Cherry Laurel

Thornton le Dale sits on the edge of the North York Moors, within a mile of Pickering where the heritage steam train runs to Goathland and Whitby. The village itself has enough going on to occupy an afternoon, but you're positioned to reach serious walking country in either direction: moorland footpaths and bridleways fan out across the hills, or you can head to the coast in under an hour.

Cherry Laurel is a ground-floor cottage built from traditional Yorkshire stone, tucked into the grounds of the owner's house. The open-plan living space centres on a wood burner, with a separate kitchen area fitted for proper cooking—electric oven, dishwasher, microwave. One bedroom and one bathroom serve two people. You get bed linen, towels, wifi and electricity included, plus a welcome pack on arrival. Outside, a garden with patio and barbecue looks onto the grounds and a beck; there's off-street parking for one car and bike storage. One dog can stay free and has the run of the natural grounds (on a lead). The cottage doesn't permit smoking.