The Gate Lodge

Couples and small families will find The Gate Lodge a straightforward base for a North Yorkshire break. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom property sleeps four and gives you the whole place to yourself. Downstairs, an open-plan living space with a log-burning stove opens directly onto the garden; a ground-floor shower room is useful if someone's damp from a walk. Upstairs, there's a kingsize and a double bedroom, plus a separate bathroom.

The kitchen is equipped for proper cooking rather than just heating ready meals. Electricity, bed linen and towels are included. The location is rural, which means peace rather than convenience—you'll need a car to reach shops and restaurants, but if that trade-off appeals, it's straightforward accommodation in a working countryside setting.