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Bilsdale Cottage, a dog friendly hidden gem near Helmsley and the North York Moors National Park

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Snow and ski sports
Outdoor dining
Exterior
2 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, travel crib, internet
TV, fireplace, DVD player
Reviews
10

Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 461 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet friendly
    Pet friendlyPet friendly
  • Fireplace
    FireplaceFireplace
  • Kitchen
    KitchenKitchen
  • Outdoor Space
    Outdoor SpaceOutdoor Space

Explore the area

Map
Sproxton, York, North Yorkshire
  • Popular LocationHemsley Walled Garden4 min drive
  • Popular LocationAmpleforth Abbey8 min drive
  • Popular LocationRievaulx Abbey8 min drive
  • AirportLeeds (LBA-Leeds Bradford)71 min drive

Most relevant reviews

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Bilsdale Cottage, a dog friendly hidden gem near Helmsley and the North York Moors National Park

Bilsdale Cottage is a converted 18th century stone farm building, retaining original timbered ceilings and stone walls. Set in open countryside with stunning views, the cottage blends new modern comforts with historic features. The cottage features a large lounge with dining area and log burner, two bedrooms, a new bathroom, and a new well equipped kitchen. Bilsdale Cottage is popular with families, couples and individuals wanting to relax in a rural cottage setting, and is particularly of interest to dog owners who welcome the enclosed dog exercise paddock and country walks from the doorstep. The cottage has a table and seating area outside in the garden, and guests have shared use of the picnic benches on the large lawn. The cottage is easily accessible to the Yorkshire Moors, Dales, Coast and York.
We are in a tranquil location in a rural agricultural community, but with the benefit of easy access to a range of tourist destinations and sporting activities. Located within the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and offering the modern comforts of home in a unique historic setting. Bilsdale sleeps up to 4, plus an infant in a cot. The cottage is also dog friendly, with up to 3 dogs welcome to stay (downstairs only).

Bilsdale Cottage offers all the comforts of home in a beautiful setting. In 2020 we installed a new kitchen and bathroom, and redecorated much of the cottage. With countryside walks on the doorstep, the cottage is less than 2 miles from the small picturesque market town of Helmsley - with its castle, walled gardens, spa hotel facilities, heated outdoor swimming pool in summer (closed 2020), numerous pubs, cafes and restaurants.

Featuring exposed stone walls, wooden beams and other original features, the cottage offers a historic and relaxing setting for your holiday. We are continuously working to improve and update our cottages and facilities for guests, including a cosy log burner to relax in front of during colder spells. The kitchen includes a dishwasher, microwave oven, toaster, kettle, fridge freezer, iron, hob & oven. The cottage is centrally heated; the bathroom has a shower cubicle (no bath); we offer free parking for guests. Downstairs the cottage has a living room with exposed Yorkshire stone walls and original features from its earlier use as a farm building. The living room has a log burner, TV, two sofas (seating five), window seat, side and coffee tables. The living room opens into the dining area (a table and four chairs). Upstairs there are two bedrooms: bedroom 1 has a double bed, wardrobe, plus bedside cabinets; bedroom 2 has two single beds plus wardrobe and bedside drawers. New ottoman beds provide additional storage for guests' luggage etc. The bathroom has a toilet, hand basin and shower cubicle (retiled and modernised in 2020).

Bilsdale Cottage is one of four holiday cottages at Sproxton Hall Cottages. All benefit from the use of our landscaped grounds which include a courtyard garden with outdoor furniture, a large lawned area with picnic benches and an enclosed dog exercise paddock. The cottages have on-site parking for up to 2 cars per cottage.

The cottage is popular with walkers, cyclists and families wanting to explore North Yorkshire - we are within easy reach of the North Yorkshire coast (Whitby, Scarborough, Robin Hoods Bay), Pickering, York, Castle Howard. We are a stones throw from Ampleforth Abbey, The White Horse at Kilburn and the stunning views of Sutton Bank. York is less than 25 miles away and has been voted Britains most popular city due to its castle, walls, museums, shops and Minster; it is particularly popular with our guests whatever the weather. The picturesque steam railway from Pickering crosses Goathland/Heartbeat country to the coast at Whitby; Flamingo Land (near Malton) offers a different kind of day out - with its zoo and theme park. There are plenty of nature walks into the quiet countryside from our doorstep, as well as further afield. We offer a dog shower & towels, plus bowls.

We provide bed linen, towels, tea towels as well as essentials to get you started including tea, coffee, sugar, toilet rolls, washing up liquid, and soap. There is a small supermarket less than 2 miles away.

We are open all year and guests love to enjoy the changing seasons, making use of the log burner in the colder months. We are popular with dog owners in November and New Year due to our quiet location (the lack of fireworks).

Bilsdale Cottage is popular with couples of all ages, families and single visitors - often keen walkers or visitors wanting to spend time in the North York Moors and surrounding areas. Popular attractions for children include Helmsley Castle, the Pickering/North York Moors Steam Railway, Go Ape at Dalby Forest, Flamingo Land, and the chocolate and Viking experiences at York. En route to York you might want to stop off and see Piglet at his Adventure Land or tackle the Maize Maze. There is a wide choice of traditional pubs in surrounding villages (details of menus and discounts for guests are available) and Helmsley hosts a number of cafes, restaurants (Indian, Italian), and pubs, including a micro-brewery. Many of Helmsley's amenities welcome dogs. Local taxi service available if needed.

If Bilsdale is not available please take a look at our other cottages (sproxtonhallcottages.co.uk): Kirkdale Cottage (newly renovated, sleeps 5, dog friendly), Riccal Dale Cottage (newly renovated, sleeps 4, dog friendly) and Ryedale Cottage (single storey,sleeps 4 and also modernised with new furniture, no dogs). All properties can be booked together to provide an exclusive venue for family and friends reunions.

Property manager

Dave Wells

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Internet access

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Car required

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Freezer
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Towels provided
  • Hair dryer

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • TV
  • DVD player

Outdoor areas

  • Garden

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location

Things to do

  • Horse riding nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Unit size: 657 sq ft (61 sq m)

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 9:30 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Bilsdale Countryside Location Helmsley Howardian Hills Aonb
570719

About the neighborhood

York

Located in York, this cottage is in a rural area. North York Moors National Park and Howardian Hills reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo and Yorkshire Lavender. Explore all the area has to offer with horse riding, hiking, and mountain biking.

What's nearby

  • Duncombe Park - 3 min drive
  • Hemsley Walled Garden - 4 min drive
  • Ampleforth Abbey - 8 min drive
  • Rievaulx Abbey - 8 min drive
  • National Trust Nunnington Hall - 10 min drive

Getting around

  • Thirsk Station - 21 min drive
  • Durham (MME-Teesside Intl.) - 58 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Helmsley Brewing Co - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪The Plough Inn - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Fairfax Arms - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Star Inn - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Rose & Crown - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Bilsdale Cottage, a dog friendly hidden gem near Helmsley and the North York Moors National Park pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Bilsdale Cottage, a dog friendly hidden gem near Helmsley and the North York Moors National Park?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Bilsdale Cottage, a dog friendly hidden gem near Helmsley and the North York Moors National Park?

Check-out is at 9:30 AM.

Where is Bilsdale Cottage, a dog friendly hidden gem near Helmsley and the North York Moors National Park located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is within 3 mi (5 km) of Duncombe Park, North York Moors National Park, and Helmsley Arts Centre. Cleveland Way and Howardian Hills are also within 3 mi (5 km).

Bilsdale Cottage, a dog friendly hidden gem near Helmsley and the North York Moors National Park Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 7 out of 7 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 7 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 7 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 7 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 7 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Marian N.

Liked: Cleanliness
A well equipped little cottage with superb views. The owners are very warm and friendly.
The cottage was very easy to book, easy to find and the “paperwork” was minimal. We will be returning.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Allan M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect getaway
Perfect cottage, exceptionally clean everything you needed for a relaxing break lovely warm shower wood burning stove comfy bed perfect setting stunning area. Everything ticked all the boxes absolutely loved it.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Deborah M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stunning location
A lovely little cottage in the most stunning location. The addition of a dog exercise paddock was a real bonus
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Megan H.

Liked: Cleanliness
New Years stay
Lovely little cottage, the location is fantastic; Helmsley is a wonderful little village with lots of pubs and nice shops (most of which are dog friendly). The owners are really helpful, they recommended places to visit and eat. The cottage was cosy and clean, we had a lovely couple of days here over the new year.

10/10 Excellent

Ben F.

Fantastic stay
This was a fantastic cottage to stay in, which was both close to attractions and local amenities, but also felt secluded at the same time. Interior was clean, we had plenty of space, and facilities were exactly what we needed to relax and enjoy our time there. Comfy beds, quality linen and everything in the property was ready to go and working without any fuss. It was absolutely perfect for what we wanted. Lovely views of the rolling hills and an incredibly picturesque setting. We loved our stay and can’t recommend it enough!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Andreas S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great holiday home
We had a great time in the cottage. The house is absolut clean. You have everything you need. Dave the owner is very kind. Sproxton/Helmsley is a good place. From here you can do a lot of things in about 1 hour drive. In Helmsley there are a lot of nice shops and Restaurants. We can recomend Bilsdale cottage at all. Family from Switzerland.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kees v., Haarlem

Liked: Cleanliness
all we needed
We stayed for 1 week. The cottage had all we needed. It was a pleasure comming back to the cottage after a day of exploring York in its surroundings. Good beds, good shower, well equiped kitchen.