Fitz

It was evening but had been a fine day with no rain or mist or bad weather to speak of so the group were surprised when they looked up and saw a misty white figure at the top of the cliff.

It was evening but had been a fine day with no rain or mist or bad weather to speak of so the group were surprised when they looked up and saw a misty white figure at the top of the cliff.

clearly discernible as the shape of a person but with no defining features the figure proceeded to float down the cliff face and the youths ran to the spot where they predicted it would land on the beach eager to see what manner of being this was but the moment before the feet should have hit the sand the figure disappeared

clearly discernible as the shape of a person but with no defining features the figure proceeded to float down the cliff face and the youths ran to the spot where they predicted it would land on the beach eager to see what manner of being this was but the moment before the feet should have hit the sand the figure disappeared

Author of the Whitby ghost book, Paul McDermott, was told of a similar encounter during a chance conversation with a visitor who had holidayed in Whitby some years before. Only this witness's experience took place 75 years after the scouts had encountered the White Wraith.

Author of the Whitby ghost book, Paul McDermott, was told of a similar encounter during a chance conversation with a visitor who had holidayed in Whitby some years before. Only this witness's experience took place 75 years after the scouts had encountered the White Wraith.

This time, the misty figure appeared in front of the eyes of a baffled man and woman who were walking their dog on the beach just as they passed under the Cook Monument. As before, it was a clear day, with no mist or fog to explain the apparition that floated down the face of West Cliff, once again vanishing the moment before it touched down on the beach.

This time, the misty figure appeared in front of the eyes of a baffled man and woman who were walking their dog on the beach just as they passed under the Cook Monument. As before, it was a clear day, with no mist or fog to explain the apparition that floated down the face of West Cliff, once again vanishing the moment before it touched down on the beach.

The woman turned to her partner in amazement wondering if he had seen it too. It seemed he must have as he was busy speeding away from whatever it was as fast as possible and he resolutely refused to discuss what he had seen.

The woman turned to her partner in amazement wondering if he had seen it too. It seemed he must have as he was busy speeding away from whatever it was as fast as possible and he resolutely refused to discuss what he had seen.

No one seems to know who or what the White Wraith is, or what its connection to the Cook Monument might be, possibly nothing at all, as these cliffs are ancient and have been settled for thousands of years, so who knows what secrets and stories they hold.

No one seems to know who or what the White Wraith is, or what its connection to the Cook Monument might be, possibly nothing at all, as these cliffs are ancient and have been settled for thousands of years, so who knows what secrets and stories they hold.

But our next story probably does have links to a more recent time in history and takes us just a few paces along the cliff to that other famous monument occupying a rather uncomfortable place in the annals of Whitby's history. A large archway, his placement perfectly frames the dramatic view of the Abbey and St Mary's Church on the rugged East Cliff.

But our next story probably does have links to a more recent time in history and takes us just a few paces along the cliff to that other famous monument occupying a rather uncomfortable place in the annals of Whitby's history. A large archway, his placement perfectly frames the dramatic view of the Abbey and St Mary's Church on the rugged East Cliff.

Tourist maps will eagerly tell you that the creepy looking little tunnel cut through the side of Khyber Pass is a hideout of Count Dracula. Somewhere he lures his victims who scream as they meet their fate. Hence the name, the Screaming Tunnel. It does look rather creepy. It's a claustrophobically narrow, stone-lined channel that cuts right through the cliff.

Tourist maps will eagerly tell you that the creepy looking little tunnel cut through the side of Khyber Pass is a hideout of Count Dracula. Somewhere he lures his victims who scream as they meet their fate. Hence the name, the Screaming Tunnel. It does look rather creepy. It's a claustrophobically narrow, stone-lined channel that cuts right through the cliff.

The shine of the rain-slick flagstones does nothing to alleviate the inky black shadows within, and tendrils of ivy hang from the ceiling and archway, swaying wetly in the breeze. In fact, though, this is not a hideout of the Count. It's actually another legacy of George Hudson, the railway king, who built it as a shortcut to the harbour below for the transport of building materials.

The shine of the rain-slick flagstones does nothing to alleviate the inky black shadows within, and tendrils of ivy hang from the ceiling and archway, swaying wetly in the breeze. In fact, though, this is not a hideout of the Count. It's actually another legacy of George Hudson, the railway king, who built it as a shortcut to the harbour below for the transport of building materials.

Once this is known, it becomes quite obvious that it looks exactly like a railway tunnel, just on a miniature scale. Today, it's a footpath that forms a shortcut into the town, down a steep flight of steps. It actually doesn't feature in Dracula at all, but despite the misplaced name, it is haunted.

Once this is known, it becomes quite obvious that it looks exactly like a railway tunnel, just on a miniature scale. Today, it's a footpath that forms a shortcut into the town, down a steep flight of steps. It actually doesn't feature in Dracula at all, but despite the misplaced name, it is haunted.