Farmhouse

Farmhouse is the main building at Murton Grange, a traditional farmhouse and cottage estate surrounded by open countryside on the eastern side of York. It's the biggest property on the site, sleeping sixteen across six bedrooms, and it has the straightforward, comfortable feel of a place built for big groups rather than polished for photographs. Two living rooms, a proper kitchen-diner, and a ground floor that keeps going when you think you've seen it all.

The kitchen-dining room has an electric range, microwave, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, and washing machine, all the kit you need to feed sixteen without leaving the house. In the main living room, an electric woodburner takes the edge off a North Yorkshire evening, plus a Freeview TV, DVD player, and CD player for when the group splits between those who want conversation and those who want a film. A second living room gives the overflow somewhere to go, with two single sofa beds that push the sleeping count up if you need an extra spot.

Bedrooms are spread across both floors. The ground floor has a double and a twin, plus a shower room, so part of the group can stay downstairs without needing the staircase at all. Upstairs, two twin rooms and two bedrooms with a double and single bed each fill the first floor, with a second shower room on the landing. A travel cot and highchair are available on request.

Outside, a lawned garden with a patio and outdoor furniture gives the group somewhere to spread out in the fresh air. The garden is shared with the neighbouring cottage, but the hot tub is yours alone, seating six and completely private. On a warm evening after a long walk, it's the best seat on the estate.

Walking trails leave from the doorstep and head straight into open countryside, so the dogs get a proper run without needing to load them into the car. York itself is five miles by car, with the Minster, the Shambles, the JORVIK Viking Centre, and the Castle Museum all within easy reach. Castle Howard is a short drive further out, the market town of Malton is worth a detour for the food scene, and the North York Moors Railway at Pickering makes a good day trip. The coast at Whitby, Scarborough, and Filey is under an hour. Closer to home, the nearest pub and restaurant are two and a quarter miles, and a shop is three and a half miles out.

Dogs are welcome here, which is unusually generous for a property this size and narrows the field fast if you're trying to get a big group away without leaving anyone behind. If you need even more space, Farmhouse can be booked alongside Cottage 4 next door for up to 24.