19/05/2026
Along the wild and wave-worn cliffs of the North Yorkshire Coast, where the tides move quickly and caves open like dark doorways in the rock, old stories still linger. ✨
Boggle Hole is a quiet cove near Robin Hood’s Bay. Local folklore tells of strange little beings called boggles, mischievous spirits similar to hobgoblins or house elves, who are said to have lived in the caves along the North Yorkshire coast for centuries. The cove is about a mile south of Robin Hood’s Bay and you can reach it by walking along the beach at low tide or by following the Cleveland Way above the cliffs.
The name Boggle Hole comes from these old tales. People once believed boggles lived in the hollows, slopes, and shadowy caves along this part of the coast. These creatures were mysterious, but not always scary. In the stories, kindness was important. If you treated a boggle well, it might leave you alone. But if you upset one, the coast could feel less welcoming after dark.
Further north near Runswick Bay, the legend continues. In a cave called Hob Hole, people once believed a hob could heal children with whooping cough, which was once called “kink-cough.” Mothers would bring their children to the cave at low tide and ask the spirit for help.
An old rhyme still remains:
“Hob-hole Hob,
My bairn’s gotten kink-cough;
Tak’t off, tak’t off!”
It was said that the men of the village were too afraid to visit the cave after dark, but the women came with courage, hope, and quiet prayers.
Today, Boggle Hole is known for its rockpools, coastal walks, sea views, and charming youth hostel. Still, when the light fades over Robin Hood’s Bay, and the caves become quiet, it is easy to see why people once imagined something small, secretive, and ancient watching from the shadows.
On the North Yorkshire coast, history feels close enough to touch, carried in the salt air, shaped by old stories, and wrapped in the quiet sense that a little magic may still linger.
