Country air. Views for miles. Pure peace and quiet. That’s exactly what you can expect from Ewelands Retreat, by Unique Retreats in Whitby.
A dog-friendly bolthole situated in the small village of Sleights, just outside of Whitby, Ewelands Retreat is ideally located for exploring some of the best destinations the North York Moors has to offer. But it’s not just the location that this place has in its back pocket.
Fortunate enough to visit while the snow was at its best, upon our arrival at the Retreat, we were greeted by rolling hills with a blanket of snow, providing the picture-perfect backdrop for four nights of pure relaxation. Pure relaxation accompanied by beautiful views from the patio doors (which will be just as epic during the summer), underfloor heating below foot helping to warm our souls, and the scent of freshly baked bread permeating through the space – a little treat the owners prepare for each and every one of their guests to enjoy as soon as they walk through the door.
A sanctuary designed for just two, the Retreat flowed like a studio space, with the room leading from living area, to open kitchen, to bedroom snug – all in one space. But there was something so perfect about it. So perfect and so familiar, that over the four days, we joked about selling up and living like this forever.
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Complete with a wood-burning stove, seriously comfy bedding, a large TV and a huge bath to boot, there really wasn’t much reason to leave – you know, other than the fact it was close by to one of the most iconic seaside towns in the UK.
We’re talking just a short, ten-minute drive to beautiful Whitby – with a Botham’s on the way in case you get peckish. In true Whitby style, of course.
In addition to its close proximity to Whitby, guests can also quickly drive to hotspots such as Robin Hood’s Bay, Goathland, Sandsend and Falling Foss, before retreating back to the village to tuck into a chippy from the beloved Eskdale Fisheries.
The chippy has been renowned for absolutely years, and despite not being right in the heart of it in Whitby itself – alongside famous chippies such as The Magpie Cafe and The Fisherman’s Wife – it’s managed to achieve quite the rep over the years as a Whitby favourite.
But back to the retreat… Despite its ideal location within the beautiful North York Moors, there really is more than meets the eye with this little gem of a cottage. It’s a place decorated so homely, that staying for one night just isn’t an option, and staying only in the warmer months isn’t a necessity. Its charm lingers year-round, offering a changing landscape of the valley from its living area.
It’s a bolthole that can be enjoyed by adventurers and homebodies alike – with so much to do on its doorstep that you’ll be overwhelmed with landscapes to discover, but completely torn at the same time as you vie for a day in on the couch (something I never thought would happen to us, but it actually did).
In addition to the one-bed retreat, the collection of holiday cottages also offers up two three-bedroom cottages, an additional studio cottage next door and a former Piggery with room enough for six. Find out more and book here.
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