Switching off is hard to do these days but you don’t have to venture far in Yorkshire to disconnect. From comfy beds with a countryside view to the perfect pub getaway, here’s a pick of the top places to spend some time off-grid.
Calm surroundings at The Penny Bun. Image: Penny Bunn
BEST FOR COUNTRY PUB LOVERS
The Penny Bun, Denton Reserve, Askwith
Going off-grid doesn’t have to mean signing up to a night of solitude under canvas in the middle of nowhere, The Penny Bun proves you can reconnect with the outside just as well while staying in a country pub.
Situated between Ilkley and Denton Moor, just 20 minutes from Harrogate, The Penny Bun sits at the heart of Denton Reserve, the 2,500-acre estate which surrounds Denton Hall.
Rustic yet contemporary at the same time, the pub has five consciously TV-free rooms that are designed to help you leave it all behind for a decent night’s sleep and some head space in the North Yorkshire countryside.
Named after a delicious mushroom harvested in the nearby woods, the pub celebrates its surroundings and the rewilding project on its doorstep with a food menu that features seasonal produce grown in Denton Reserve’s walled garden and meat from livestock farmed regeneratively on the estate.
Medium rooms are priced at £200 per night, larger rooms are £250. Book at: pennybunilkley.co.uk
BEST FOR SCANDI LIVING
Rest & Wild, Yorkshire Dales
Dotted across the Yorkshire Dales National Park, overlooking the Wensleydale Valley, are five forest cabins that beautifully blend slow living with luxury – hygge but with a Yorkshire spin. Carefully crafted from natural and reclaimed materials, their exteriors sit comfortably amongst the earthy landscapes, while their dusky-pink interiors could grace any boutique hotel.
Each cabin is perched upon a private hilltop, within its own area of pine forest and with views of the winding River Ure, the ancient ruins of Jervaulx Abbey and patchwork fields of gold and green as far as the eye can see.
Guests can take it all in through the huge picture window while snuggled up in the king-sized bed with a morning cuppa, or from the al fresco copper bathtub – a truly restorative forest bathing experience. If you can drag yourself away from the cosiness of the cabin, mystical Catrigg Force is nearby, where you can swim in the natural pools below the tumbling waterfall, or head out to explore the rugged moorlands on foot, safe in the knowledge a comforting log burner awaits you in the cabin on your return.
Prices for two people start from £250 per night. Dogs welcome. Book at: restandwild.co or kiphideaways.com
BEST FOR ADVENTURES UNDER THE STARS
The Lazy T, Helmsley
Voted by the BBC as one of the UK’s top five wildest places to stay, Lazy T is run by Katy and Skot Doman, who champion self-love through an authentic connection with nature on Katy’s family farm in Helmsley. The ‘camp’ doesn’t get much closer to nature. Years of rewilding means the surrounding landscape is teaming with wildlife and native wildflowers and, because the site is designated an International Dark Sky Reserve, it’s one of the best places in the country to see the stars. A stream trickles past the accommodation, which includes a luxury tent and on and off-grid cabins, so guests can start their day with a cold water-immersion or tentative toe-dip.
But as much as this place is about connecting with nature, the little luxuries we all long for in life have not been forgotten; there are goose down duvets to snuggle under, private flushing toilets and steaming hot showers.
The site ticks all the sustainability boxes too; Katy and Skot have built the facilities using timber sourced from the farm, solar panels are used to generate power and cleaning products and toiletries are all zero-waste. They’ll even help you forage for food in the surrounding woods, or supply meat from the farm if you fancy having a go at open fire cooking.
Prices start from £149 for the luxury tent, £159 for the on-grid cabin and £229 for an off-grid cabin. Book at thelazyt.co.uk
BEST FOR GROUPS
Kip & Nook, nr Darlington
Switch the WhatsApp group chat for a real-life get together in the comforting surroundings of Kip and Nook, an extraordinary wellness escape nestled in 250 acres of breathtaking North Yorkshire countryside on the outskirts of Darlington. Designed for those seeking inspiration, connection and adventure, the hideaway sets the scene for a rejuvenating retreat with friends, family or both.
Spend a morning stretching or enjoying a peaceful sound bath in the yoga studio, lunch on homemade stone-baked pizza and then amble out to The Kirami Experience; an outdoor oasis featuring a sauna, cold plunge pool, outdoor shower and fire pit with views of Pinkney Carr Farm and Manfield in the distance. Finish the day by heading back indoors to The Breathing Room, a dimly lit chill-out area with hammocks to drift you into total relaxation.
There’s a variety of accommodation to choose from but The Barn, which sleeps eight, is the ultimate social space for relaxing and making memories with a group of loved ones. For larger groups, The Loft next door which sleeps an additional four, people can be taken alongside
Two-night stays cost from £1,700 in The Barn and £650 in The Loft. Book at: kipandnook.com
BEST FOR REMOTE RURAL LUXURY
Swinton Bivouac, Ripon
Set on the edge of the moors within the expansive Swinton Estate and with sweeping views over the Yorkshire Dales, Swinton Bivouac boasts a beautifully remote location in which to recharge and reconnect.
Bring out your inner child in one of the rustic Tree Lodges which feature family ‘bunk bed’ style sleeping and your own wood-fired hot tub and firepit for toasting marshmallows right outside the door. Or you can opt for one of the new Cabin Yurts, which allow the kids to sleep under canvas, while the adults get the luxury of the attached bedroom cabin with double bed and log burning stove.
The estate is the perfect place explore the great outdoors; jump on a bike and explore the miles of trails, dive into the wild swimming lake before warming up in the woodland sauna or simply spend the day hanging around in a hammock. When it comes to refuelling after all those al fresco adventures, kids are brilliantly catered for at the Bivouac Café and Terrace Restaurant and Bar, where there’s a dedicated children’s menu.
Tree Lodges start from £500 and Cabin Yurts from £380 for a two-night stay. Book at: swintonestate.com/bivouac
BEST FOR ROMANTIC COASTAL CHARM
The Shepherd’s Rest – Robin Hood’s Bay
Nestled on a smallholding amongst open farmland overlooking Robin Hood’s Bay, The Shepherd’s Rest is a cosy and secluded couple’s retreat.
The hut, which faces due south, gets sunlight from dawn to dusk; the perfect vantage point for spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
Perch on a sun lounger or laze in the tree-suspended hammock and enjoy uninterrupted views across open countryside to the bay beyond, where it is not unusual to spot seals, dolphins and even the odd whale in summer – a telescope, on the porch enables guests to zoom in on the local wildlife.
The open plan kitchen is plenty efficient for knocking up meals for two, but should you want to dine out, there are plenty of options just 15 minutes’ walk away in the charming fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay including The Fish Box; there’s nothing quite as romantic as eating takeaway fish and chips out of the wrapping as you stroll along the sand.
Seven nights, from £404. Book at: sykescottages.co.uk
BEST WITH KIDS
Humble Bee Farm, Flixton nr Scarborough
Attempting to enforce no screen time can be a challenge when you’re in your usual surroundings but how about recruiting the help of some real-life farmyard animals?
Humble Bee Farm is a working farm situated on the Yorkshire Coast, in a peaceful setting close to Scarborough and Filey with stunning views of the Yorkshire Wolds.
What started life as a working farm, run by John Warters and his wife Julia, has diversified into camping and glamping to provide a safe environment for families to create happy, off-grid, memories
John, known on the farm as Farmer Percy, runs the Mini Farmer Club for youngsters, who can feed the friendly gang of animals including Tilly the Shetland Pony, Jessica and Daisy the retired donkeys, Dougie and Sue the goats, three friendly Alpacas, a flock of sheep and a brood of happy hens. There’s also an outdoor play area and indoor play barn, three rambles to explore and a café and shop. Themed, guest-only events take place throughout the year too, although the farm does open its gates to the public during lambing season and for its pumpkin patch in October.
There’s a variety of accommodation to suit different preferences; you can bring your own tent, stay in one of the nomadic yurts or deluxe wigwams, which come complete with an en suite and hot tub, or live it up in a luxury cottage.
Prices start from £25 per night for camping, £110 for glamping in wigwams or yurts and £247.50 for the luxury cottages. Book at: humblebeefarm.co.uk
