10 B&Bs to Book as a Base to Explore the North East, Yorkshire and Across the UK
You don't have to travel for miles to enjoy a beautiful getaway
BROOM HOUSE AT EGTON BRIDGE
In brief: A cosy countryside bed and breakfast in the North York Moors National Park.
Our highlight: The peaceful, private garden offering a sweet retreat from the hustle and bustle, and where cattle poke their heads over the fence to say hello.
Insider guide: Broom House is the family home of Brianne and Luke Cockill, their daughter Eve and their two cockapoos. Each of the bedrooms here offer their own home-from-home comforts but we love The Cottage Suite with its south-facing patio and views over the gardens to the North York Moors. The breakfast room is spacious, the guest lounge is cosy (thanks to its open fire) and there’s an honesty bar to enjoy a tipple after a busy day. With award-winning restaurants, village teashops and cafés just a stone’s throw away, there’s plenty to keep you going here, but Whitby’s town centre is only 15 minutes away if you fancy a coastal day out.
Broom House Lane, Egton Bridge YO21 1XD
01947 895279
broom-house.co.uk
ROBIN HOOD FARM
In brief: A luxury, dog-friendly B&B in the heart of the Peak District.
Our highlight: It’s just a stone’s throw from Chatsworth House.
Insider guide: The ensuite double bedrooms here are complete with complimentary toiletries and robes, and two of them are dog-friendly with private gardens. All rooms include a sumptuous breakfast, homemade using locally-sourced ingredients, served between 8.30am and 10am around the communal dining table in the guest lounge, or delivered to your room. Robin Hood Farm is the perfect base from which to explore the Peak District, with plenty of walks from your doorstep and dog-friendly local pubs and restaurants close by.
Old Brampton Road, Baslow, Bakewell DE45 1PU
01246 582868
robinhoodfarm.co.uk
CASTLE VIEW GUEST HOUSE
In brief: A 250-year-old guesthouse surrounded by picturesque riverside walks in the heart of Durham City.
Our highlight: It’s the closest guest house to the city centre, so the best base for exploring Durham’s attractions.
Insider guide: This pretty guest house is hidden in a quiet cul-de-sac with parking for guests, and with the cathedral, castle, river and historic market place on your doorstep, it’s a fantastic base for a heritage fix as well as city life. All their rooms include either a king-size or two single beds and all the modern amenities you need in a home-from-home. Choose from a continental breakfast, cooked or English/Irish breakfast to prepare you for the day ahead.
4 Crossgate, Durham City DH1 4PS
0191 386 8852
castle-view.co.uk
BUDLE HALL
In brief: A family-run, country house bed and breakfast, just one mile from the picturesque village of Bamburgh.
Our highlight: Just a short drive from the majestic Bamburgh Castle, Budle Hall is the perfect base for history buffs.
Insider guide: The four homely bedrooms at Budle Hall each boast a super-king double bed. The Yellow Room and The Red Room offer views of the surrounding fields and the Cheviot hills. The Blue Rooms also offer stunning views of part of the garden as well as the fields and hills, and The Green Room boasts a pretty view down the driveway towards the coast. Breakfast is served between 8.30am and 10am, and there are a variety of options to choose from, but we recommend the English breakfast (featuring the famous Bamburgh Bangers). To fully appreciate your time here, especially if you’re a keen explorer, it’s worth staying for a few days.
Bamburgh NE69 7AJ
01668 214297
budlehall.com
BRACKEN HALL HOUSE
In brief: A multi-award winning bed and breakfast facing Shipley Glen.
Our highlight: The house can also be hired as a luxury holiday let.
Insider guide: Renovated to a high standard, and with five individually-styled bedrooms, Bracken Hall House is perfect for a relaxing staycation. Their family room (The Glen) boasts a king-size bed (and bunk beds through an interconnecting door), Glenrock is an easily accessible room on the ground floor with twin beds, Heritage View is a double room inspired by the history of the area and Bracken and Moor View promise fantastic views of the moorland. Unwind in the peaceful lounge with windows overlooking the south-facing garden and enjoy a hearty cooked Yorkshire breakfast before you head out to explore the countryside.
Glen Road, Baildon, Shipley BD17 5EA
07932 750715
brackenhallhouse.co.uk
TRAQUAIR HOUSE
In brief: A romantic B&B in Scotland’s oldest inhabited house.
Our highlight: Its vibrant history; visited by 27 Scottish Kings and Queens, the house dates back to 1107.
Insider guide: Originally a royal hunting lodge, Traquair once hosted Mary Queen of Scots. Grand but homely, today there are four double bedrooms which welcome guests from all around the world. Whichever you choose, think antique furniture, canopied beds and luxe touches. The Scottish breakfasts are made using fresh, local produce and are prepared by the housekeeper, and served from 7.30am–9.30am in the Still Room. With craft workshops, a garden café, a maze (the largest hedged maze in Scotland) and the world-famous Traquair House Brewery (within the house), there’s plenty to see and do without needing to leave the estate.
Innerleithen, Peeblesshire EH44 6PW
01896 830323
traquair.co.uk
THE WALLS
In brief: A popular period townhouse perched on the Edwardian Walls in the heart of the historic old town of Berwick.
Our highlight: The unrivalled views over the River Tweed.
Insider guide: With a Five Star Gold Award for excellence, it’s no wonder The Walls is such a popular choice for visitors to Berwick. The three large bedrooms are complemented by a Georgian guest lounge and dining room with modern luxuries, and if you’re staying with family you can book The Swan Room with the smaller Cygnet Room to form a suite. At breakfast we recommend the hearty cooked Northumbrian breakfast with local free-range eggs, pork sausage, dry-cured bacon, haggis, tomatoes and mushrooms (perfect fuel for the day ahead) or Craster kippers served with poached eggs and Northumbrian stottie bread (just remember to pre-order).
8 Quay Walls, Berwick TD15 1HB
01289 330233
thewallsberwick.com
PUDDLE DUCK LODGE
In brief: A pretty cottage in the heart of the Lake District.
Our highlight: Your choice of breakfast (everything from full English to pancakes) will be delivered to your room.
Insider guide: Built from traditional Lakeland stone in 1864, Puddle Duck Lodge offers a choice of three individually-designed rooms (two are dog-friendly), all overlooking the cottage garden (a great place to sit and relax in the sun). Only a stone’s throw from the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, The Old Laundry Theatre and Biskey Howe, there’s plenty to see and do throughout your stay.
Biskey Howe Road, Bowness On Windermere LA23 2JP
01539 447299
puddleducklodge.co.uk
THE PLOUGH AT LUPTON
In brief: A quirky and sophisticated B&B with five-star bedrooms.
Our highlight: The view over Farleton Knott from the The Hutton Suite.
Insider guide: Head north for the Lakes, east for the Dales or south for the Forest of Bowland – there’s plenty to see and do from your base at The Plough, but we wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t want to leave the comfort of this modern-rustic style bed and breakfast. Each of the six individually designed rooms offer an Illy coffee machine, fluffy towels and Damana toiletries and many boast a free standing, roll top bath and a separate monsoon shower. What more could you ask for? A hearty breakfast perhaps? It’s served between 8.30am and 11am with a choice of cooked breakfasts, Benedicts, pancakes and warm barms (order the Cumberland whirl for a real treat). The food is so good you’ll want to stay for dinner too.
Cow Brow, Lupton LA6 1PJ
0153 956 7700
theploughatlupton.co.uk
Read More: Where to Stay, Eat and Shop in Pickering
THE BISHOP & THE BISON
In brief: An independent boutique hotel in York, putting its own stamp on the British bed and breakfast.
Our highlight: The location means The Bishop & The Bison is ideal for a romantic weekend away, a trip to York Races, or for those seeking a culture fix.
Insider guide: The idea for The Bishop & The Bison was born in Austin, the state capital of Texas, when owners Anthony and Jonathan lived in South America. Guests are promised five-star hospitality and a hearty breakfast. With Noble Isle toiletries, a Lavazza coffee machine and a laundry pick-up service, you’re in for a treat no matter which of the eight bedrooms you choose. The Bishopthorpe Dining Room, with a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln siting proudly above the marble fireplace, is where you’ll tuck into your hearty Yorkshire breakfast in the morning (there’s an à la carte menu for a hot breakfast). The Presidents Lounge, where George Washington takes price of place above the fireplace, is the perfect place to relax with gins from across the British Isles, the United States and Japan (find your favourite in their Ginventory).
127 Clifton, York YO30 6BL
07415 005150
bishopofyork.com
