Staycations are the buzz of the moment. We’ve got animals in mind with this selection - from horses to hens
From the breathtaking beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors to the sandy beaches of the Yorkshire Coast, our county is varied and vast. So much to explore now that we can grab that longed-for staycation.
The great outdoors means long walks, new places to discover and the chance to support local businesses who’ve had it tough these past few months of pandemic.
Staying close means bringing the family – dogs included. We’ve given our staycation hunt an animal theme – stay on a farm or at a dog-friendly cottage.
Bring the horse, bring the hamster even or just have some time out with an alpaca!
DOG-FRIENDLY HOLIDAYS
Beverley
Broadgate Farm Cottages
All of the five-star eco cottages here are dog-friendly with private enclosed gardens. These luxury self-catering cottages are set in the Yorkshire Wolds two miles from the market town of Beverley and convenient for Hull. They can sleep from four-12 people and have stunning views across the fields.
The Forge is particularly lovely with a private lawned garden, and a wood burner and underfloor heating for the colder months. It’s perfect for a couple or family of four with prices starting from £500 a week.
broadgatefarmcottages.co.uk
Halifax
Holdsworth House Hotel
This four-star manor on the edge of Halifax dates back to 1633 and is set in three acres of secluded grounds. Dogs are very welcome here with walks in abundance just a short drive, including Shibden Hall and Park, notable as home to Anne Lister, the muse of the BBC costume drama Gentleman Jack. Haworth, Bronte Country and The Railway Children station at Oxenhope are close by too. Dogs are also welcome in the Piece Hall in Halifax, just three miles away. One night including dinner, bed and breakfast starts at £119 per room, based on two people sharing with an additional £10 per dog.
holdsworthhouse.co.uk
WALK WITH ALPACAS AND LLAMAS
Swaledale
Hazel Brow
Nestled on the side of the valley in the village of Low Row, near Richmond, this eight-bedroom period residence offers spacious and exclusive accommodation for up to 15 guests. Perfect for a post-lockdown get-together if you’ve got two large families. Residents can meet and help feed the alpacas which live on site, along with the sheep and geese.
A must-do activity is to walk the alpacas around the village – £60 for 1½ hours. Hazel Brow also has a private footpath down to the river which joins with a network of paths leading to other nearby villages. Dogs are also welcome. The entire house can be rented from £1,355 for two nights mid-week.
hazelbrow.co.uk
Pateley Bridge
Nidderdale Llamas
If you’re planning a stay anywhere near Pateley Bridge, a visit to Nidderdale Llamas should be on your to-do list. They’re one of the top attractions in the whole of Yorkshire, according to Tripadvisor, offering llama trekking and alpaca walking all year and have featured on The Yorkshire Vet.
Prices start from £39 for a scenic farm trek for two people, but you do need to book in advance.
nidderdalellamas.org
They don’t have accommodation on-site but we’ve found a couple of beautiful properties in Harrogate so you could make your llama experience part of a break exploring this beautiful spa town.
Both are two bedroom apartments with the option for twin beds in one room for children.
Harlow Apartment is a pet-friendly property is right across the road from the Valley Gardens park with prices starting from £150 per night for a three-night stay.
No dog? Opt for Prospect Crescent Apartments, overlooking the heart of town and Bettys Café. From £175 per night for a three-night stay.
nightspace.co.uk
CANAL BOATING WITH CANINES (OR HAMSTERS)
What better way to explore beautiful Yorkshire than by the county’s secret waterways. There’s beautiful scenery, welcoming pubs, walks up into the hills and history all around you.
Shire Cruisers welcome dogs on their boats and you can even bring other family pets, many hamsters have enjoyed meandering down the Calder and Hebble and Rochdale Canal. Their craftsman-built and carefully maintained narrowboats have everything you need for a staycation with a difference – comfortable beds, quality equipment and well-planned accommodation with the freedom to moor up in a new and different place each night.
They’ll recommend the best route for you based on your experience, with beginners welcome. Prices for a long weekend start from £600.
shirecruisers.co.uk
HOLIDAYING WITH YOUR HORSE
‘Going on holiday with your horse gives you both the chance to unwind together and return to normal life reinvigorated.
As all horse-riders know, ‘the wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears’, and this is nowhere truer than in the national parks and other beautiful landscapes of Yorkshire,’ says Janet Cochrane, director, Ride Yorkshire
The demand for places to stay with horses certainly seems to be increasing, whether it’s a comfortable base to relax away from everyday stresses doing gentle rides or exploring further afield and doing more challenging trail-rides.
Says Janet, ‘People tend to go away with a friend or partner, or with a group of girlfriends who share a love of horses.’
Stape, near Pickering
Rawcliffe House Farm
Located in gentle hills a few miles from Pickering, in the North York Moors National Park, this hideaway offers several options for self-catering accommodation. The house and cottages are surrounded by more than 40 acres of their own land, with nothing but woods and fields in each direction. Rawcliffe House is well within the ‘Dark Skies’ zone of the National Park, so you are guaranteed tranquillity and freedom from light pollution. Each of their four cottages can accommodate between two to seven people. For shopping and evening meals there are several country pubs locally and in the bustling market town of Pickering. A quiet, sheltered paddock is available for horses and excellent riding in the National Park is easily accessed from here.
Prices start from around £600 per person for a week-long stay in one of the cottages, with an additional charge for the horses. Shorter breaks are also available.
rawcliffehousefarm.co.uk
Easington, East Riding of Yorkshire
South Riding Farm and Barn
This peaceful corner of Yorkshire is the place to live the dream of cantering along the beach with the sea breeze blowing past your ears. The centre is a wonderful place to bring your own horse on holiday, with beach rides on the doorstep and easy access to long bridleways and quiet lanes. There’s stabling on site, turn-out during the day, indoor and outdoor arenas, a cross-country course – and you can book a lesson with a resident instructor.
Riders stay in a three-bedroomed self-catering converted barn which sleeps up to eight people, while the horses stay in pleasant stables. Dogs are welcome here too, with a safe, fenced-off run-around area. Prices start from around £220 for three nights, plus £10 per horse per night (which includes use of the facilities).
southridingholidaybarn.co.uk
If you’re not lucky enough to own your own horse, there are several trekking centres in Yorkshire where you can stay on site or nearby and do trail-rides of different lengths.
Visit rideyorkshire.org to find out more.
STAY ON A FARM
Grantley, Ripon
Little Seed Field
This fabulous farm is currently owned by fourth-generation farmers with a 200-strong dairy herd, so calving time between September and December is a busy period, with lots of little faces to see on the farm. It boasts purpose-built glamping cabins and offers the perfect base for exploring the countryside or heading out to nearby Ripon.
There are shared bathroom facilities in a separate amenities building along with a kitchenette facility. Prices from £65 per cabin per night, based on two people sharing.
yorkshiredalesglamping.co.uk
Ripon
Mallard Grange Farmhouse B&B
If you prefer home comforts, this old and quirky farmhouse might better suit you. Historically linked to the nearby Fountains Abbey World Heritage Site, it offers a taste of country living. They have their own free-range hens, keep bees (whose honey you’ll enjoy for breakfast), and make their own marmalade and jams from fruit in the garden.
With four en-suite bedrooms it’s the perfect base for getting away from the crowds and exploring the many delights the county has to offer. Prices range from £99 to £130 for a double room for two people including breakfast.
mallardgrange.co.uk
Flixton, Scarborough
Humble Bee Farm
This fabulous working farm is great for families and offers a wide choice of accommodation including cottages, pods, yurts and wigwams. It’s well situated for exploring the majestic moors and wonderful Wolds, while there’s plenty to do on site too. The working farm includes walks, a nature trail, bird hide, bug hotel, football area, shop and duck pond.
Children can collect eggs from the henhouse which you can then cook for breakfast, you can watch the farmer tending to the animals, feed the hens, cows, sheep and pigs. Glamping prices start at £92 per night for a family.
humblebeefarm.co.uk
