Aspen Lodge

Aspen Lodge is a single-storey timber lodge on a quiet, rural site just outside Whitby, and its best trick is location. You are far enough out to hear nothing but birdsong and wind through the trees, but close enough that a bus from the park and ride across the road drops you in the town centre within minutes. No parking stress, no map-reading through narrow streets. Just tap your card and go.

Inside, everything is clean-lined and contemporary in the open-plan living area. A well-fitted kitchen runs along one wall with a full oven and hob, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, and all the bits you'd expect. The dining table seats four, and the sitting area wraps around a TV. Gas central heating keeps things warm on those Yorkshire coast evenings when the wind picks up.

Two bedrooms sit at the rear. The king-size has its own en-suite with a walk-in shower, basin, and WC, giving couples a proper amount of privacy. The twin room is bright and well furnished. A second shower room means mornings run smoothly when all four of you are trying to get out the door at once.

The enclosed side decking is where most evenings end up. The hot tub sits in a sheltered spot with rural views over the surrounding fields, and on a still night, there is very little sound beyond the occasional sheep. It is a surprisingly peaceful setting for somewhere so close to a busy seaside town.

The Stables at Cross Butts is right next door. The food is genuinely good, portions are generous, and they're happy to have dogs inside. It is a proper pub, not just a convenient fallback. A small shop half a mile up the road has you covered for milk and essentials without driving into town.

Two dogs are welcome, and the enclosed decking gives them a safe outdoor area. Off-road parking fits one car, bed linen and towels are included, and WiFi covers the lodge throughout.

Whitby itself is less than ten minutes away by car or a quick trip on the park and ride. The harbour sits at the river mouth, with the old town's jumbled streets climbing the hillside above it. Fish and chips on the quayside is a given. The 199 steps up to the Abbey ruins are worth the climb for the panoramic views alone, and the Captain Cook Memorial Museum is worth an hour if the weather turns. The beach is about 1.7 miles from the lodge, with Sandsend and its quieter sands a short drive further along the coast.

South of town, Robin Hood's Bay tumbles down a steep hillside to the shore, with rock pools and fossil hunting at low tide. The North York Moors National Park wraps around the area, and from Goathland or Grosmont you can set off across miles of open heather moorland with nothing but sky ahead.

Everything at the lodge is included and taken care of. The pub is next door, and the bus into town runs all day. You lock the door, sink into the hot tub, and let the countryside do the rest.