Whitby Log Cabins

There are many reasons to stay at Whitby Log Cabins. One is the fact you can leave the car at home and arrive by public transport (there's a station less than a mile away), or take the train to York and travel across the North York Moors on Britain’s 'Most Scenic Bus Route', the 840 Coastliner to Whitby. It's the perfect location for walkers and cyclists too, with Whitby a 40-minute walk in one direction and Robin Hood’s Bay a couple of hours in the other by way of the Cinder Track, a former railway line that’s been repurposed into a traffic-free route.

However you decide to travel, Whitby Log Cabins is an undeniably wonderful place to arrive. Made up of three luxury log cabins, dotted amid four acres of enchanting woodland, it's an adults-only site, and a perfect spot for romantically entwined couples or groups of friends looking to hunker down and get up close to nature without roughing it. Each of the cabins comes with wood-burning stoves, kitchenettes, central heating and beds and sofas; linen is provided, as are all other essentials, including towels, kitchen equipment and fire pits or chimeneas for outside – there's even a thoughtful welcome pack containing all the essentials you need to get you started.

Close by a stream and waterfall, Valley View was the first cabin here: with one bedroom, a luxury bathroom, an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, and a large terrace, it's perfect for a couple or two friends, as is the appropriately named Treetops, which is a cosy one-room studio with an en-suite bathroom. The Hideaway is the latest addition – overlooking the woods and nearby fields, it's ideal for two people but with a bit more space. It comes with a large bedroom and living area, a kitchenette with a fridge, microwave and air fryer, en-suite bathroom facilities (including a slipper bath in the bedroom) and two terraces to make the most of the morning and evening sun. There's a barbecue as well as a chimenea for al fresco meals amid total peace and sylvan seclusion.

The site itself is brimming with character and unique features – it has its own eco-reservoir and waterfall, an organic vegetable garden, and an array of rescue animals roaming the grounds. Owners Lorraine and Mark are evangelists for the local area, with lots of advice and knowledge on where to spot wildlife, including woodland birds and deer, and where to visit beyond the site. They also run occasional yoga and wellness retreats in their nearby studio.

It's a hard place to leave, for sure, but a visit to Whitby is essential. Just a short drive away or slightly longer on foot (part of which is on a woodland path that can get a bit muddy in wet weather), this coastal icon features a legendary and spectacularly sited Gothic abbey, a sandy beach, world-famous fish and chips and a quaint old centre full of alleyways and cobbled streets. In the opposite direction, you might also consider checking out Robin Hood’s Bay, a fishing village whose steep streets are awash with tales of smugglers, while the eastern edge of the North York Moors National Park is nearby too. All in all, you couldn't wish for a more tranquil or better located place to stay on the North Yorkshire Coast.