Upgang Beach

Upgang Beach is a mixed sand-and-rock shore on Whitby’s north-west side, reached beneath the cliffs around Upgang Ravine. It is a useful, mobile mark rather than a comfortable fixed platform: the sand can produce flatfish and summer species, while the exposed scars and rougher edges are the better bet for codling and other rock-ground fish.

The beach lies between Whitby’s West Cliff area and the southern approach to Sandsend, with the fishing ground changing markedly as the tide uncovers the foreshore. Access is generally on foot from the coastal path, beach approaches or nearby public parking areas; do not assume that every track down the cliff is safe or public.

Expect a typical North Yorkshire mixed-shore catch, with the best targets dictated by season, sea state and whether you fish clean sand or the rougher scars. The beach is usually more productive after dark, in coloured water, or when the tide has covered the fishable ground.

Match tackle and bait to the patch of ground in front of you rather than treating the whole beach as a pure surf mark. A session spent walking the low-water edge before fishing can reveal gullies, rough patches and cleaner casting lanes.

Upgang changes from a broad-looking sandy beach at low water to a much tighter, more restricted shore as the tide rises. The most reliable fishing is often around the moving water, but the safest tide stage depends on the exact access route and the state of the sea.

This is an exposed cliff-backed beach, not an easy all-abilities venue, and conditions can deteriorate quickly with swell, darkness or a rising tide. Treat the cliff line, access paths and the tide as the principal hazards rather than concentrating solely on the fishing.

Facilities are not generally on the beach itself; use Whitby or Sandsend for the widest choice of parking, shops, toilets, food and tackle-related supplies. Plan to be self-sufficient once on the shore, particularly for an evening session.

The key local skill is finding a clean, fishable channel alongside enough rough ground to hold fish without losing tackle on every cast. Avoid relying on one old report or a favourite peg: storms can move sand and alter the gullies considerably.

There is no clear indication that sea angling is universally prohibited at Upgang Beach, but access and activity can be affected by local notices, land ownership, temporary safety closures and environmental restrictions. Check current signage at the approach and the latest official fisheries rules before fishing.