A Farm Stay with Games Barn & Eco Spa (Yorkshire Hideaways)

This is an advert for January 2024 and based on a visit in January 2024 by our writer Gaia. Any edits / shares beyond this date have not been asked or paid for. As always, check with venue direct for the most up to date information. 




Yorkshire Hideaways offer hand-picked cottages across Yorkshire. Expect personal service and a team who will go the extra mile with local knowledge, exceptional reviews and 24/7 support. Gaia booked with Yorkshire Hideaways and stayed at West Shaw Cote Cottage - a stunning dog friendly cottage on a farm in the Yorkshire Dales. Here's how she got on........ 



Our Weekend near Wensleydale with Yorkshire Hideaways


We set off for Wensleydale on a grey January morning, hoping for a weekend of fun family time and maybe even a bit of relaxation in the beautiful North Yorkshire dales.

We stayed in a beautiful converted barn on a 27 acre farm in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, hoping to really get away from it all, and we definitely did! 


Highlights:

  • Cosy country cottage in beautiful location
  • Sleeps 4 across 2 bedrooms 
  • Farm animals on the property which you can feed (they'll have lambs soon!)
  • Eco spa with stunning views
  • Well equipped modern country kitchen with Nespresso machine
  • Incredible views across Wensleydale
  • Patio and garden area where you can eat alfresco and enjoy the scenery
  • Games barn with pool table, table football and air hockey
  • Really comfy beds, we all slept so well 
  • One well behaved dog is welcome (garden is not secure and farm animals nearby so keep dog on lead outside)
  • Ideal for visiting nearby Forbidden Corner or Wensleydale 
  • Loads of board games for all ages are provided as well as books, dvds 
  • Electric vehicle charging available
  • Cot and high chair available 


Check in/parking

Check in is via lockbox outside the property (or you're let in by the owner, who lives next door).

There is parking available for two cars. The property is remote, and not accessible by public transport. 



Getting there

If you're driving down to West Shaw Cote from the North is to head to Catterick, come off the A1 there and not at Richmond as we did. Then you'll stick to main roads and not little winding country lanes. It's around a 1 hour 40 minute drive from Newcastle. 



We stopped off at Leyburn for lunch and supplies which turned out to be a really great idea. We filled up on tasty roast beef and gravy sandwiches and chips at Posthorn tearoom, and popped into the Coop for supplies to keep us going all weekend. This was just as well as we ended hunkering down in the cottage thanks to the storms!


About West Shaw Cote

We were warmly welcomed by Jo, the owner of the cottage who lives next door and was so lovely during our stay, nothing was too much. I'd told her that we were excited to see her animals so she let us get settled and then took the kids to the hen coop to collect eggs.




The hens roam freely around the farm and you can buy their fresh eggs from Jo. We also fed the pig and played fetch with the two spaniels, who are really friendly and love to be stroked and to chase a ball.








Jo showed us around (including showing us the waterfall opposite the cottage) and took us into the barn, which we were delighted to learn is a games barn! It has a pool table, table football, air hockey and you're free to play whenever you like. 






Kitchen


The cottage itself is lovely, with a fantastic kitchen with everything you could possibly need for cooking and baking as well as loads of (gorgeous) crockery and cutlery, which I always love as you don't need to wash up constantly. 




There's a dishwasher and all the tablets and washing up liquid is provided. There's also a Nespresso machine with a milk frother and pods provided, and if you need more these can be purchased from Jo.




 The welcome pack included a bottle of wine and homemade brownies, which were delicious. There is a dining table with four chairs in the kitchen. A high chair can be provided at no additional cost.



Living room


The living room is super cosy, it has a log burner with plenty of logs and coal provided, big comfy sofas and armchairs and stunning views across Wensleydale. 




There's a smart TV and a great collection of DVDs and board games. We enjoyed playing Guess Who together and the kids loved making elaborate marble runs with the set provided. 




We watched loads of movies as there was torrential rain and gale force winds during our visit! It was the cosiest place to hunker down and stay warm, spending quality family time.





Bedrooms and bathroom 


On the first floor there are two bedrooms, one is the master and has a solid oak driftwood bed, which was super comfortable as well as looking amazing. 








The other bedrooms can be configured as a double or twin beds, and both have fantastic views, lovely decor and cosy, comfy beds. There's also a lovely big bathroom with a free standing shower and separate bath.



Eco spa

There's an onsite eco spa with a sauna (with the best views of any sauna I've ever been in!), punge pool and a wood fired hot tub which can be booked on arrival (additional charge - 2 hour sessions). There's also a changing area with a shower and toilet.



We visited it in the middle of storm Isha, so it was lashing down with rain, but that made it a welcome relief to hop in the sauna and hot tub to warm up.


It would be even more amazing on a clear day as you can see right across Wensleydale from the eco spa.


Extras

From Easter to late summer there is a homemade meals menu the owners offer whilst you stay at the cottage, including cooked breakfasts and amazing curries. These can be booked during your stay. 


Things to do nearby

The market town of Hawes (market day-Tuesday) is home to Wensleydale Creamery visitors centre and is the closest town to the cottage, whilst nearby Hardraw Force, England's largest single drop waterfall, is a perfect way to fill the day walking.

Just 25 minutes east is the historic town of Leyburn which a range of of shops, pubs and cafes, we ate at Posthorn tearoom which had a good range of homecooked meals and cakes. Wensleydale Railway is also close to Leyburn


The Forbidden Corner makes a great day out for all the family and is home to the Saddle Room restaurant, perfect to wine and dine your evening away.


Sedbergh is situated just 30 minutes west and is a must visit for anyone who loves the outdoors. You can walk, run, cycle, golf and even horse ride to your hearts content whilst you take in the "Proper Yorkshire air"!!


About Yorkshire Hideaways

Yorkshire Hideaways manages a selection of holiday cottages across three National Parks and three areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with plenty of options whether you want a romantic break for two, a family holiday or a dog friendly stay in Yorkshire. 

  

With three National Parks and three areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Yorkshire Hideaways have a great selection of relaxing holiday cottages perfect for exploring this stunning county.

Their holiday cottages are perfectly located to make exploring the wonderful places and spaces of Yorkshire truly memorable. Whether you’re planning on a short weekend break or a week long family holiday there is plenty to explore and properties to suit all your needs.


Conclusion

We had a really lovely weekend in Wensleydale. It was really relaxing not having to go anywhere or do anything, knowing that we had the games barn, eco spa and board games and movies to keep us entertained.

Yorkshire Hideaways made the booking process easy, and even called us to make sure we could access the property (as there was snow & ice). This cottage is gorgeous and the owner is really helpful and friendly. We made memories, and will definitely be back to check out more of Wensleydale.


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