Spen Barn

The lovely Spen Barn is located on a working farm in the charming village of Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, south of York. It is a delightful village with some gorgeous artisan shops.

Spen Barn is surrounded by farmland with many other working farms close by. Guests enjoy the many hiking and cycle paths, strolling along the River Ouse, visiting famous houses and ruins and heading to York for retail therapy, cultural treats and wonderful meals.

The barn is located in the Yorkshire Wolds, a wonderful part of the country that is peaceful, charming and full of character. The area encompasses the towns of Beverley, Pocklington, Driffield and Market Weighton. With gloriously rolling hills and picturesque villages, the area is perfect for picnics. Beverley is a thriving, bustling market town with its Market Cross still standing proudly in the centre of the marketplace. You can enjoy a day at the races, drinks in historic pubs or boutique shopping. The wide-open pastures of Beverley Westwood lead to the magnificent 13th century Beverley Minster. The star attraction of Pocklington is Burnby Hall Gardens with its National Collection of Hardy Water Lilies, the biggest collection in a natural setting in Europe. The KP Golf Club offers a fantastic 18-hole championship golf course with glorious views over the wolds. The Pocklington Canal is a wildlife haven.

York’s medieval city walls are 3.4km long and offer a fabulous stroll. The beautifully preserved walls are the longest complete medieval town walls in England. York Minster is Europe’s largest gothic cathedral. Visitors enjoy climbing the two hundred and seventy five steps of its central tower to take in the fabulous panoramic views of the city. At the York Castle Museum, visitors go back in time in the streets of York and learn about the fascinating history of this incredible city. The Shambles have been voted the most picturesque street in Britain. You shouldn’t miss this ancient shopping street! One of the favourite York attractions is the Jorvik Viking Centre where visitors learn how the Viking-age streets looked one thousand years ago. The annual Viking Festival hosts many events in the streets and on the river. Every trip to York must include an afternoon tea stop at the famous Betty’s Tearooms. It was founded in 1919 and serves delicious cakes and teas. There are also nightly ghost walking tours in York, supposedly the most haunted city in Europe! Shoppers will delight in the many boutiques and designer stores plus there is an excellent Designer Outlet just outside of York.

Generations of the Howard family have welcomed visitors to Castle Howard, one of the great palaces of Europe, for more than three hundred years. The whole family will enjoy this extravagant, attractive house, its stunning gardens, the highly impressive Skelf Island Adventure Playground, coffee shops, restaurants, farm shop and its boathouse. Castle Howard host many special events.

If you head into the breathtaking North York Moors National Park, you should try and visit the very popular market town of Helmsley. It boasts a wonderful array of charming tea rooms and pubs, the National Centre for Birds of Prey, Helmsley Castle, Helmsley Arts Centre and its pretty Walled Gardens. It boasts award-winning eateries and the town’s very own Brewery.

Hull, Yorkshire’s only maritime city is exciting, eclectic and entertaining. It has transformed itself over the last years, offering a wonderful mix of museums, shopping and nightlife. You can explore its quirky museums, snuggly pubs, fascinating art scene and architecture that transports you back in time. Hull Minster stands proud in the centre of Hulls’s Old Town, dating back to the 14th century with towering arches, hand-carved ornaments and spectacular stained-glass windows.

On the stunning North Yorkshire coast you will find an excellent selection of beaches. A fair drive away, you will find the beautiful Robin Hood’s Bay, six miles south of Whitby. This picturesque old fishing village enjoys a sandy beach, rock pools, ancient fossils, narrow twisting cobbled streets and alleyways. You can easily imagine the fishermen and smugglers walking the streets hundreds of years ago. It is quite easy to get lost in the little warren of lanes lined with old fisherman’s cottages. Most have now been renovated. The village is sprinkled with a good range of cafes, pubs and restaurants as well as charming, unique shops.