Our post includes a press trip review of Luxury Yorkshire Coast Hotel – Raithwaite Sandsend. All thoughts & experiences are our own.
I have long wanted to stay at Raithwaite Sandsend since it entered my radar a couple of years ago. I’d never really ventured to Sandsend in my time, except for passing through on our way from Staithes to Whitby or another of the gorgeous little seaside towns and villages we are so lucky to have here on our Yorkshire Coastline. So, when I was invited to come along and review Raithwaite Sandsend I was of course ready & willing (and extremely excited to do so!)
With high expectations on the horizon after seeing various Instagram posts about Raithwaite, we set off one sunny Sunday morning to the coast to experience all that this luxury Yorkshire Coast Hotel has to offer.
Raithwaite Sandsend,
Sandsend Road,
Whitby,
YO21 3ST
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We live just near a small market town called Wetherby, we have various options that we can use to get to the coast but we often find that the A64 is extremely busy, especially on sunny weekends! We decide that we should travel up the A1 and cut across the North Yorkshire Moors when travelling. It’s actually my favourite way to get to the Coast and there’s always so much less traffic!
Raithwaite Sandsend prides itself on being between sea & the moors. Truth be told, it could not be in a more perfect position if you do want the best of both worlds.
As we slithered along the long sea front of Sandsend and made our way towards Whitby, the unassuming entrances takes you on a hilly private drive up to the hotel. Unassuming is the optimum word here despite the hotel being stunning there is no huge, grand entrance to the hotel but don’t let that detract you from what goes beyond that.
On arrival, we park up in the car park and head down to check-in with the lovely Claire who is super helpful. We were a little early, so we filled in our paperwork and headed out to get some lunch. It was no surprise that at lunchtime that we struggled to get parked in Sandsend. So, we made the very short and sweet journey to Whitby. We are no strangers to this gorgeous seaside town as it’s one of our favourite spots for fish & chips. Especially when we feel like venturing out to the coast for the day. It’s also a must-see if you’re there on the Goth Weekends! You can even take a steam train journey from Pickering to Whitby on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (anyone will tell you that this is my favourite day out!)
As we headed back in time for check-in to collect our keys. Up to the top floor we go! Located in the eaves, when we entered our Comfy room we were not expecting to be met with the most sumptuously large bed and our very own private balcony. Not only that but the rooms are so big too!
The rooms have a really lovely, bright and airy feel. With a touch of cosy-ness, this is brought out by the warmth of the cream walls and dark furniture. Plus, it felt super clean which is always something I look for at a hotel!
The chaise longue was a really nice touch as well, it felt decadent and luxurious (and truth be told it worked out great when my pregnancy insomnia kicked in during the early hours of the morning & I could move over to it without waking the husband.)
Heading in the bathroom, this is again, a large space. I think they could have incorporated both a roll top bath and a walk in shower here to give it that real touch of elegance, but we still had a large bath tub and of course, my favourite products from Noble Isle as well (if you don’t know, you need to know!)
We both fell asleep pretty quickly once we turned the TV off, and aside from the pregnancy wake ups, we both slept for most of the night which is a pretty mean fete when both of us sometimes struggle when we aren’t in our own bed. The beds were a big thumbs up from us.
Once we had dropped our bags off we were desperate for a little Rn’R so headed down to the spa for a little swim and chilled out afternoon before we’d get ready for dinner later that evening.
As I am 7 1/2 months pregnant I sadly can’t use steam rooms and saunas, so Mr C checked those out on my behalf whilst I did a few laps of the pool before retiring to a comfy lounger to watch the babbling stream outside. We managed to get the last two cups to drink some water but sadly it didn’t look like the water cooler was replenished by staff at any point whilst we were there.
We didn’t take advantage of the treatments as there didn’t appear to be any information on pregnancy facials or massages, had there been I would have definitely had one because Raithwaite Sandsend use my favourite spa products from Temple Spa. Massages started from £45 which I felt was extremely reasonable considering the standard of products used.
As the afternoon wore on, the spa had quite a few more people come in to enjoy the facilities. Sadly, I couldn’t get many photos of our time in there, so please do take a look at the website for more professional shots.
Food & drink is a massive part of any holiday or break away for me. Unfortunately with my recent diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes (a type of diabetes that occurs only in pregnancy) eating out has become somewhat limited for me. I did have a little worry of what I was going to eat that evening, but I shouldn’t have been too nervous because the menu was to die for.
We dined in the Conservatory area which looked out on the outdoor terrace of the hotel and with the bi-folding windows open, the lovely evening breeze filtered through. As it was forecast to be some of the hottest days on record in the UK this was very much welcome.
Raithwaite Sandsend grow a lot of their own fruit & vegetables on site, with any other produce coming from less than 30 miles away.
Our server was a lovely girl, who I’m afraid I couldn’t catch her name (possibly Caitlin?), was extremely accommodating when I asked multiple questions about carb and sugar content or if small amends could be made in line with my GD. There was also Leo who was a fantastic barman where nothing was ever too much trouble!
My only criticism was that, if like me, you need to drink sugar free options there were none available (or at least whilst we were there, there wasn’t.) There was a reduced sugar cola from a local company, but, that was only if you didn’t have a nut allergy either. I understand that you won’t find the big brands here because of their rule about produce being locally sourced but perhaps that is something they can look in to for future guests who may have more specific dietary requirements.
Moving on to the evening meal it was to die for. And, that is no exaggeration at all. James went for the mackerel for starter and I opted for the lobster which came with their homegrown tomatoes which were so juicy and delicious. We both concluded they were some of the yummiest dishes we’ve had and that was before we got to our main meal.
Being at the seaside it only seemed right for us to go all in on the fish dishes. If I could tell you I’ve been thinking of my dressed Whitby Crab every day since we visited, I would not be lying. James had the pan-seared wild sea bream which he said had been cooked to absolute perfection.
I knew deserts were going to be tricky for me, so I had cheese and wholemeal crackers, sadly I couldn’t enjoy the delicious chutney that came with it (tried and tested by Mr C.) James finished on the chocolate tart, which he really enjoyed.
In the morning we made our way down to the same spot for breakfast, sadly, there wasn’t a huge amount that catered towards my gestational diabetes diet, so I chose a Yorkshire Breakfast. They didn’t have wholemeal bread which was unfortunate therefore I tried half a slice of brown toast and my readings were sky high an hour after eating (despite going for a walk) – I think dietary requirements are a little tricky to navigate at the best of times but adding wholemeal options at breakfast time would perhaps have made it a little more enjoyable for me. I’d love to go back once baby C is here and have the pancakes because they looked incredible!
The beautiful gardens and vast woodland that surround Raithwaite Sandsend are perfect for a little bit of on your doorstep exploring. The hotel offer lots of walking routes around the estate that you can enjoy, along with further afield hikes that can take you to Runswick Bay or Whitby. There’s also plenty of bike trails if you’re feeling super energetic.
We meandered around the beautiful lake both after our evening meal, and breakfast. It was a great way to burn off some energy and explore what the grounds have to offer. And, oh my, it is stunning!
Discover the award-winning landscaped grounds by yourself or with the help of the in-house guide, (which can be picked up from Reception desk), which includes a map of the gardens. For an interactive experience you’ll find QR codes as you walk along, which reveal information on the flora and fauna you might see along the way.
Located in Sandsend, you are on one of the most gorgeous long stretches of Yorkshire Coast imaginable. Taking a dip in the North Sea was very much welcome in the 37 degree heat, that’s for sure! It makes it the perfect base for young families who don’t want the hustle and bustle of busier seaside towns such as Scarborough or Bridlington. But, it’s close enough to the action of Whitby if you wanted somewhere to potter around for a morning or an afternoon.
Without a shadow of a doubt. The staff were exceptional at helping with local suggestions, taking luggage to our room, making sure they could accommodate any requests. Nothing was ever too much trouble for them.
We’ve already looked at returning later on in the year when it’s a little bit out of season and I can take full advantage of the food and drink menu without my gestational diabetes being a pain (ie. a juicy rare steak, a glass of red wine and a huge pudding to round it off!)
The rooms were incredible, the bed are so comfy and with lots of space it feels like you’re not hemmed in.
I’d also want to take advantage of a treatment as well next time!
The location is excellent and high up on one of my best places to visit on the Yorkshire Coast.
10/10 we will be back at some point! Either as a couple or with our little one in tow. You need to add this place to your UK bucket list now.
