There’s a quiet moment in Lastingham that always seems to stay with you… If you do one thing while you’re here, I always think it should be stepping inside St Mary’s Church. It’s beautiful in its own right above ground — simple, peaceful, and full of character. But it’s what lies beneath that makes it feel truly special. A few steps down, and you find yourself in a small stone crypt dating back to the 7th century, built at the time of St Cedd’s monastery. It’s quiet in a way

One of the things that makes staying here so special is what’s right on the doorstep. The village green sits just beside The Green, Lastingham. North York Moors., and just beyond that you’ll find St Mary’s Church – and tucked quietly just over the bridge there's St Cedd’s Well, which is quite literally right next door to the cottage. We thought it might be interesting to share a little more about it. The well is traditionally linked to St Cedd, a 7th-century monk who founded

That unmistakable scent drifting through the woodland is one of the simplest pleasures of spring. We love gathering a little to bring back to the cottage — perfect for soups, garlic butter, pesto or stirring through fresh pasta. If you’re tempted to forage, a gentle reminder to be certain of what you’re picking (wild garlic should smell strongly when crushed), avoid toxic lookalikes like lily of the valley, and always take only what you need. A small seasonal joy, right on th

What started as a “simple” job turned into anything but! As we arrived at the cottage on Saturday, my husband said, “I’m really looking forward to a visit where someone else is doing the work.” That didn’t quite go to plan. What we expected to be a straightforward new floor quickly became a much bigger project. Once we got started, it was clear the floor needed far more work than we had anticipated — including a new damp course, screed, flooring, and a significant amount of j

Oh my good ness, well its felt like Christmas here The Green, Lastingham. North York Moors., as I've unwrapped our box of goodies from Harebell Soapery and I am so excited... We’ve expanded our little bathroom treats with some lovely new additions from Harebell Soapery, a local producer here on the North York Moors. Alongside their wonderful soaps we already provide, we’re now including their whipped body butters too – all handmade in small batches using natural ingredients.

An afternoon walk from The Green, Lastingham. North York Moors... We headed up the hill from the cottage this afternoon and out onto the moor above Lastingham, and it really was one of those moments that makes you stop and take it all in. Everything felt so bright and fresh, with that clear light you only seem to get up here. As you come out onto the moor the view just opens up – you can see for miles in every direction, with nothing but open landscape and sky. It’s the kind

As the days lengthen and the sap starts to rise, I always notice the first bikes returning to the lanes around Lastingham — and my thoughts turn to gardens. If you’re staying at The Green, Lastingham. North York Moors.here are four of my favourite nearby gardens for a spring wander: Helmsley Walled Garden – a beautiful five-acre garden tucked beneath Helmsley Castle, full of colour, scent and (very importantly) an excellent café. Scampston Hall and Walled Garden – designed by

One of our favourite days out during half term was a visit to the The Yorkshire Museum in York, and it’s a brilliant place to explore with children. If you’re staying The Green, Lastingham. North York Moors. and heading into York for the day, this is a great way to spend part of your visit. What starts as “let’s just pop in for a quick look” somehow turns into a good few hours wandering around. There are lots of hands-on activities and interactive displays where the children

Alongside our new and very special Barney & Stan’s Pet Corner doggy welcome bag, I’ve given our guest welcome basket a bit of a revamp too. We’ve added some very delicious Listers crisps — produced on their Yorkshire farm — in some exciting and slightly exotic flavours for you to try. We’ve carried out a taste test in the name of research and can confirm they are definitely another level of crisp! You’ll also now find a selection of Taylor’s of Harrogate Tea including decaf,

I’ve been meaning to change the hallway curtains for a while — they were definitely starting to show their age, especially against the lovely fresh paint. It’s amazing what a difference it’s made… everything feels so much lighter and fresher now! It did involve a few (okay, maybe more than a few ) trips to Red Squirrel Trade & DIY — but on the plus side, we now have an encyclopaedic knowledge of their screw selection. Every cloud…

We’ve been giving our guest welcome baskets a little refresh – including something special for our wonderful four-legged visitors. We’re so excited to be working with Barney & Stan’s Pet Corner in Helmsley. If you haven’t visited yet, it really is a gorgeous independent pet supply shop, specialising in natural treats and carefully chosen goodies. Steph, who owns the shop, has created our very own unique ‘The Green, Lastingham’ biscuit bones, along with bespoke treat mix bags

I was looking for somewhere that would keep us busy for most of the day but didn’t rely on good weather — and it was absolutely perfect. With 22 huts, each covering a different aspects of the military and specifically Britain's WW2 story, there’s so much to explore and it’s all brilliantly put together. The Heritage Hall, with its military vehicles, was definitely a favourite, and the team who look after everything were so knowledgeable and friendly — they really brought it a

What a lovely surprise to see that our cottage The Green, Lastingham. North York Moors. has been included in the recent article, in Yorkshire Life Magazine “The Best Locations for Stargazing Across Yorkshire.” Yorkshire’s dark skies really are something special. With the North York Moors National Park recognised as International Dark Sky Reserve, we’re incredibly lucky to have such clear, star-filled nights right on our doorstep. There’s a quiet kind of magic in stepping o

With February half term around the corner, I know rainy days happen — and sometimes the hardest part is just knowing what to do with everyone. Or maybe you don’t want a plan at all, just a quiet morning that unfolds gently. I added the big box of Lego at Christmas — partly as a present to the cottage, and partly for my own sanity. Because I know how helpful it is when the weather keeps you in. Out it comes: towers, spaceships, careful sorting, wild imagination. It doesn’t mat

It’s been lovely to see our local area getting so much attention on national TV recently, and it’s left me feeling inspired for half term and plenty of future adventures. I thoroughly enjoyed Our Yorkshire Pub Rescue with Jon Richardson on More4. It really made me realise what a beautiful part of the world this is, showcasing the strong community spirit and the warmth and personality of the people here. I honestly can’t wait for The Plough Community Pub. Fadmoor to reopen, a

There’s something rather lovely about receiving a postcard in a world where communication is instant. I still adore getting something that someone has taken the time to choose, write, stamp and post. I keep every postcard I’m sent and have become a bit of a collector — especially old postcards and historic images of Lastingham and The Green, Lastingham. North York Moors. . Over the years, I’ve put together several frames of photos showing the village and the cottage through t

So I shared something similar about a month ago, and interestingly it’s come up again. It turns out this really is at the heart of providing the best possible experience — and making sure our guests have the best possible holiday. Huge thanks to Kay Gibbs - Holiday Let Coach for encouraging me to come back to this and really think it through. I’ve been reflecting on what we do here at The Green, Lastingham — what we offer, who we’re for, and how we make sure guests know exac

A look ahead to the Dark Skies Festival in the North York Moors National Park.

We’re now back from a beautifully crisp, snowy very long weekend at the cottage — freshly cleaned, restocked, and feeling nicely reset. The children are now back at school, but we’re already looking ahead to our next little adventure. February is firmly in our sights, with a trip to York very much on the cards — especially as Colour & Light York returns in 2026, and in a bigger way than ever before. This year’s event will see two of York’s most iconic landmarks lit up togeth

We’ve been quietly working away on this and are very excited to share that our online booking calendar is now live. You can find it just here on our website , with availability showing for stays from 18th April onwards, when we say goodbye to Sykes. We’re really looking forward to booking directly and getting to know our guests better. Booking this way means you can ask questions, get a real feel for the cottage, and make sure it’s the right fit for you before you book. This