Great Ayton is acknowledged as the birthplace of Captain James Cook, who sailed from Whitby on The HMS Endeavour. A replica of this impressive ship is moored in the harbour and is well worth a visit!

Great Ayton is also the starting point if you wish to climb Roseberry Topping. At 320 metres, it is not exactly mountaineering but a good walk nonetheless. Long ago fabled to have been formed by a local Giant scooping out earth from ‘The Hole of Horcum’ (on the Whitby to Pickering Road) and throwing it away in a fit of temper! Roseberry Topping offers fabulous views towards Teesside and the more industrial coast.