A harbour with an “iconic” view set within a “picturesque” coastal village is North Yorkshire has been dubbed one of the “cutest” in the UK.

Staithes, located close to Whitby featured in one of the Daily Mail’s travel guides among the likes of Lyme Regis in Dorset and Portloe in Cornwall.

The publisher commented on its guide: “Thanks to its rich maritime history, the UK has over 430 harbours dotted around its coastline.

“While not every harbour is a picturesque beauty spot, there are enough postcard-perfect places to satisfy even the fussiest of Instagrammers.

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“And here's our pick of the bunch - spots cute enough to be the focal point of a well-earned summer staycation, from lost-in-time Cornish gems to a fairytale village surrounded by rugged cliffs in Yorkshire and a colourful coastal hamlet in Scotland you may recognise from the TV.”

See all of the UK’s “cutest” harbours here.

Staithes has ‘higgledy-piggledy cottages and winding streets’

So what makes the harbour in Staithes stand out from the crowd?

The Daily Mail wrote: “A village in North Yorkshire surrounded by rugged cliffs, Staithes was once a major fishing base.

“Nowadays, it’s a popular weekend harbourside destination for holidaymakers looking to explore Yorkshire’s wild coastline.

“The Staithes Harbour Commission website says: ‘This village’s unique charm, with its huddled cottages, towering cliffs and choppy sea, has long been a powerful draw for those interested in fine art, geology and getting back to nature'."

@raw_explore #northyorkshire #staithes #britishsummer #traveluk #uktravel ♬ A Gentle Sunlight - James Quinn

“The team adds that the village’s ‘higgledy-piggledy cottages and winding streets’ give it the air of ‘being lost in time’,” continued the publisher.

“The nearest train station is in Whitby, where tourists can catch a bus to Staithes.”

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A recent visitor shared on Google reviews: “I just wanted to see the iconic view of the harbour [in Staithes] for myself but I feel in love with the whole village.”

Another posted: “A Beautiful picturesque village. First time we visited this place. It has a lovely small harbour and beach; cafes, fish and chip shop, couple of pubs and a handful of other shops.

"To get to the harbour you have to walk down a very steep road, but it's well worth it when you reach the bottom, (be prepared for the walk back up.)I can definitely recommend a visit to Staithes. We'll definitely be going back.”

This person also said: “Absolutely loved it very peaceful, and the walks are great along the Cleveland way and the harbour and breakwater, also it's not too far to runswick bay and sandsend beach which are brilliant.”