Having a base that feels like home is the perfect way to see Yorkshire.
The stops have been enjoyable but the drive has been long and we’re looking forward to our arrival.
The destination in question is Pickering in North Yorkshire. Well, to be precise, a cottage a little way outside in the rolling countryside.
Two miles up a single-track road lies The Granary, a Grade 2 listed conversion booked through Sykes Cottages that’s set to be our home from home for the next week. And, really, it couldn’t be more homely.
The first thing that greets us on the farmhouse kitchen-style table is a big, home-made Victoria sponge that would make even Paul Hollywood’s steely-blue eyes twinkle.
It’s accompanied by a cheery welcome note from the owner and in a matter of minutes the tiredness from the drive fades as the comforting warmth of our new base envelopes us.
The owners have renovated the ancient granary building in splendid style. A fantastic mix of old and new, it has thick original walls, timber beams, a log-burning stove and polished oak flooring cleverly combined with some very smart modern living.
We might be in the middle of nowhere something we cherish a couple of nights later with the most amazing dark-sky view of the stars but there’s wi-fi, a classy wall-mounted TV and a gorgeous newly-fitted kitchen.
Upstairs there are two lovely bedrooms and a stylish bathroom. Each room has individually-controlled underfloor heating.
In the morning we’re woken by the sound of well, nothing. Peace, perfect peace. A neighbouring paddock houses the owners’ friendly horses with sheep in fields beyond.
We see a dog a couple of times and owner Sara pops her head in to check all’s well. But for the next week, that’s it. It’s unbeatable for a get-away-from-it-all break.
But with Pickering less than 10 minutes away there’s loads to see and even more to do.
The 12th Century castle (english-heritage.org.uk) is literally a high point. On a breezy day we realise the walk to the elevated, and exposed position yes, I know, castles aren’t intended to be easy to get to may not be the wisest choice. But the views across the Vale of Pickering are spectacular.
The Beck Isle Museum (beckislemuseum.org.uk) in the town is packed with exhibits about the area’s past. There are great shops like the barbers, chemists and confectioners.
And the toy shop is a real step back, with blow football and Matchbox cars a reminder of what youngsters used to do before iPads.
Oh, and, don’t miss the classroom out the back, the old fashioned games are a must-try.
It’s right next to the railway station and that’s also something we have to check out.
The Beeching cuts may have axed the Pickering to Whitby line but enthusiasts refused to let it die. Now the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (nymr.co.uk), it’s the nation’s most popular heritage steam railway with a third of a million visitors a year.
It is a spectacular 18-mile journey over the moors with stops at Levisham, Goathland and Grosmont on the way to Whitby.
Scarborough’s a similar distance by road and we head to the coast and the new attraction for this year at the Sea Life Centre (visitsealife.com), Penguin Island.
With a word of warning from staff about the risk of anything dropped being swiftly p-p-p-picked up by a penguin, we were on the walkway and right in among them.
The little Humboldts were an absolute delight as they waddled past. Make sure you go at feeding time as the same applies to the seals and the otters, Eric and Pumpkin.
In fact, there’s an amazing wealth of watery wildlife to check out, including the amazing rays and a 50-year-old turtle.
While Pickering Castle is certainly worth a look, it’s dwarfed by Scarborough’s stunner, also looked after by English Heritage.
The half-ruined keep is intact enough to be a medieval marvel.
And it’s also interesting to learn that hostilities in the town are a lot more recent.
You can see fragments from shells fired by three German warships one foggy December morning in 1914.
And when it comes to the past, long-standing favourite Peasholm Park still more than holds its own.
It’s a little green oasis, just by the North Bay, where you can take a dragon boat or watch the famous model boat battle.
There’s so much to see not just in the town but in Yorkshire, England’s largest county, in general and having a base that feels like a home from home is the perfect way to do it.
The Granary (ref no 28631) is available through sykescottages.co.uk or by calling 01244 356 695. It sleeps four. Seven nights cost from £427. Visitor info from yorkshire.com
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe