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Best place to base for Yorkshire Dales, York and area

Best place to base for Yorkshire Dales, York and area

Old Nov 8th, 2014, 03:45 PM
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We stayed in the nice little town of Richmond, on the edge of the dales and not far from the moors. Our B&B was the Millgate House, highly recommended.
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Old Nov 9th, 2014, 08:09 AM
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I am amazed that nobody has mentioned visiting the Eden Camp Museum. It is a fascinating place and my wife and I spent hours going through it. It is in North Yorkshire and I would definitely put it on your list of places to visit. Look it up on Google to find out more details.
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Old Nov 9th, 2014, 10:04 AM
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Eden Camp is a fascinating and unique place, and I'd recommend it unreservedly to anyone interested in war history. Your feet will tire long before you've finished going round all the huts. It's an easy side trip from York, but it's neither in the Moors or the Dales.
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Old Nov 10th, 2014, 09:08 AM
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looks like your plan is coming together, wrenwood.

i suspect that wherever you choose in yorkshire, you will have a great time.
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Old Nov 10th, 2014, 02:48 PM
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Opinions please....


I like this, looks like great access to good restaurants/pubs for dinner, too close to A1?

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Vacatio...e_England.html


I like this one too, but will we have long drives for dinner?

http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationR...e_England.html
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Old Nov 11th, 2014, 07:15 AM
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The first one is really close to my house!!
Not sure what you mean by too close to the A1? You won't hear traffic noise if that's your concern? It is several miles away, and the property is in a very rural location.
Agree that there are lots of good restaurants/pubs around (I can give you further details if you decide on this property).
The second property seems to be more of a group of cottages. Buckden is lovely and there are decent eating places around. But it would be Rowan House for me every time!
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Old Nov 11th, 2014, 07:26 AM
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Wrenwood, have you actually LOOKED at the mileage between some of these places you want to visit?

Yes, I realize that those narrow roads don't foster fast driving and all that but do make yourself aware of the actual distances before making any final decisions.
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Old Nov 11th, 2014, 10:25 AM
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I am biased against Buckden, having had the car broken into there. We have booked several cottages through Yorkshire Cottages http://www.yorkshire-cottages.info/ and can recommend them as an agency. This is our current favourite http://www.yorkshire-cottages.info/y...-station-house. It's in the centre of the village, so a 2 minute walk to shops and pubs but really quiet, very well furnished and with parking (which is at a premium).
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Old Nov 11th, 2014, 12:10 PM
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When we leave from Watermillock in the Lake District we will drive towards the north part of The Moors, and stay 1 night in Whitby or Sandsend. See what ??? along the way.

Next morning tentative plan is to see Whitby Abbey (and ????) and drive south-west through the park, stopping wherever (will the Heather still be blooming in early September?) and stay somewhere around Helmsley for 1 night. (maybe at Brickfields Farm that tuscanlifeedit mentioned)

The next morning see Rievaulx Abbey, and drive to wherever we are staying in The Dales for 5 nights.

Dukey1, still looking and planning for the Dales. We probably want to see Bolton Abbey, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Middleham Castle, Jervaulx Abbey, but still researching. This will be our 5th trip to England, we have also driven in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, so I am well aware how slow the roads are. We love driving and discovering places, and we will also plan on some walks.

anicecupoftea, Station House looks nice, don't know how I missed it. Where did you eat dinner when you were there?

I do love the light, open plan and big windows at Rowan House
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Old Nov 11th, 2014, 02:19 PM
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Annhig, thanks for the tip about Harlow Carr, it's on my list!
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Old Nov 11th, 2014, 02:31 PM
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I don't see any advantage in splitting your two nights in the Moors. Pick one place and stay there two nights; it's more efficient.

On your way from the Lakes visit the town of Barnard Castle and the Bowes Museum.

http://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/
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Old Nov 12th, 2014, 12:09 AM
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Whitby Abbey is well worth a visit but it won't take you long (the visitor centre is interesting but doesn't have that much in it to be honest). You can't go to Whitby without having fish and chips of course, the Magpie Café being probably the best known of several good places in town.
I would also recommend a visit to Robin Hood's Bay close by. You'll need to park your car at the top of the hill to walk down the very steep 'main street' to the sea. Picturesque place - go exploring off the main street!
http://www.robin-hoods-bay.co.uk/
Castle Howard is a big draw in the area - one of England's most magnificent Stately homes. It is in the Howardian Hills as opposed to the Moors, but easily reached. You'll need plenty of time here to do it justice. I'm going again next month to see it all dressed for Christmas.
The heather blooms at slightly different times each year, and some years are 'better' than others. We were there at the very end of August this year and it was superb, a sea of purple in every direction.
If you stay near Helmsley then the Black Swan at Oldstead is a real treat. I may have mentioned this place before. It has just got a Michelin star and it has 4 wonderful rooms that you can stay in. Gorgeous place.
https://sites.google.com/site/newblackswanwebsite/
If you are a reader then The Plot by Madeleine Bunting is a fascinating book about this area - you can even visit the plot!
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Old Nov 12th, 2014, 03:25 AM
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Morgana, thanks I had forgotten where Castle Howard is located. Looks as spectacular as Chatsworth, and apparently has great trees which we love. It looks to me that it might be a more lengthy visit than Rievaulx Abbey?

Black Swan looks delicious!

The Owner is holding Rowan House for me until I hear from my sister-in-law to confirm she will be with us. Any suggestions for eating dinner in that area?
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Old Nov 12th, 2014, 03:29 AM
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If you want a quiet, but wonderful place to stay have a look at http://www.hallfarmhouseyork.co.uk/

We stayed there in August. The welcome was warm, the breakfast amazing, the room comfortable, and Sally will also cook you dinner if you ask.

It is a bit out of the way, but still handy for York and Castle Howard and all the countryside around.
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Old Nov 12th, 2014, 03:39 AM
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Should we consider staying our first night at /near Robin Hoods Bay instead of the Whitby area? We could stop at Whitby for Fish and Chips, visit the Abbey, then head towards RHB?

Next Day we could wander through the Park, and end up at Rievaulx Abbey, stay overnight nearby.

When we leave the following morning we could spend most of the day at Castle Howard before driving to Rowan House or wherever we book in the Dales.

Does this look workable?

hetismij2 ~ thanks for the suggestion, will check it out
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Old Nov 12th, 2014, 04:18 AM
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I think that sounds really nice. The idea of staying at RNB is a good one - it empties of tourists in the evening and is so pretty. They have their own little tourist magazine called Bayfair which has accommodation ideas.
You could then stay near Helmsley for the second night, and then end up in the Dales for a more extended stay.
Here are my suggestions for where to eat around Rowan House.
1) Wensleydale Heifer, West Witton - I love this place. Famous for its fabulous fish but its all good. My husband is seriously addicted to their Jack Daniels Prawn Cocktail, and their beer battered fish and chips is excellent.
http://www.wensleydaleheifer.co.uk/
2) Vennells in Masham - about 20 minutes away, maybe less.
http://www.vennellsrestaurant.co.uk/
3) Swinton Park near Masham - this place has the wow factor and their restaurant Samuels is always winning awards.
http://www.swintonpark.com/
4) Blue lion, East Witton
www.thebluelion.co.uk
5) Yorebridge House, Bainbridge - about half an hour drive, but a beautiful drive, and a lovely place.
www.yorebridgehouse.co.uk
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Old Nov 12th, 2014, 04:20 AM
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Meant to give you the link to Bayfair which will give you lots of info about RHB.
http://www.bayfair.co.uk/
And yes, a visit to Castle Howard will take a lot more time than Rievaulx. It's a huge house with extensive grounds and they often have very good exhibitions on too.
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Old Nov 14th, 2014, 01:13 PM
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Still struggling in Moors, everytime I find a place I like they require a 2 night saty

How about Middleham as a base in the Dales?
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Old Nov 15th, 2014, 01:45 AM
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Yes, Middleham would be good. It's not far from Leyburn so my restaurant suggestions above would still hold true.
Middleham is famous for its racehorses and for its castle, the childhood home of Richard 3rd. It's surrounded by lovely countryside and has decent road links.
Have you looked at the Black Swan at Oldstead for a one night stay?
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Old Nov 15th, 2014, 06:27 AM
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I'm leaning towards Middleham as we can walk to dinner or drive to dinner (Blue Lion and Wensleydale Heifer in particular!!!!!)

I have flip flopped about where to stay the first night in the Moors. My thought was for lunch/Fish and Chips/Abbey in Whitby and then go walk around Robin Hoods Bay. Thinking we would still have time to start into the Moors so was looking around Goathland, and checked with Broom House at Egton Bridge which looked lovely, but they require two nights and I want our second night near Castle Howard.

I haven't checked for the second night near Castle Howard yet, will look into Black Swan, thanks!
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