Hot Spot: Whitby, North Yorkshire

Bram Stoker may have been inspired by the former whaling port which today has much to get your teeth into, says Robert Liebman

Vampires, as almost everyone knows, come from Transylvania. But most of Dracula is set in England, not Romania. The graveyard earth vital for his survival, which Count Dracula ships to England, arrives in Whitby. Author Bram Stoker (1847-1912) was born in Dublin, lived in London, visited Whitby on holiday, and never set foot in Romania.

Vampires, as almost everyone knows, come from Transylvania. But most of Dracula is set in England, not Romania. The graveyard earth vital for his survival, which Count Dracula ships to England, arrives in Whitby. Author Bram Stoker (1847-1912) was born in Dublin, lived in London, visited Whitby on holiday, and never set foot in Romania.

Once England's seventh-largest port and home to a substantial whaling fleet, the town celebrates Captain Cook, who lived in Great Ayton and sailed from Whitby. Nearby are Scarborough (home of Alan Ayckbourn's Stephen Joseph Theatre), Robin Hood's Bay, Filey and North Yorkshire Moors National Park.

"Whitby has become very desirable as a second-home location and prices have grown very rapidly over the past two to three years. Buyers from West Yorkshire have been especially noticeable," says Liam Bailey of Knight Frank, in Leeds. "Investors seeking holiday home income should look at the old town, the new Whitehall Landings in the town centre, and some of the more historic areas around St Hilda's Terrace. Sleights and Aislaby are very attractive villages."

Despite its venerable history, estate agent Edward Astin notes that "Whitby was only really discovered about 10 years ago. The replica of [Captain Cook's] Endeavour in 1997 got national coverage, which brought a lot of people here and boosted the local property market."

Excellent schools, no deprived areas, civil behaviour at pub closing time, combine to attract families and investors. "A lower rate of return in exchange for capital appreciation is acceptable to many buyers, some of whom intend to live in the property at a later date," adds Astin.

THE LOW-DOWN

Getting there

By train the Esk Valley route serves Whitby via Middlesborough, and the Wolds Coast Line serves Filey and Scarborough via Hull. Leeds/Bradford airport is 70 miles away.

Attractionss

The ruins of Whitby Abbey, which figure in Dracula, overlook the town and harbour. The Captain Cook Memorial Museum is located in the explorer's home in Grape Lane. Whitby has a Pavilion and Theatre, and a large sports centre and swimming pool. Pannett Art Gallery is in Pannett Park.

History repeated

Each of Captain Cook's four ships - Endeavour, Resolution, Adventure and Discovery - was built in Whitby, and the Endeavour replica is seaworthy and embarks on pleasure voyages. It was constructed using steamed larch planks on a frame of solid oak and, in scale, is 40 per cent the size of the original. www.endeavourwhitby.com/

Period conversion flats

A one-bedroom flat near the town centre is £80,000, a two-bed with balcony, £120,000, and a three-bed with parking and panoramic views in Ruswarp two miles from Whitby, £229,500, at Astins. A two-bed flat in a Victorian town house on the Royal Crescent is £169,950 at Richardson & Smith.

In tune

The 1891 grade II* Chapter House, former choir room and vestry to Brunswick Church, is a semi-circular conversion offered as a freehold two-bed guest house including contents, £180,000 at Astins. The property is let for the remainder of this year and must allow emergency right of access for the property below.

Former offices

A three-bedroom end terrace in a former shipyard office with harbour and abbey views, c.£250,000. A 9,000 sq ft section of a grade II listed Georgian house most recently used as commercial premises can be reconverted to residential subject to planning consent, c.£550,000. Both at Richardson & Smith.

Angling

The Woodlands in Sleights four miles from Whitby is a 14-unit former family home (then school, then nursing home) with 20 acres of shared gardens and woodland, and fishing rights on the River Esk. Flat two has one bedroom, £155,000 at Astin's. Flat three has two bedrooms and is generally more spacious and lavish but is nearly treble the price on £450,000 at FPDSavills (01904 617820).

On the farm

The grade II listed 17th century Foulsyke Farm, in Fylingdales, near Robin Hood's Bay has four bedrooms, traditional stone agricultural outbuildings, pastureland, arable and woodland on more than 200 acres; offers over £800,000 at Strutt & Parker (01423 561274).

New

A first-floor flat in the mostly sold-out Whitehall Landing is c.£145,000. Under construction is Riverside Walk, 12 new and four refurbished three-bed cottages on the River Esk, from £97,500 at Astins.

Estate agents

Astins, 01947 821122; Richardson & Smith, 01947 602298.