The Old School House - Fylingthorpe

Step back in time and stay in the quaint chocolate-box village of Fylingthorpe, a picturesque spot that’s just a stone’s throw from the ever-popular coastal village of Robin Hood’s Bay. Providing the perfect base for touring the coast and country of stunning North Yorkshire, this converted schoolhouse is on-hand to offer a remarkable stay for up to six guests.

Set off each day to discover the Heritage Coast of the North York Moors, perhaps stopping off on dog-friendly beaches with your beloved canine companions. The cobbled streets of this fishing hub are overflowing with cafe culture eateries, inviting local pubs and eclectic shops to browse, perfect for losing yourself in the laid-back pace of holiday life.

The property itself benefits from a traditional country aesthetic to match its Grade II-listed features, each room crammed with character and lovingly updated to feature a stylish decor. Unique period features include pretty mullioned windows, feature fireplaces and a unique spirelet, whilst the stand-out decor within proudly displays brightly coloured accents and antique-style furnishings.

Step inside to arrive at a narrow hallway with flagstone flooring. Following the hallway will lead to a bespoke kitchen with everything you may need to keep the holidaymakers fed and watered. The kitchen comes with a handy breakfast table, offering additional workspace or a spot to sit and keep the cook company. From here you can also enjoy stunning views into the rear courtyard, perhaps watching as young ones play whilst you prepare a hearty family meal.

Step through into the dining room to find space for everyone to sit down together. Arguably one of the more traditionally dressed rooms, this space features vintage rugs and curtains which lend an olde-worlde feel to the space. Throw a log on the wood burner to keep the room cosy as you dine in cooler months. Despite its original aesthetic, the room is equipped with a TV for staying up to date with current affairs over breakfast.

Whilst breakfast may be a time to catch up on the news, evening time offers you the chance to relax into a quality drama or catch a blockbuster film. Step into the colourful lounge and sink into a cushy sofa or armchair to do just so. Here you can switch on the Smart TV and choose from all of your favourites to fill the evening. This room also presents a feature fireplace and wood burner for staying cosy and warm during film time or box-set binging.

Finally, find a handy ground-floor WC to complete this downstairs offering.

When it’s time for bed, the first floor beckons. Mosey on up the staircase to find three pretty bedrooms, each of which has been updated to the highest of quality and offers a peaceful night’s sleep.

Two king-size bedrooms offer equally attractive surroundings in which to wake up to each morning. Both are lovingly presented with vintage interiors and plenty of space for getting ready. Completing the property’s bedtime offering is a twin bedroom that’s snug and cosy, ideal for younger visitors or two friends.

Offering plenty of facilities for getting ready bright and early, find two bathrooms upstairs on the first floor. One is presented with a walk-in shower, ideal for cleaning up ahead of a day’s adventure, and one boasts a deep bath that you’ll love to slide into after a day of hiking or biking.

At the break of the day, you can enjoy a morning brew in your private courtyard, a fully enclosed space to the rear of the property. This outdoor area also offers access to the external utility room with a washing machine and shower, ideal for those returning from the sandy beach.

• 3 bedrooms - 2 king-size and 1 twin
• 2 bathrooms - 1 shower room with shower and WC and 1 bathroom with bath, separate shower and WC, 1 separate WC and 1 outside WC
• Electric oven and hob, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and microwave
• Outside utility area with washing machine and shower
• Smart TV in lounge
• 2 wood burners (first basket of logs provided)
• Small courtyard with seating
• Lockable bike storage
• On street parking subject to availability
• Shop and pub within 1 mile
• Please note the windows in the Grade II listed property cannot be opened as they were sealed many years ago and are now too delicate to repair
• This property will be decorated for Christmas
• Arrival: 16:00 onwards
• Departure: before 10:00, unless otherwise stated in your arrival details
• 2 dogs allowed. Dogs are charged at £20 each per full or part week
• There is an Accidental Damage Deposit of £250 when booking at this property, however this may be waived for £30. We’ll provide more details about this when booking your holiday.

Robin Hood's Bay, just 1 mile from the stunning village of Fylingthorpe, is one of the most popular coastal locations in Yorkshire or the UK for that matter. Once home to the busiest smuggling trade on the Yorkshire coast, said to involve fisherman, clergy and gentry alike, today the village has adopted a much more sedate pace of life. The village is a maze of cobbled streets and higgledy-piggledy houses which seem to tumble down towards the sea. Walkers can delight in the fact that Wainwright's famous Coast to Coast walk starts (or finishes, depending on which way you look at it) in the village. And the bay itself is just one of the many charming locations on the coast.

For dinner, head down to one of the romantic bistros or nautically themed inns where you can soak up the atmosphere with a candlelit dinner over a bottle of wine or two. If you want to dine in, take advantage of the well-stocked local stores, including an excellent fishmonger selling the freshest locally caught crab. Traditional sweet shops stock all your old favourites and there are several little boutiques selling all manner of delightful things.

As hard as it will be to drag yourself away from Robin Hood’s Bay, you really ought to explore the rest of the coast. Much like its Cornish counterpart, the Yorkshire coastline is a heady mix of rugged cliff tops, peaceful bays and pretty fishing villages. With long sandy beaches and all the traditional seaside trimmings of yesteryear, this is ultimate bucket-and-spade territory. That's not to say it's stuck in the past; in fact, the coast's villages and towns combine the traditional with the contemporary effortlessly, with trinket shops and tearooms sitting alongside upmarket champagne and oyster bars.

This region is best known for the gorgeously gothic town of Whitby (5.5 miles). Playing host throughout history to Romans, Saxons, Celts and Danes amongst others, the town's rich heritage is immediately obvious. Straddling the River Esk and dominated by the 13th-century ruins of St Hilda's Abbey on the East Cliff, Whitby's crooked cobbled streets and picturesque harbour have been a magnet for artists and tourists alike for centuries. Providing the backdrop for some of Lewis Carroll's work, it was also famously the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. For a real sense of the town's atmospheric ambience, climb the 199 abbey steps at dusk and wander around St. Mary's churchyard on the headland. You can further indulge a desire for the macabre on one of the regular ghost walks from Whale Bone Arch on West Cliff.

Although you could happily spend the weekend mooching about the independent shops, bars and cafes along Whitby's bustling medieval streets, it's well worth striking out to sample some of the other less known coastal villages nearby. Sandsend, Staithes and Runswick Bay are all within 15.5 miles, and each has its own unique charm. Ravenscar (4 miles) is also a great spot to go seal watching as they bask in the sunlight around the headland.