JESSICA ROSE NEWALL

Nestled a few miles outside Whitby is the charming fisherman's village, Runswick Bay. 

A quintessential coastal escape; Runswick Bay is renowned for its red roofed cottages that fill the crescent-shaped bay, whilst fishing boats scatter the coastline. A sleepy village, which is home to the last remaining thatched cottage on the North Yorkshire Coast.

I spent the weekend in Runswick Bay with my parents, which was a much needed retreat and so nice to spend time away with them. We took daily walks along the coastal path, Cleveland Way, to Whitby, just a five and a half mile walk over the beautifully scenic coast.

Some people say you should always try new places rather than revisiting old ones, and in some respect I completely agree and I'm the first person to jump at experiencing a new place. That being said, there's something so beautiful about going to a place you've seen before with new eyes. Although I always loved going away in England and taking a family holiday by the sea, I never really appreciated how close it was, how beautiful it was or how sharing a place with certain people can change your experience completely. I feel so at home near the sea and taking a few days out with no set plans other than to just enjoy the setting and each others company was really special.

We spent the evenings on the beach watching the sky turn a dusty pink, sharing beer, stories and a lot of laughter.

Once the sun had gone down, the bay is pitch black with just the small glow from the houses illuminating the water. We found the village pub, which could have been mistaken for just another cottage as it had no indication or sign other than the picnic bench calling our name on the balcony. After dinner, with full bellies we headed up the steep hill back home to settle in for the night. As a family we've never really played a lot of board games, don't get me wrong, I do love a good game now, but I tend to end up bankrupt and lending money in Monopoly, just to give some background. So when I found Trivial Pursuit, I thought it might be a good time to have a go at playing. Five minutes in and I'm just asking every question on the card to see who knows the answer first and storing as many answers as possible ready for my next pub quiz. I do wonder how parents have this ability to know so much, like the answers to things that I just can't fathom why they'd know...but maybe it's from someone reading the answers of Trivial Pursuit cards to them?

Our Saturday was spent walking along the coastal path to Whitby, the English coastline is incredible and so varied. Growing up in a city, I always presumed I’d end up living in a huge vibrant city and after having lived in London and Melbourne, whilst incredible and always something around every corner, I think it’s moments like this that I missed and needed whilst being there.

I love nature and long walks, and being able to sit somewhere by myself to just take everything in and appreciate that what we have is incredible and how beautiful the things, places and people around us really are.