Fitz

Being such a useful shortcut up the cliff straight to the hotels and holiday lodgings, the tunnel has often been used by visitors returning to their accommodation after an evening in the town. But locals know that it's not somewhere you want to be after dusk.

Being such a useful shortcut up the cliff straight to the hotels and holiday lodgings, the tunnel has often been used by visitors returning to their accommodation after an evening in the town. But locals know that it's not somewhere you want to be after dusk.

Many residents report feeling an eerie presence when walking through the tunnel and still more tell of witnessing a dark shadowy shape appearing from nowhere and briefly blocking out the light at the end before vanishing. Maybe the spookiest story though comes from a couple who were holidaying in Whitby and used the tunnel as a shortcut to and from their hotel a few times during their stay.

Many residents report feeling an eerie presence when walking through the tunnel and still more tell of witnessing a dark shadowy shape appearing from nowhere and briefly blocking out the light at the end before vanishing. Maybe the spookiest story though comes from a couple who were holidaying in Whitby and used the tunnel as a shortcut to and from their hotel a few times during their stay.

On one occasion, the woman of the couple experienced exactly what so many witnesses before her had done. She noticed the dark figure of a man at the end of the passage and was startled because she knew that no one had entered the cut-through ahead of them.

On one occasion, the woman of the couple experienced exactly what so many witnesses before her had done. She noticed the dark figure of a man at the end of the passage and was startled because she knew that no one had entered the cut-through ahead of them.

When she mentioned it to her husband he brushed it off and said that it must just be another pedestrian who had come up the steps on the other side, changed their mind and started back down again. But when they emerged out on the other side there was no one else to be seen anywhere and certainly no one descending the steps on the other side.

When she mentioned it to her husband he brushed it off and said that it must just be another pedestrian who had come up the steps on the other side, changed their mind and started back down again. But when they emerged out on the other side there was no one else to be seen anywhere and certainly no one descending the steps on the other side.

The next time they used the shortcut, the husband chuckled when he felt his wife grab his hand as they passed through the tunnel. He had no fear of the tunnel, shadowy figures or otherwise, but he supposed she must still be feeling frightened from her previous experience if she felt the need for this physical reassurance.

The next time they used the shortcut, the husband chuckled when he felt his wife grab his hand as they passed through the tunnel. He had no fear of the tunnel, shadowy figures or otherwise, but he supposed she must still be feeling frightened from her previous experience if she felt the need for this physical reassurance.

So he tried to make light of the situation, asking if she saw any spooky dark figures today. He stopped chuckling when he heard his wife's voice behind him in the darkness say, Pardon, I didn't hear you. In fact, she was several paces behind him and definitely not close enough to have been in physical contact with him. So who or what had just been holding his hand?

So he tried to make light of the situation, asking if she saw any spooky dark figures today. He stopped chuckling when he heard his wife's voice behind him in the darkness say, Pardon, I didn't hear you. In fact, she was several paces behind him and definitely not close enough to have been in physical contact with him. So who or what had just been holding his hand?

Of course, these days, lighthouses have electric lights and are often automated. But this lighthouse's ghost hails from the days that the life-saving signal needed to be lit and tended by hand.

Of course, these days, lighthouses have electric lights and are often automated. But this lighthouse's ghost hails from the days that the life-saving signal needed to be lit and tended by hand.

And one day, as dusk was beginning to creep in and the pelting rain of an incoming storm already blurred the darkening skies, the West Lighthouse's keeper hurried towards the tower, knowing lives would depend on his signal that night. The tempest grew and he battled his way through rains sent horizontal by swelling winds and

And one day, as dusk was beginning to creep in and the pelting rain of an incoming storm already blurred the darkening skies, the West Lighthouse's keeper hurried towards the tower, knowing lives would depend on his signal that night. The tempest grew and he battled his way through rains sent horizontal by swelling winds and

By the time he reached the base of the lighthouse steps, his clothes were soaked and dripping as he toiled up those 81 steps with grim determination, leaving a watery trail behind him. He got the lamp lit, as his duty demanded, and started to head back down the steps to find a warm fire and dry clothes.

By the time he reached the base of the lighthouse steps, his clothes were soaked and dripping as he toiled up those 81 steps with grim determination, leaving a watery trail behind him. He got the lamp lit, as his duty demanded, and started to head back down the steps to find a warm fire and dry clothes.

But, tired and distracted as he was, he didn't notice how slick the steps were from the rain he had shed all the way up them. and before he had time to realise the slippery danger, his feet went out from under him, and down he fell, finding his fateful end on the cold steps of the lighthouse's staircase.

But, tired and distracted as he was, he didn't notice how slick the steps were from the rain he had shed all the way up them. and before he had time to realise the slippery danger, his feet went out from under him, and down he fell, finding his fateful end on the cold steps of the lighthouse's staircase.