Park where  steps descend to the beach.

The Whitby Guide advises checking tide times to ensure you’re not stranded by the rising tide reaching the steps on your return journey, reports Yorkshire Live.

The cliffs, prone to rock falls, loom over a plane of fossils hidden amongst shale and shingle. These areas are ideal for exploration, with numerous Ammonites hidden between the smooth rocks.

Amongst this, you can also discover jet, the gemstone for which Whitby is renowned.

This site of special scientific interest (SSSI) has yielded many scientific discoveries over the years, including the skeleton of a Teleosaurus Stenosaurus Bollensis found in 1824, with additional dinosaur footprints discovered on the beach. This prehistoric crocodile now resides at the Whitby museum.

The fossils are so close to the surface due to the area’s rich mining history. The quarries have exposed the plethora of fossils that passers-by now discover.

The first alum mine was established by Thomas Challoner during the 16th century, following Henry VIII’s reformation of the UK after his marriage to Anne Boleyn.

This came about because Britain had traditionally obtained alum from Italy, but the industry was controlled by the Pope – with whom Henry had severed relations.

Italy stopped its supply and the UK went without until 1649, when the essential chemical was discovered at Saltwick Bay. Sir Hugh Chomley subsequently established a mine with assistance from Italian alum specialists.

In 1673 approval was granted for a harbour to be constructed for transporting the alum. In 1770, accommodation for the labourers was built adjacent to the quarry.

In 1791 the mining ceased when alum was abandoned in favour of aniline dyes.

Today, the remnants of the mine persist, with a ramp extending into the sea and patches of deep red shale where the shingle was excavated.

Saltwick Bay is celebrated for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets. The rock pools reflect the vibrant tones of the orange sun and between May and July the rare ‘double sun’ phenomenon casts a second luminous sphere across the sea.

The magnificent Admiral Von Tromp trawler remains a pivotal piece of local heritage, with the vessel’s fate preserved on the beach.

The substantial wreckage stands prominently and visitors can examine it closely at Saltwick Bay, stepping back through history to witness the maritime tragedy. On June 30, 1976, Admiral Von Tromp departed Scarborough Harbour bound for Barnacle Bay.

However, it never reached its destination and would become stranded on rocks at Saltwick Bay.

The HMHS Rohilla also met its fate at this location in the early hours of October 29, 1914, when the HMHS Rohilla struck the rocks at Saltwick Nab with 229 people aboard.

It was bound for Dunkirk at the outbreak of World War I, heading to the East Coast where it would face the threat of dangerous German submarines and the treacherous coastlines of the North Sea.

Yet, Whitby’s rocks would prove its undoing, with the Rohilla smashing its bow on the shore.