We've had lots of interest recently in group bookings of our holiday cottages for this year and next, so I thought I'd let you know what we offer.
🍂 6 cottages - 3 of each size (1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom) - with two of the cottages entirely on the ground floor for ease of access.
🌿 Accommodation for a maximum of 24 people across the cottages (plus travel cots) in 12 bedrooms (4 x Super King (or Twin), 2 x King, 2 x Double, 4 x Twin).
Why not treat yourself to a local Tai Chi class whilst staying at Newton Grange Cottages?
We highly recommend Val's Tai Chi classes, which are held at a number of outdoor and indoor venues, such as the fabulous Cliffe Castle Park and stunning Skipton Town Hall. You can book online or drop Val a message to find out more.
Did you know that the Settle Carllisle Railway line can be easily accessed from Newton Grange Cottages?
Our holiday cottages in Bank Newton, North Yorkshire, enjoy a wonderful, waterside location.
They are situated in a very special location by the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
The canal is a haven for wildlife, with many swans, geese, oyster catchers and more to be seen on a stroll towards East Marton.
There are so many words to describe the spectacular scenery in the limestone landscapes around Malham in the Yorkshire Dales.
Something that I discovered again for myself on a morning walk today in the autumnal sunshine. Setting off early is always a good plan for Malham. It meant that I had the footpaths pretty much all to myself - certainly for the first hour of this short 4.5 mile route, and it was bliss.
Delighted that we are officially recognised as "Good to go" By Visit England.
This means that we have followed Government Guidance in preparing to re-open and manage our holiday cottage business in a Covid-19 secure way.
You can read more about what measures we have put in place in our Coronavirus Statement here.
There's something compelling about seeing the area you live and work in on screen. You see it every day and yet when you hear 'it's going to be on TV', an excitement bubbles within.
But why is this? Does it look better on screen than in real life?
The Yorkshire Dales is hosting a wide variety of events as part of the Dark Skies Festival, which runs from 14th February until 1st March 2020.
We highly recommend taking a look at the programme which details events suitable for young and old alike.
That sounds like the start of a running race, doesn't it?
Running is something that I have enjoyed re-discovering in the past twelve months, including taking part in a couple of running races. That moment before the race begins is so full of anticipation and preparation - making sure that your shoe laces are well tied and footwear secure on your feet; feeling the crowds around you in shared expectation of the race ahead; trying to tune-out any 'race fears' of others around you and keeping the focus on your own race.
So why am I talking about running, when we're thinking about holiday cottages?
The second of 'walks from the doorstep' in our collection, here is a 5 mile circular walking/running route from the doorstep of Newton Grange Cottages to the village of Gargrave in North Yorkshire.
Discovering what's on our doorstep is a joy. I took the chance this morning to go for a run and compile the descriptions below, so that you can follow it too.
Here is a 4+ mile route that you can enjoy on foot from our holiday cottages in Bank Newton - taking in a short section of the Pennine Way national trail and the towpath of the Leeds Liverpool Canal - and leading you to the village of East Marton.
Delighted to read our feature in this month's Aspire magazine - a great little resource for finding out more about the local area and businesses within it.
Five years ago, a team of Australian trail runners stayed at Newton Grange to take part in the first ever Oxfam Trailtrekker - a 100km route on foot from Skipton through the Yorkshire Dales, to be completed in teams of four in less than 30 hours. They won. In a time of 13 hours 26 minutes. Wow. And at the start of the 2013 Oxfam Trailtrekker the Sydney S.T.A.R.S remained the course record holders and the team to beat.
So we entered. And this year, on 1st June 2013, the Oxfam Trailtrekker course record was beaten by an incredible 26 minutes.
When you're here you could...
- Explore Gargrave Green and Stepping Stones over the River Aire
We strive to look after our holiday cottages as if they were our own home, keeping standards up and presenting beautifully clean cottages.
Our guests often comment how they could relax straightaway after they arrive and settle in to their sparklingly clean holiday home.
Remember when summer holidays felt endless as a child?
With freedom to roam and run around outside, and space to play out safely. Time passed more slowly and the memories of joyful summers are remembered clearly.
What's it like at Newton Grange Cottages in Bank Newton?
Well, we love it! These are the things that make it a really special place and a beautiful setting.
There are gorgeous, stone built, listed buildings, and they are surrounded by rolling green pastures (the drumlin hills) where our sheep flock graze. The Grade II listed Newton Grange Farmhouse dates from approximately 1780 and is in Georgian in character.
We have six cottages and twelve bedrooms here at Newton Grange Farm, with space for 24 people to stay.
Take your pick, from one cottage or several, and enjoy spending time amidst the rolling drumlin hills of Bank Newton.
A new year is upon us, full of hope and promise and perhaps ideas of things we'd love to be doing more of.
Taking time out for ourselves and our wellbeing has never felt so important. The past (almost two) years of the Pandemic have left many people feeling more worn-down than they might otherwise have been, with a need to renew energy levels.
Have you ever thought about practising Tai Chi?
Are you thinking ahead about where to visit during your stay here in North Yorkshire?
Harlow Carr Gardens in Harrogate is a super place and something with broad appeal across the generations.
On a recent visit this September, we enjoyed admiring the sculpture displays that have been added this year.
When you travel on holiday (or indeed set off from your own doorstep), do you delight in finding somewhere new or prefer the familiarity and predictability of places visited before?
I guess for many of us it's a mix. If we're taking a true staycation, that is to say, we are having a holiday at home - and perhaps enjoying days out together, often the excitement of the holiday comes in discovering somewhere new. This was exactly what we found on one of our summer holiday staycation weeks this year.
We travelled north east to the Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture Park - just over 1 hour's drive away from Newton Grange Cottages and located just outside the village of Grewelthorpe.
I found it captivating and atmospheric, and a place I could definitely have lingered longer.
Tucked away in Wharfedale, near the pretty settlements of Appletreewick and Skyreholme are Parceval Hall Gardens.
We discovered them one Sunday afternoon this summer. It was really to wonderful to be immersed in so much greenery.
It had been a number of years since I had visited, and at that time I had only seen the more formal gardens adjacent to the Hall itself.
This visit was entirely different.
With just over a week to go until the Cheese Festival in Yorkshire, it's not too late to plan your outing to one of the fabulous food and drink establishments that the Yorkshire Dales has to offer. Tuck in to some delicious cheeses. Try something new. Discover what products are made locally and select your favourite.
The festival takes place between Thusrday 7th and Sunday 10th October 2021.
What a fantastic week it has been in Yorkshire to enjoy time outdoors! Sunshine, abundant green spaces and simply beautiful summertime.
Our unique setting alongside the stunning waterways in Bank Newton opens up so many possibilities for fresh air and adventure right on the doorstep of Newton Grange Cottages and our sheep farm.
We hope that you'll enjoy our Adventure Video that we made in Spring - featured on our Facebook page.
One of this year's highlights was being asked to host some filming for the second series of "All Creatures Great and Small". Having loved watching the first series last Autumn, we were thrilled to be a small part of the production jigsaw this year.
Summer hay meadows, did you say? But it's December. Quite.
But I like to think back to six month's ago in June and midsummer days because even on the greyest of days, it cheers me up. I remember that sure enough spring appears leading in to those long summer days that I so cherish.
The setting of Newton Grange Holiday Cottages, adjacent to one of the most picturesque sections of the Leeds Liverpool Canal that you'll find, is so often commented upon by our guests as one of the best parts of their stay.
From easy and level walking along the canal towpath, through to taking some precious time out, our cottages are a popular choice for those seeking time to spend doing more of the things they love. Be this walking, reading, painting, drawing, enjoying a leisure picnic with family, practising Tai Chi and movement, or paddling on the waterways - we warmly invite you to stay at Newton Grange Cottages.
This Spring we loved making a video all about Wellbeing stays, which can be watched on our Facebook page. A selection of photographs capturing the essence of it are shared below.
Sometimes wintery weather does nothing to entice us outside to stretch our legs, and yet at other times it has the greatest appeal. I must admit, I love a good day hike in winter - provided I have all the right clothing and layers on, and am wrapped up to the elements. When crisp, winter days arrive with a morning ground frost and clear sky, the clarity of vision is superb - especially when the leaves from deciduous trees have long since fallen. Hiking in the Yorkshire Dales is a year-round activity for sure, you just need to be prepared.
This scene captures the essence of winter walking in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Our holiday cottages on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park near Skipton are a wonderful choice for groups of friends or extended families, to book their own cottage and have the chance to meet up together outside. Together time, and time to explore individually too.
Which cottages would I pair together?
I have heard it several times from returning guests and a friend who lives locally in Gargrave, the impact of travelling out of the town and the village to Bank Newton and how the stars hit you! There is very much less light pollution here at Newton Grange Farm, and in a similar way, this is the wide appeal of stargazing in the Yorkshire Dales National Park itself.
For a few years the National Park has promoted a Dark Skies Festival coinciding with February Half Term, and happily plans are forming for the Festival in 2021. Head's up that the dates are 12th - 28th February 2021 and the schedule of events will be forming between now and then. It is worth keeping an eye out on the Yorkshire Dales and Dark Skies websites to find out more.
It was a week day in September. Schools had just gone back. This felt like a monumental moment this year after the extended closures during the Lockdown and I think we were all glad about it, if a little apprehensive.
Most of the past few months had been our family of four at home, mainly, with me taking on the task of looking after the children round the clock and home-schooling and my husband working at the desk full time, with the occasional break or short lesson and some enjoyable lunchtimes together.
So just being my youngest daughter and I felt suddenly quiet, and we decided to go to Malham and arrive early (entirely possible with the school run starting 10 minutes earlier these days, with staged drop-offs). We were happy to meet my friend and her little boy there and catch up on each other's school summer holiday times. We took a walk through the village and up to the Cove and had a lovely time. We had the place almost entirely to ourselves, which was wonderful as it does help you to take in the beauty of the place even more.
Climb a hill
Take in the view
Look all around you
From me to you
And breathe in the air
It's fresh and crisp
Then you can tick
Wonderful Sharp Haw off your list
Skipton Castle Woods is a captivating place that we have loved spending time in this autumn. It is so close to the top of town and accessible from it, that it's quite possible to combine a visit to the High Street's Eateries with a walk in the woods.
When did you last discover the joy of puddle jumping?
Daily bread.
Many local food and drink businesses are offering vouchers as gifts for those looking to enjoy food and drink together - what better way to support local this Christmas.
I can hardly believe that it is the last day of November already. With each month that goes by, I wonder, how did that happen?
Thanks to my daughter's Primary School we became aware of Yesvember this year and it's a great thing. Have you heard of it? Saying YES to things that make us feel good, opportunities and positive moments.
Embsay Crag is a popular local summit a short distance from the market town of Skipton and North Yorkshire, where the effort a climb is soon rewarded by fantastic views.
Are you a Black Friday or Green Friday kind of person?
In the midst of home schooling in "Lockdown 1", the girls and I spent some time thinking about what we'd love to do when Lockdown was through. We wrote down these ideas on little sheets of paper and posted them in to our Wish Boxes, which we made from the Junk Modelling pile. We have enjoyed re-visiting them since.
Have you ever planted a tree?
Trees renew and rejuvenate our landscape, adding to its biodiversity.
Why not give the gift of tree planting and support the work of the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust?
Wharfedale is one of the closest Dales to us, home to the majestic River Wharfe and some idyllic villages.
This classic view of Upper Wharfedale is taken from the hill above Kettlewell. It is one of my favourites and a walking route including the views from this hill is included in our Cottage Walking Folders, helping you to have plentiful ideas of where to walk and discover during your stay.
What are your favourite books and films inspired by the landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales?
There are three books on my shelf that sprang to mind.
I highly recommend a visit to Castleberg Outdoors off the Market Place in Settle.
We visited recently for a new walking boot purchase for my husband, and then discovered the short walk and joy of climbing up Castleberg Crag for aerial views of this charming little town. A precious few hours just the two of us, followed by selecting some locally produced food in Booths to cook for our tea. Bliss.
Following the latest Government COVID-19 update and in particular the section on travel, Newton Grange Cottages will close from the evening of Wednesday 4 November 2020 until Wednesday 2 December 2020 to all guests with exception to any staying for essential work, education or other legally permitted purposes as per the guidance.
If you have a reservation with us and were due to arrive here in the lockdown period 4 November 2020 - 2 December 2020, you will be hearing from us this week by telephone or email.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all our guests and staff for your support over the past few months since re-opening in July. It has been a delight to welcome you back and we are truly grateful for your support in these unprecedented times.
We are really looking forward to seeing you again in the future when we are advised that we can re-open once more.
With our best wishes and thanks,
Rachael, Catherine and all the team at Newton Grange
3 November 2020
Do you know Wycoller Country Park?
When we arrived in the Trawden Road car park we asked ourselves, 'where is the Country Park?'
We followed the road to the village by walking down the hill and later discovered that the Country Park describes much of the area around Wycoller itself.
What did we love about Wycoller?
When you travel, do you look for something very different to home or something very similar?
At the end of the school holidays we found ourselves back in a favourite place we first went to several years ago. Returning this year, we felt so at home in the gloriously green, rolling landscapes on a working farm in the English Countryside and could relax straightaway, being away from our everyday commitments.
November and December, the time of year when the preparations for the festive season are well upon us and the calendar is packed full of local events every weekend in the run up to Christmas - from festive stalls through to running adventures, take your pick!
We love discovering the waterfalls of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. There is just something about being in nature and watching water cascading over waterfalls that transports your mind to another place and brings joy. Or is that just me?
Here are three North Yorkshire locations where our family has enjoyed discovering the beauty of waterfalls over the past year. So very often the setting of these waterfalls is accompanied by woodland, which I find brings a real sense of adventure, beauty and even story-telling amongst our little people as their imagination is ignited...are fairies real or not?
I hope we shall continue our discoveries of waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales - there are certainly many more gems to discover.
And if it's every been raining aplenty, we are in the north of England after all, well - the WONDERFUL news is that waterfalls often look their best after a good downpour. Just remember sturdy footwear, full waterproofs and to check the weather forecast before you set out.
I wrote a poem today that I'd love to share with you.
There's a buzz about Bank Newton
I can feel it in the air
Celebrities descending
Our fields they wanted to share
We are delighted to hear the news that Yorkshire has been recognised as a World Class Cycling Destination by the World Governing Body for cycling, the Union Cyclist Internationale (UCI), in its recent accolade of a 'UCI Bike Region'.
Well done to everybody involved in promoting cycling in our region, much enjoyed by many.
The status of a UCI Bike Region is given to locations that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to growing and promoting everyday cycling and to hosting major UCI cycling events.
It is great news, too, to learn that the Tour De Yorkshire is returning to the region again next May, this time for 4 days not 3. Watch this space for more information on the Tour de Yorkshire taking place from Thursday 3rd May until Sunday 6th May 2018.
Fountains Abbey - if you haven't been before, go! Located near Ripon and cared for by the National Trust, it is an awe-inspiring place and somewhere that I simply love to go. I never tire of visits there, and so much so, I returned from a visit this weekend thinking that it is certainly up there as one of 'my happy places'. Why?
Changing seasons offer a sense of delight in the natural world. As the end of summer approaches and the very beginning of autumn arrives, I am reminded of a wonderfully atmospheric walk I took one morning from Newton Grange a few years ago in the first week of October.
Taking a walk along the Leeds Liverpool Canal towpath in Bank Newton last week, I enjoyed pausing to take some photographs of the canal locks and their wonderful setting. It is always a joy to potter along the canal towpath, to watch canal boats travelling through the locks in Bank Newton and to marvel at the feat of engineering that the Leeds Liverpool Canal is.
Kilnsey Show was a great fun-filled day on Tuesday. The setting of the showfield in Upper Wharfedale never ceases to impress and the landscape is as inspiring as it is beautiful. The day was action-packed from classes being judged in the morning, through to Falcony displays, the sound of the brass band playing, and watching Kilnsey Sports in the afternoon. A very big well done to all the organising team and to all those who entered the show too. Here are a few photographs from our day out.
Here in Bank Newton we are lucky enough to have an abundance of space, plenty of green fields to play out in and patios to sit on. From the doorstep of the holiday cottages you can enjoy peaceful, canalside walks to see historic canal bridges and swans gliding along the water. In springtime we love seeing the bright yellow daffodils and pretty spring flowers. We look forward to the arrival of newborn lambs as the sheep and lambs move outside of the lambing sheds in to the surrounding pastures. A popular bridleway runs through the farm where horses and riders enjoy hacking out on. We are a working farm, with tractors and sheep dogs. We have fresh air aplenty and room to breathe. You can enjoy a network of footpaths from the doorstep of the cottage, including the Pennine Way national trail. Bank Newton is wonderfully rural and a perfect antidote to busy lives.
Our delightful cottages are in different shapes and sizes and include one, two and three bedroom units. Some of the cottages have ground floor bedrooms and two are entirely on the ground floor.
Here are a selection of photographs taken in March this year that capture our setting, and the holiday cottages we have.
Tomorrow marks the First Day of August - Yorkshire Day. It's a time to celebrate the wonderful county that we live in. As celebrations commence throughout the county, here is a flavour of the events taking place to mark the occasion.
Fancy that! Today is a day of the year especially dedicated to Teddy Bear Picnics. My daughter would love that.
I was reminded the other day of the joy that is climbing a new summit for the first time. Of the rewarding feeling that you get when you get to the top of a hill, a ridge with a wonderful panorama or perhaps, even, a great big mountain.
I was driving along and saw two of Yorkshire’s ‘three’ iconic peaks – Pen-y-ghent and Ingleborough – from the roadside. So I pulled over, and stopped to grab my camera and take a few photographs. I wasn’t hiking that day, or even planning to, but I wanted just to pause and capture them on camera. It reminded me of the two occasions when I walked the Yorkshire Dales Three Peaks and loved the sense of achievement and stunning views along the way.
So here they are…
This weekend saw the arrival of the Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival to our family's very own Funkirk Farm, just outside Skipton, for the very first time. It was a fantastic weekend with a vibrant atmosphere. Here is a flavour of what we discovered over the weekend.
Today, the 21st June, is Midsummer’s Day when we recognise the Summer Solstice and the longest day of daylight in the northern hemisphere.
For me, Midsummer’s Day has often been a day that has been long awaited in the middle of winter when I crave daylight – and sunshine – more than ever. Now today we have daylight in abundance – the longest period of time between sunrise and sunset. I am thankful.
Have you ever been totally blown away by nature and thought to yourself, isn’t this magical? I can hardly believe how beautiful the natural world can be.
When you have moments like this you can be transported to a place of serenity and quiet awe. I had a moment like this on Saturday. I discovered the magic of woodland carpeted in bright bluebells.
Newton Grange Farm is a 240 acre working sheep farm that has been in our family since the 1980s. The farm is a mixture of grassland for grazing our sheep flock and woodland copses and shelter belts which support a range of bird life.
The farm came back in hand in 2000 when a period of restoration and renewal began, first updating the Grade II listed buildings – the farmhouse and the Chapel – and later converting some of the farm buildings in to self catering cottages.
Who doesn't like a cup of tea?
There's something soothing about having your favourite brew in hand. And teas take on many forms these days. Traditional English Breakfast tea, Earl Grey tea (Caffeinated and Decaffeinated varieties of course - I'm definitely with the former..), as well as varieties of herbal teas. My favourites are Peppermint and I love a Lemon and Ginger tea too.
Why is tea drinking so symbolic?
Today is 'Tell a Story Day'. Here is a little about me and my story of what I love about living and working at Newton Grange.
Together with my parents Catherine and John, and with the fantastic support of my husband and family, I feel so fortunate to look after Newton Grange Farm and to welcome guests to stay here from all over the world.
Today is national 'Look up at the Sky Day', a day to step outdoors look upwards and take it all in.
Read on for inspiration about activities to do from the doorstep of Newton Grange and those within a 10 minute, 20 minute and 1 hour drive.
There are some great activities to do in the Yorkshire Dales this February Half Term. Here’s a sneak preview of some of our favourite suggestions:
It's always great to see the new set of Farm Stay Brochures - available for all guests in our cottages and B&B rooms to browse and take home with them. Farm Stay is a brilliant network of accommodation found in delightful, rural settings throughout the country - often on working farms. From Bed and Breakfasts to holiday cottages to glamping and static caravans there is a wide choice of accommodation. It's a very easy go-to guide to browse through when you're planning a trip away, and a great signpost for internet searches too! Farm Stay also has a website with online availability and booking for many of the accommodation providers. We highly recommend discovering some unique and special places to stay throughout the country, and especially in Yorkshire of course!
And the silk inside a chestnut shell
Jetplanes in the air to be refuelled
All these things I love so well
So I mustn't forget
No, I mustn't forget
To say a great big
Thank You
I mustn't forget...
Newton Grange Farm has two listed buildings on it - Newton Grange Farmhouse and The Chapel House. Both are Grade II listed. We thought it would be interesting to look a little further in to local history - with the help of an archaeologist friend, we found out some interesting things.
Combine a day's walking in the fresh air, stunning scenery, the warmth of sunshine on my face, a touch of physical geography, and the fabulous company of friends and I could not be happier. Here in the Yorkshire Dales we are blessed with dramatic landscapes, none more so than our recent day out to the Norber Erratics near Austwick.
A new year is upon us. A chance to pause and reflect, and perhaps to plan ahead too and make 2017 the year when we take part in something that takes us out of our comfort zone and try something new. We have put together a list of a a few challenge events taking place close to home in the next few months - many of which include some cycling, it really has taken the Dales by storm! Others promise a lot of mud, grit and the promise of fantastic team work and morale - namely the ever popular Tough Mudder event taking place ten minutes away from us, on the Broughton Hall Estate. We hope you enjoy a year of new experiences and adventure. If you're taking part in these events or others, or part of invaluable support crews and spectators, we hope you enjoy yourselves and have fun.
We enjoyed a fun family day out last month, making the most of sustainable travel from our doorstep. The day began at Gargrave station, less than 1 1/2 miles across the fields from Newton Grange (along the Pennine Way footpath), or in our case, a 2 mile drive to the free station car park in order to transport everything we needed for the day. Including a bucket and spade, of course!
Now the sun is shining brightly we are ever brimming with excitement at a fun-filled summer of local events in the Yorkshire Dales and the chance to discover something new. With last weekend's fabulous Le Petit Depart from Skipton and the fabulous Malham Safari Trail the weekend before, we feel so thankful to have the picturesque Yorkshire Dales on our doorstep and so many fun things to do.
So what is coming up next, and what can we look forward to?
It was SOOOO lovely to see these smiling faces staying at Newton Grange this weekend - Horses on holiday in the sunshine.
It was a great lambing season at Newton Grange Farm this spring, with fine weather (mostly) and a fantastic team of Veterinary students from Glasgow and Nottingham Universities. Some of the students even featured in our local newspaper, the Craven Herald - great to see, and very well done on all your hard work. The lambs are flourishing in the fields.
The Yorkshire Dales is a wonderful outdoor playground for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Here are a few ideas for ways to enjoy the fresh air and outdoor landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales.
Why not start with geocaching? Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. To take part you seek to navigate to a set of GPS coordinates and try to find the geocache (container) hidden there. Check out details for fun Geocaching in Yockenthwaite.
We're looking forward to going to Gargrave Show on Saturday - the 22nd August. Situated on the field in front of Eshton Hall just outside the village, it is a picturesque place for a country, family day out. It reminded me of last year, when we enjoying seeing the animals, watching the fell race and show jumping, activities in the main ring, and looking around the handicrafts tent.
We look back on a handful of photographs from last year are looking forward to exploring the show again this year, a real community event and family day out in Yorkshire.
August is marching along and there's still time to enjoy exploring the Yorkshire Dales this school holidays. I had a think about some of the lovely things to do in the area, and soon came up with these. In no particular order...
Take a walk through Strid Wood on the Bolton Abbey Estate and meet the Bodger, a skilled craftsman who makes traditional tools out of woodland products.
We were really inspired recently to see this fabulous collection of widlife photography. It captures the wildlife of the Yorkshire Dales at its very best. Photographs are displayed courtesy of www.wilddales.co.uk, copyright Simon Philpotts. We hope you'll enjoy.
Golden Plover - copyright Simon Philpotts - www.wilddales.co.uk
We're really proud of our new badges from Visit England and lots of lovely comments from the assessor in the reports. Well done to all the Newton Grange team for your hard work and dedication.
If you're looking for a UK holiday on a shoestring this year, then why choose Yorkshire?
For those looking for a UK Cycling Holiday, Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Dales are ever more on the map, and for good reason. The county has a wonderful variety of landscapes to experience up close. Cycling is a perfect way to enjoy them. When planning a Yorkshire cycling holiday or just a family cycle ride and day out, where do you go to seek inspiration?
Here is our favourite website for inspiration, and three cycle routes in Yorkshire that showcase the landscapes close to home that we love.
I can hardly believe it's almost a year since the Grand Depart of the Tour de France in Yorkshire last July. For two days over a weekend in July 2014, crowds of people turned out to watch the Grand Depart, cheering at the side of the road as the tour caravans and cyclists passed by. It was a sight to behold and one that "Yorkshire" was rightly proud of. Christian Prudhomme, Director of A. S. O described it as "The Grandest ever Grand Depart". Quite an accolade.
As I look back at photographs from the weekend, I begin to wonder if the event was a watershed in the Yorkshire visitor economy - bringing Yorkshire on to the world stage as the landscapes of Yorkshire are showcased to a global audience, and attracting more and more visitors to visit.
Do you ever feel the need to sit and do nothing? Or almost nothing.
Learning to switch off and slow down can be quite a skill to master in today's world of 24-7 round-the-clock connectivity. I find that removing distractions helps and taking myself away from the household chores. In the summertime I dream of escaping to a place outdoors with nothing other than a book to read and perhaps a blanket to sit on. A chance to unwind and let my mind drift in to the stories on the pages.
Planning a three day break in Yorkshire without your car may seem like a headache - and not a holiday at all. But I usually find that many things in life can be achieved with a good dose of common sense, a sense of adventure and a little planning.
So first of all, what are your fears if you leave your car behind?
I love being outside and feeling the sun on my face, listening to the birds, walking on the grass, breathing in. And it's a joy to share the outdoors with little one's too.
We had a lovely time following the Malham Safari Trail through this pretty Dales village. For five days at the beginning of the Spring Bank Holiday, Malham was adorned with sculptures, animals and a collection of painted walking boots, which were dotted around the village making up a fun trail for all the family.
I loved seeing the polar bears and penguins.
My favourite ingredient to be used in baking at the moment is ginger. Stem ginger. It lives in a jar (full of syrup to preserve the ginger) and can be sliced and diced to provide the most delicious flavour to cakes and biscuits. Ginger is such a versatile ingredient - fresh root ginger can be an amazing, zingy edition to a stir fry!
Lovingly wrapped and ready for our cottage holidaymakers, these stem gingernuts are a fixture on the Bank Newton menu at the moment. For eating alone...or dunking in a cup of tea. Bliss.
So, how do I make them?
We had a fabulous day out to Hesketh Farm Park at Bolton Abbey earlier this month, and as a farmer's daughter, I loved it!
I sometimes find that my attention span for taking on board new facts and figures is limited these days, but there was so much to take note of at Hesketh, and to learn about that I couldn't help but come away thinking about the collective noun for owls! Not that we saw owls there, just that we learnt about the name.
The little owl below is an owl by itself, but if there were several owls together, they'd be called 'a parliament of owls' - what a grand term!
Little Owl - Copyright: Simon Philpotts, www.wilddales.org.uk
But why is a group of owls called a parliament?
Newton Grange Cottages are a hidden gem, nestled on a working sheep farm in the small hamlet of Bank Newton, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
To celebrate our ten year anniversary since opening, we've given the cottages a facelift and we're thrilled with the results. Our 2015 refurbishment has added lots of comfort, making the cottages a cosy retreat all year round.
We're delighted to be sponsoring the Dales Discoveries Treasure Hunt this summer. With entries open from this week, it's time to get out and explore the Dales like never before!
I’m delighted to introduce you to Sonia Strumpfer, one of our holidaymakers from South Africa enjoying an extended vacation and working holiday here in North Yorkshire. Sonia’s drawings from Newton Grange really captured my eye. We hope you’ll enjoy them too.
What a delight to see the lambs out enjoying the sunshine today in the fields. I thought you'd like to see a few photographs of the new arrivals here at Newton Grange.
We are delighted to introduce David Fitch from Airedale Cruising. Providing day trips for small groups on the Leeds Liverpool Canal is a memorable addition to your Yorkshire holiday and stay at Newton Grange. Read on to find out more.
Hi, I’m David, the owner of narrowboat Lizzie-Jean, moored in Skipton. When I’d completed fitting out the boat I realized that she might spend most of her time moored-up because members of my family are not as free as I am to go boating. So I started Airedale Cruising to help other people enjoy the canal world as much as I do. Many folk have always fancied a day out on a canal but are nervous about all the responsibilities involved in taking out a hire boat – so I provide leisurely Skippered Cruises involving both Lizzie-Jean and me!
Do you prefer a mini-expedition or a gentle stroll?
