Where to stay in Sandsend: holiday cottages by the beach

Which part of Sandsend to stay in

Sandsend grew up as two small settlements around two becks that run down to the sea, and the village still divides that way.

Old Sandsend, around Sandsend Beck at the northern end, sits in a sheltered valley below Lythe Bank, with stone cottages gathered around the stream and a short walk up the valley past cottage gardens. This end is closest to the main car park at the foot of Lythe Bank, the path around Sandsend Ness and the start of the climb to Lythe and its church on the hill above.

East Row, the smaller settlement around East Beck at the Whitby end of the village, has craft shops and a bistro over the bridge, and a path upstream past the old mill towards Mulgrave Woods. It is the nearer end for the walk along the sands to Whitby.

Between the two becks, houses and cottages line the A174, the coast road from Whitby, looking across it to the beach. Behind the village, the Mulgrave Estate lets a number of its own cottages in the valley.

Kinds of accommodation in Sandsend

Sandsend has holiday cottages, apartments and a couple of small hotels within sight of the sea. Holiday cottages to rent in Sandsend are let by owners directly, by the Mulgrave Estate, by local letting businesses and by national letting agencies. For a wider choice of hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, Whitby is three miles away; see our guide to where to stay in Whitby. Caravan and camping parks lie along the coast around Whitby, covered on our camping and caravanning page.

Sandsend holiday cottages: what to check

Parking is easier than in the old town of Whitby or Robin Hood's Bay, but space is still limited. The public car park at the foot of Lythe Bank charges in the main season, and there are roadside spaces along the A174 towards Whitby. Both ends of the seafront fill by mid-morning on warm weekends, so ask the owner whether your cottage has its own space. The Mulgrave Estate, for example, says each of its cottages has parking. Our parking guide has more on the area's car parks.

Roads climb steeply out of the village, particularly Lythe Bank to the north. If anyone in your group finds hills difficult, check where the cottage sits before you book.

Dogs are allowed on Sandsend beach outside the summer restriction on the main bathing stretch, which applies in the designated area through the summer months; our Sandsend guide gives the dates. Dog policies vary between cottages, so check before booking; see also our guide to staying with dogs.

Some cottages set fixed arrival days. The Mulgrave Estate, for instance, publishes Friday arrivals for most of its cottages and Saturday arrivals for two. Sea views are a strong point of the seafront cottages, while the valley cottages behind the village are more sheltered.

When to book

Sandsend is small, so there are few cottages to choose from at the busiest times. Book as early as you can for the school summer holidays and for Whitby's big event weekends, such as Whitby Goth Weekend, held in spring and again in late October or early November, when accommodation across the Whitby area books up months in advance. Check our what's on calendar for dates.

Staying in Sandsend without a car

Arriva's X4 bus between Whitby and Middlesbrough stops at Lythe Bank Bottom in Sandsend, and the ride from Whitby takes about ten minutes. Whitby has trains on the Esk Valley line and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. You can also walk the three miles of sand to Whitby, checking the tide times first, and the path around Sandsend Ness follows the old Whitby to Loftus railway line north. Check the bus operator's timetable for last services and see our guide to getting around without a car.

Places to stay in Sandsend: what each publishes

• Mulgrave Estate holiday cottages

  Type:

  Holiday cottages let by the estate

  Where:

  Sandsend, in the valley on the Mulgrave Estate

  Sleeps:

  Varies by property; for example Winston House and the Sandsend Sleeper each sleep 6

  Dogs:

  Pet friendly; each property page sets the number of dogs allowed and a nightly charge

  Parking:

  Parking with each cottage; Winston House and the Sandsend Sleeper each have space for two cars

  Booking:

  Direct, online through the estate's availability calendar or by phone

  Checked:

  October 2026

Details are what each business publishes on its own website, checked October 2026. We have no connection with any of them and receive nothing for listing them.

Frequently asked questions

More North York Moors questions? See the full FAQ →