This secluded stone farmhouse sits mid-way between family favourites Scarborough and Whitby on North Yorkshire’s Heritage Coast. Surrounded by a patchwork of drystone-walled fields and woodland, it’s on the doorstep of some wonderful walking and cycling routes, including the Cleveland Way and the Cinder Track, a former railway line between Scarborough and Whitby. Staintondale is a great starting point for drives into the North York Moors but wander less than a mile from this welcoming holiday home and you’ll find Hayburn Wyke; here, the coastal path dips down to a curved bay that’s excellent for rock-pooling and fossil-hunting, there’s a dramatic waterfall and the surrounding ravine is a protected nature reserve which is home to roe deer, badgers, foxes and rare birds. Head 2 miles north and Ravenscar offers a fascinating peek into the past: a stone’s throw from the cliffs (a vantage point used by the Romans as a signal station) is the famous alum works once an important part of England’s fabric dyeing industry and now a National Trust site.
After a day of adventure, you’ll feel at home the instant you step through the door into an elegant dining room where exposed beams, rustic-style furniture and an ornamental fireplace set the tone for a relaxed evening with friends or family. Double doors and four steps lead down to a lounge flooded with light thanks to dual aspect windows and offering a choice of seating; stretch out on the sofa or settle into an armchair by the wood burner – set within an impressive inglenook fireplace, it can be used to supplement the central heating if you’re chilly. Bookshelves, side lamps and a Smart TV add to the laid-back ambiance of the lounge while exposed beams and deep windowsills confirm its country credentials; this styling is echoed in the conservatory/sunroom, where you’ll find armchairs set around a coffee table, with patio doors leading onto the courtyard garden. The kitchen’s at the heart of every farmhouse home and the one here features a range of modern units with complementary worktops, plus a table and chairs ideal for less-formal meals or a cuppa and a chat. One other country-living essential is here too: a boot room with plenty of space for cast-off coats and outdoor gear. And, just to add to the convenience of the ground floor, there’s a cloakroom too. A sense of space continues on the first floor, where a beautiful, beamed landing leads to a bathroom and three bedrooms – two king-size, the other a king with single bed with its own en-suite shower room – which both enjoy lovely countryside views and are furnished with wardrobes, chests of drawers and chairs… all chosen with guest comfort a priority.
The cottage is surrounded by gardens laid mostly to lawn, plus a pretty courtyard off the conservatory. There are also magnificent views of the countryside that’s all around – something to see at every time of year.