Hazel Lodge

Hazel Lodge sits on a small, rural site on the hillside above Whitby, and the view is the first thing that hits you. From the decking and the hot tub, you look across open countryside to Whitby Abbey perched on the East Cliff, with the sea stretching out behind it. On a clear evening, with the Abbey lit up and the sky going orange behind you, it is one of the better hot tub settings on the Yorkshire coast.

The lodge itself is single-storey, modern, and finished to a high standard. Glass double doors open from the living area onto the decking, so the view follows you inside too. The open-plan space is light and well laid out. A kitchen with oven, hob, microwave, fridge, and dishwasher runs along one side, with a dining table for four and a sitting area with a TV. There is enough room that four people are not tripping over each other.

Two bedrooms sit at the back of the lodge. The king-size has a walk-in wardrobe that is genuinely large, not just a rail behind a curtain, and its own en-suite with a walk-in shower. The twin room is compact but clean and well furnished. A second shower room means nobody is queuing in the morning.

Outside, the enclosed side decking holds the hot tub in a sheltered, private spot. The site is still relatively new, with just a handful of lodges well spaced apart. You are not stacked on top of your neighbours here. Horses and sheep graze in the fields around you, and the whole place has a rural, unhurried feel that is hard to get this close to a town.

The Stables pub is about a minute's walk down the track. It is dog-friendly, does proper portions, and saves you cooking on at least one night. There is a small shop half a mile up the road if you need milk or bread. Two dogs are welcome at the lodge, and the enclosed decking gives them a safe outdoor space while you are inside or soaking.

Getting into Whitby is simple. The park and ride runs from just across the road, which removes the stress of driving into the town centre and circling for a parking spot. The bus takes you straight in, and a return is a few pounds. Whitby's harbour sits at the mouth of the River Esk, with the old town's narrow streets, fish and chip shops, and independent cafes packed into the hillside above it. The 199 steps up to the Abbey are a rite of passage, and the views from the top run right back along the coast.

Robin Hood's Bay is a short drive south, its tight lanes and stone cottages stacked above a rocky shoreline. The North York Moors National Park starts on the doorstep, with Goathland and Grosmont both close enough for a half-day walk across open moorland. The coast path towards Sandsend is flat, scenic, and one of the easier walks in the area if you want sea air without a scramble.

Parking fits one car, WiFi runs throughout, and bed linen and towels are included. The beach is about 1.7 miles by road, or a straightforward bus ride from the stop across the road.