The Sequoia

French doors open from the living room onto a raised wooden deck, and the view runs straight across open fields towards the sea. On a clear morning, the view holds you there longer than you meant to stay. The lodge is all on one level, light comes in from every angle, and the open-plan layout keeps things simple when there are only two or four of you.

The kitchen has a gas oven and hob, a microwave, and a fridge-freezer, so you can cook properly for the week without needing to eat out every night. Though with the pub across the road, you might not bother. The dining table sits between the kitchen and the living space, and the fire in the sitting area takes the chill off on colder evenings.

Two bedrooms sit off the main living area: a king-size double and a twin, both with Jack-and-Jill access to the bathroom, which has a bath with shower over. The beds are genuinely comfortable, the linen is good, and the whole lodge is kept to a high standard. Small things are covered too: towels, kitchen supplies, the lot. You don't arrive and find yourself driving to the shop for basics.

Alison and Martin own the lodge and live on site. Homemade scones with jam and clotted cream are set out when you arrive, and they are exceptional. Martin sorts any issue within minutes, but otherwise they leave you alone. Dressing gowns are laid out for the hot tub, which tells you everything about the level of thought that goes into this place.

The hot tub sits in a private enclosed corner to the side of the lodge, on an astro-turfed area with outdoor furniture. It carries a £50 supplement per week, payable to the owner on arrival. Around the front, the decked veranda is where breakfast happens, with country views that stretch to the coast. Two ponies called Bambi and Holly graze nearby and tend to wander over to say hello.

Cloughton is a quiet village on the edge of the North York Moors. The Blacksmiths Arms is across the road and the food is worth booking ahead, as tables fill up fast. Further along, the Red Lion is worth trying too. A 23-mile walking and cycling path along a former railway line, the Cinder Track, starts nearby, and the Cleveland Way coastal trail is within reach for longer hikes. Scarborough is four miles down the road with the castle, the harbour, two sandy beaches, and the Open Air Theatre. The coast road north runs through Robin Hood's Bay to Whitby, both worth a day.

Off-road parking is right outside. Fuel, power, and WiFi are all included in the rent. For couples or two adults travelling together who want a quiet base with good walks, a seriously good pub on the doorstep, and the Yorkshire coast close by, this is one of the easier decisions you'll make.