Keld Head Farm Cottages, North Yorkshire
Keld Head, Pickering, North Yorkshire
The traditional stone cottages at Keld Head are set around a peaceful courtyard that pretty much sets the pace for this family holiday. Once you arrive its wind down time. The holiday gets off to a grand start with a welcoming tea tray complete with home-baked cakes to greet you. It may be an idea to enjoy that whilst relaxing in the award winning gardens as the children head to the play area to burn off their car-ride angst.
The charming cottages maintain their original character with exposed beams and traditional stone fireplaces and are furnished to a high standard. Reassuringly they are spacious and equipped with all you might need, that includes the fully stocked kitchen as well as the cots, highchairs, games and videos that are a pre-requisite for most child-friendly breaks.
Julian and Penny have thought about what might help your holiday go smoothly which is telling by the fact that the cottages are extremely comfortable. But they’ve gone further. Meals are pretty much covered. If you pre-plan you can get the groceries delivered, the freezer stocked up with freshly prepared meals and arrange for a fully catered meal served to you in your own cottage without lifting a finger. When you do cook you may wish to use the garden house with its decked area and barbecue to enjoy an informal meal alfresco in the lovely gardens. There is also a listening and baby-sitting service available should you want to check out one of the pubs nearby.
As they are bordered by meadows you get that wonderful feeling of being in the country, particularly with the cows and sheep grazing near by – always a good one to distract the children. However, Pickering is within easy walking distance for even the most sprawling of families thereby giving you the flexibility to enjoy the grounds and then perhaps go hop on a steam train at the North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway and spot the Harry Potter scenes, visit the local museum, explore the castle ruins or splash in the indoor swimming pool. And they are just the local things to do. You are of course on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors with all the marvellous walks and outdoor activities a plenty as well as tons of places to visit including the lovely beaches and tiny fishing villages along the heritage coast, the imposing Castle Howard or the stately buildings and cobbled streets of York.
Some of the cottages are classed as Category 1 under the Access Scheme.
Cottages vary in size and sleep from 2 to 8 people + cot.
Given that they share the communal courtyard the cottages would be suitable for a family get together - you'd just have a little extra space and privacy which is sometimes so very important.