Hayley Stark
Diving Duckling is a gorgeous little cottage in the middle of the North York Moors. Surrounded by fields and sheep and not much else, just perfect for us. Chris and Jean, the owners, live next door and were always on hand for advice/recommendations. The cottage is well equipped with everything you need: washing up bits, dishwasher tablets, tea towels etc, all bedding and towels. It was exceptionally clean and given the current Covid situation, we felt very safe. A lovely welcome pack was ready on arrival, full with eggs, bacon, milk, bread, jam, marmalade, chocolate, wine and flowers, very nicely done and appreciated. The cottage doesn't have a bath, only a shower. The garden is beautiful, very well cared for with beautiful pots and containers all over. We had an amazing array of birds visit the feeder on the patio and we loved watching the house martins (I think!) flying in and out of their nest. The garden looks out over fields, occupied by hundreds of sheep for our week there. The garden has steps down from the patio to the lawn. It's worth noting that the owners' two gorgeous cats live in the 'outbuilding' that's attached to this holiday cottage. My husband is allergic to cats but it was actually our dog that took issue with them! Poor old Hari spent most of his time at the cottage with his head stuck in the cat flap, totally obsessed and lots of barking. No doubt not a problem for all, but worth knowing because we didn't! We took Jean's recommendations and booked tables at the Downe Arms Inn for Sunday lunch and at the Lion Inn. Excellent food and plentiful portions. Some beautiful walks right from the cottage door. Further afield, we visited Marske beach, Staithes, Robin Hood's Bay, Runswick Bay, Falling Foss tea garden, Goathland, Mallyan Spout waterfall, Whitby, Rosedale, Blakey, Dale Head Farm tea garden (featured recently on the BBC but actually very disappointing) and Castle Howard. The weather was brilliant and we all had a fabulous week's holiday.
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