The house is surrounded by rolling countryside. We are only 1.5 Miles from an excellent local Pub serving delicious food.
The Granary is just 5 miles from the historic town of Malton (10 minute drive) and 7 miles from Pickering and the North York Moors where countless good eateries, pubs and bars, a cinema, museums and a steam train to mention just a few attractions are open to all.
A 25 mile drive brings you to Scarborough and Filey (35 minutes) and only a little further at 28 miles is Whitby. York is just half an hour away, the beautiful town of Helmsley only 20 minutes and Castle Howard 10 minutes.
Location wise we provide an excellent base from which to explore, walk, cycle or just relax and unwind. The Granary owners who live next door will be on hand to offer advice and local knowledge having both been brought up in the local area.
Just a few suggestions on what to do are shown below, including links to each one for more information.
Ryedale's Market Towns
Malton – a pretty, bustling town with 'proper' livestock markets every Tuesday and Friday, monthly farmers' markets and Saturday general markets. 'Yorkshire's Food Capital' has great local produce, cafes, restaurants and regular food markets. It has an array of traditional shops with butchers, deli's, grocers, auctioneers and a fishmonger as well as a major supermarket. Spend a lovely afternoon strolling around the independent antiques dealers, collectables shops, rope-makers, clothes and home accessories shops.
Pickering – meander around the local shops, antique centre, and see the steam trains in this ancient, small and very pretty town. You can take a ride on the steam train from here across the moors to Whitby or stop on the way and explore the Moors and villages on the way. There is also the Beck Isle Museum or Pickering Castle to explore.
Helmsley – recently won the 'best market town in Britain' award and the perfect day-trip destination. A bustling market square is towered over by the remains of Helmsley Castle, it even has its own outdoor pool, galleries and arts centre, a walled garden and luxury spa. Plenty of excellent places to eat and spoil yourself. It is also home to the magnificent Helmsley Walled Garden.
Kirbymoorside – another delightful market town not too far away. It has a picturesque main street littered with small shops, cafes, pubs, a deli, butchers, antique shops and home ware.
Nearby Towns
York is well worth a day trip and is bursting with history, shopping opportunities and lovely restaurants. The magnificent York Minster dominates the skyline and there is a wealth of historic houses and museums to visit such as The National Railway Museum, the Castle Museum set around a recreated Victorian street, The Yorkshire Museum set in the beautiful Museum Gardens focusing on buried treasures and natural history, and the Yorvik Centre and York Dungeon. Or just walk around the city on its famous walls and soak up the atmosphere of the historic streets such as The Shambles and Stonegate. It will take between 35 and 45 minutes to drive there depending on the traffic.
Harrogate is a beautiful historic spa town, a little further away as it will take up to an hour to drive there. It has an excellent selection of shops and places to eat, glorious gardens, the world famous Betty's tea rooms and of course the Turkish Baths. Harlow Carr, the most northerly RHS garden is found here and is one of the most interesting gardens in Yorkshire.
The Coast Filey and Scarborough are our nearest beaches. Whitby isn't far away either and a host of smaller fishing villages dot the coast in between.
Filey is a traditional fishing town with an amazing 5 mile stretch of beach. Surfing, fishing, walking, yachting, amusements and good fish and chips on offer here.
Scarborough is a larger seaside destination, divided into two bays both with blue flag beaches. It has a traditional seaside holiday feel. The North Bay contains fun parks, with attractions like Peasholm Park, Miniature North Bay Railway and the Scarborough Sea Life Centre and a beautiful sandy beach. The South Bay has the harbour filled with fishing boats as well as lots of cafes, restaurants, amusement arcades and shops. Scarborough old town has its pretty streets and there is the imposing Scarborough Castle overlooking both bays and worth a trip for the amazing views.
Whitby is steeped in history. Enjoy the beach here, or climb the 199 steps that lead up to the magnificent ruins of Whitby Abbey and St. Mary's church whose churchyard gave Bram Stoker the inspiration to write Dracula. Explore the maze of alleyways that run down to the busy quayside, learn about Captain Cook, the Scoresby whaling family and hunt for Whitby jet. Fish and chips here is a must, sitting overlooking the harbour.
The beach at Whitby runs north for a couple of miles to Sandsend which is a charming seaside village. Drive here for easy access to the beach below, and usually a quieter option than Scarborough and Whitby.
Robin Hood's Bay is a jumble of white-washed cottages tumbling down a steep hill. The pretty fishing village is pedestrian only so park at the top and walk down the cobbled street to the harbour below.
Runswick Bay is another village that appears to be rising out of the sea up into the cliffs. Very picturesque and with a wide sweeping sandy bay that is one of the prettiest beaches on the East coast.
The Moors The North York Moors is a special place, forged by nature, shaped over generations – where peace and beauty rub shoulders with a rich history and a warm welcome
North York Moor's National Park is perfect for walkers and cyclists and the stunning scenery of the moors can be enjoyed from the car, or pulling up by a stream for a picnic and a paddle. Only 20 minutes by car.
Stately Homes, Castles and Gardens
Less than 10 minutes away is the stunning Castle Howard, set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and home to the Howard family. The house is open from mid March and all sorts of events take place throughout the year. In winter you can take woodland walks and view the stunning gardens or visit the Stable Courtyard shops and café. You can also walk in the Yorkshire Arboretum opposite.
Duncombe Park is one of Yorkshire’s foremost historic houses and estates, and home to the Duncombe family. The house is closed to the public, but the spectacular landscaped garden, and the surrounding parkland are open to visitors most of the year. It is set on the outskirts of Helmsley, a charming market town and is also home to the National Centre for Birds of Prey which has the largest collection of birds of prey in the north.
Nunnington Hall, Scampston Hall and Gardens, Rievaulx Abbey, Rievaulx Terrace and Temples and Ampleforth Abbey are just a few more wonderful sites within half an hour's drive.
More Places to Explore
Yorkshire Lavender is a multi-award winning lavender farm 20 minutes away, set in the pretty village of Terrington in the Howardian Hills. A lavender garden and specialist plant nursery, a pleasant afternoon can be spent wandering around the beautiful gardens, maze and sculptures enjoying the fabulous views and sampling the products. Tel: 01653 648 008 www.yorkshirelavendar.com
Dalby Forest known as 'The Great Yorkshire Forest' offers miles of footpaths, bike trails, cafes and an activity centre. It also has a Go Ape and Tree Top Adventure – the award winning high wire forest adventure course of rope bridges, swings and zips as well as bike and Segway hire. Dalby Forest is around 20 minutes drive away and you can find out more by clicking here.
Eden Camp is a multi-award winning modern history themed museum housed within the buildings and grounds of a former Prisoner of War camp. It covers the history of the British Military in the 20th century. On our doorstep, Eden Camp is only 5 minutes drive away. For more information see here www.edencamp.co.uk
Only a couple of miles away, Flamingoland, one the UK's largest zoo and theme parks is right on our doorstep. You can choose adrenaline-fuelled thrills including the record-breaking Mumbo Jumbo, featuring the world’s steepest drop! Or see tigers from the tropical forests of South East Asia, giraffes from sub-Saharan Africa, Penguin Coast, sea lion shows and farm animals, complete with regular animal handling sessions and talks by the park's zoo keepers. Visit www.flamingoland.co.uk for info
Places to Eat
There are dozens of good restaurants and pubs in the area serving excellent food. Some of our nearest choices are listed below, with links through to their websites for more information:
The Grapes Inn, Great Habton 01653 669166. Serving excellent pub food, but please book ahead. Tuesdays to Thursdays feature either a special 'Steak Night' (£10 for Sirloin, £14.95 for fillet) or 'Pie Night' (£6 for a really tasty chicken or steak pie) or eat off the main menu and daily specials board. Closed Mondays.
The Grapes Inn, Slingsby 01653 628076. Popular pub name! Serving wonderful home-cooked, award-winning food in beautiful surroundings. Great atmosphere, especially on Friday nights! Booking essential.
The White Swan, Pickering 01751 472288. A 16th century coaching inn with a restaurant serving Yorkshire cuisine with a seasonally changing menu. There's also a traditional cosy bar offering light fare. 'Feast' next door is owned by the same family and serves delicious light lunches, snacks, teas and coffees
The Star Inn at Harome 01439 770397. A 14th century inn serving award-winning food prepared by Michelin Star chef Andrew Pern. Near Helmsley, well worth a visit. The Star in the City is its sister restaurant in York.
The Pheasant at Harome 01439 771241. A stylish country hotel with relaxed hospitality and inspired seasonal cooking, also near Helmsley
The Queen's Head, Amotherby 01653 693630. A great Chinese for eating in or take-aways only 4 miles away
For good Indian food to take away or eat in – try Spice4U or Cilantro in Pickering or India in Malton
The New Malton, Malton. Easy atmosphere brasserie-bistro for lunches and suppers
The Crown and Cushion, Welburn. Good pub/restaurant food in a pretty village in the Howardian Hills.