b'WHITBY ABBEY, WHITBY, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND A 13th-century Gothic abbey with spectacular views of the North Sea towers high above Whitby town in Northern Yorkshire. The haunting ruins have long inspired writers, artists, and poets. Most famous wasthe Gothic novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, who was inspired by the abbey, churchyard, and town when he visited in 1890.HISTORYBY THE SEA From Whitbys East Pier, you can climb the famous 199 steps to the top. A cobbled track called the Donkey Road is a less strenuous walking option, though you can also drive a car to the top of the headland.Castles, abbeys,Wander the soaring Gothic ruins dating back to theand museums that13th and 14th centuries when it was a Benedictine tell us stories ofabbey. The original monastery on this spot was founded the past. in 657 AD. You can listen to an audio tour while roaming the ancient ruins.Spend time at the interactive visitor center and museum, with displays of Anglo-Saxon crosses, medieval manuscripts, and other artifacts. Uncover stories about the abbey, the monks who lived there, Viking raids, and Bram Stokers inspirations. Nearby is a cemetery and the 12th-century Church of St Mary of the Virgin.enchantingtravels.com/whitbyPHOTO: SNAPSHOTS OF THE PAST, CC BY-SA 2.0, VIASIDE CREDIA COMMONS WIKIMEDITRuins of Whitby AbbeyENCHANTING TRAVELS\x1a21'