Cool Place of the Day: Staithes, North Yorkshire

What could be better than a drive across the glorious heather moors before dropping down into the stunning village of Staithes on the North Yorkshire coast? Once a busy fishing community, Staithes is a jumble of whitewashed, pantile-roofed cottages clinging to the hillside, threaded through with narrow ginnels leading to the pretty harbour and beach. The young James (later Captain) Cook had his first job here (as an apprentice grocer, oddly, not a seaman), and the cobbles, alleys and cottages are pretty much as they were in the 18th century.

They still do a spot of fishing here – and you can take a boat out with Sean Baxter of Real Staithes to do just that, fishing for mackerel or lobsters and then cooking them up on the beach, or beach-combing along the foreshore and foraging for materials to make your own paint according to an ancient method.

Historically Staithes has also been a bit of a magnet for artists – sort of a northern St Ives, which is celebrated this weekend (10-11 September) with the annual Staithes Festival of Arts & Heritage. Scores of cottages and public buildings will throw open their doors to the public as pop-up galleries sell work by local and visiting artists, including painters, ceramicists, jewellery makers, sculptors and photographers.

You can wend your way around the maze of lanes discovering the galleries and meeting the artists, drop into pop-up tea rooms and check out various walks, talks, film shows and workshops celebrating both the art and the fishing heritage of Staithes. With street music (including shanties from the Men of Staithes Choir), outdoor cinema and slide shows, there’s tons of fun for the whole family.

Cool Places is a website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk)