Guests often tell us their shoulders drop the moment they arrive, and that they sleep better here than they have in ages — it's a proper escape from the hustle of everyday life, tucked inside the North York Moors National Park. Our two studio rooms, Gowland and Walcott, each have their own private entrance, en suite bathroom, and a table and chairs in the south-facing courtyard. The hideaway kitchen has a fridge, microwave, kettle, and toaster — good for breakfasts and simple meals, though there's no oven or hob. Step straight outside onto open moorland and woodland tracks. We're also proud to have helped the National Park earn its International Dark Sky status, so on a clear night you can borrow our spotting scope and get a proper look at the stars. Our bird feeding stations and viewing platform bring in woodpeckers, barn owls, and the occasional deer, and there's a quiet wild garden labyrinth for switching off completely. We keep pet goats Bill and Ben, along with hens and ducks, so you may well meet them too. You won't find a hot tub here — it's a deliberate choice, since we're not on mains drainage and don't want that water and those chemicals going into our own land and water course — but we think the peace and quiet more than makes up for it.

It's usually the welcome that guests mention first when they leave a review — and that's simply because we treat you the way we'd want to be treated ourselves. We're Jan and Duncan, and we've lived and run this farm together since October 2001, in a farmhouse dating back to around 1790. Living on site means nothing is managed at a distance: we're the ones who look after every stay, and our son Andrew and his wife Zoe live here too and help us run things day to day. We're often out walking straight from the door, and occasionally cycling the forest tracks too — and always happy to point you toward our own favourite walks, cafés, and pubs, so don't be shy about asking.

What surprises people most is how quiet and rural it feels here, yet how close everything actually is. We're accredited Walking Friendly, Cycling Friendly, Nature Friendly, and Dark Skies Friendly by the North York Moors Tourism Network. Cropton Forest is a short walk or cycle from the farm. Pickering is about ten minutes away by car — a proper Yorkshire market town with independent shops, cafés, pubs, and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, running up to Whitby. Whitby itself, with its harbour, abbey, and seafront, is about 35 minutes from us. The White Swan, a mile away in Newton-on-Rawcliffe, is our nearest pub for an evening meal, and Dalby Forest is close by too if you fancy a longer walk or cycle.