Stag Lodge Holiday Retreat

Stag Lodge sits on a small, new site on the rural edge of Whitby, and it feels more like a countryside hideaway than a holiday park. The lodge is single-storey and built from timber, with wraparound decking and open views across farmland. Elvis and Lady, the owner's horses, graze in the field right beside you, and children gravitate to the fence with carrots within minutes of arriving.

Inside, everything sits in one open room that feels warm and well finished. The kitchen has a full-size oven and hob, microwave, fridge-freezer, and dishwasher, so you won't be hand-washing after every meal. A dining table seats four, and the sitting area has a TV with Amazon Prime. An electric fire adds warmth on cooler evenings without the fuss of logs and kindling.

The double bedroom has its own TV. The second room has bunk beds, which work well for children, though the bunk mattress is on the firm side for adults staying more than a night or two. A single shower room with a walk-in shower, basin, and WC keeps the morning routine simple for a group of four.

Step outside, and the decking leads around to the hot tub garden, which is fully enclosed with fencing and a gate. Privacy is genuinely good here. Nobody overlooks you, and if you're travelling with dogs, the enclosed garden means they can potter about safely while you soak. Two dogs are welcome, and the fenced boundary gives proper peace of mind.

Head along the track for a minute and you're at The Stables, where the food and the dining room views are both worth turning up for. A Costcutter about half a mile along the road covers basics without needing to drive into town.

Getting into Whitby itself is straightforward. The park and ride is literally across the road, so you leave the car at the lodge and catch the bus straight into the centre for a few pounds return. By car, the centre is about a fifteen-minute drive, and Robin Hood's Bay is a similar distance in the other direction.

Once in Whitby, the harbour, the 199 steps up to the Abbey, the fish and chip shops along the waterfront, and the winding streets of the old town are all within walking distance of each other. Head up to the Abbey ruins for the views back across the rooftops and out to sea. The Captain Cook Memorial Museum is worth an hour, and the beach stretches out below the west cliff if the weather plays along.

Beyond the town, the North York Moors National Park is right on the doorstep. Goathland and Grosmont are both within twenty minutes by car, with walking routes that cross open heather moorland in every direction. The coast path towards Sandsend and Runswick Bay is one of the finest stretches in Yorkshire.

Back at the lodge, there's parking for two cars on a designated spot, WiFi throughout, and bed linen and towels included. No washing machine, so pack accordingly for longer stays. A bottle of prosecco in the fridge on arrival is a nice touch that sets the tone from the start.