And then it was October 2013!...

Well how on earth did we get to October already?!

I cannot quite believe where this year has gone.  Doesn't seem five minutes ago since it was Easter and what do you know?  The Halloween invites are out and the 'C' word is starting to cross everybodies lips!

It's been quite a year, a brilliant year for tourism in the UK and a cracking summer to boot!  Lazy, hazy days of sunshine and the economy on the up again - hoorah!

I have welcomed familiar faces over the last few months and a few new ones too, including quite a few of you enjoying a 'mini moon' after your wedding celebrations - why not?  A Yorkshire Bolt Hole is quite the spot just for two!

I'll be quite honest, availability is pretty thin at Bewerley Hall Cottage now this side of Christmas, however I do have a few midweek breaks in December if you fancy getting away for a few days and enjoying the Nidderdale countryside?  Ashknott Cottage is filling up nicely too so if a Autumn/Winter break is what you need, please don't hang about!

Bookings are already coming in for 2014 so if you are tied to specific dates, I would certainly check out my latest availability and make sure your dates are reserved to avoid any possible disappointment.

There's been a change of address for Riley and myself recently, we've moved up to just outside Masham, on the edge of Nidderdale and Wensleydale and are simply loving it!  It is fantastic to be living in such a friendly and pretty spot and to be able to get out and about exploring lots of new walks for me to pass onto you when you next holiday here.

I promise I will be back in touch before the year is out and really look forward to welcoming you to Ashknott Cottage or Bewerley Hall Cottage one day very soon.

Until then,

Best wishes

Sarah and Riley the dog
x

Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer!

Hi folks!

Well here we are nearly at the end of July!  We've been enjoying some great weather here in Yorkshire over the last few weeks and it's supposed to last into August!  Roll on!

Yes the last few months have gone in a blink!  Have been busy welcoming lots of new faces to Ashknott Cottage and Bewerley Hall Cottage, including those that have travelled a few miles to stay also!  From Florida to New South Wales in fact and a few places in between!

Now that the Tour de France 2013 is over - the baton as it were has been handed over to Yorkshire!  We are going to be hosting the 'Grand Depart' on the 05th and 06th July 2014 and it will be passing through local villages such as West Tanfield, Ripon and Harrogate.  Harrogate is expecting over 3 million visitors that weekend!  I must share with you that both my cottages are already booked so if you do fancy staying and making a holiday out of it, I'd get organised quick.

Check out the link below:

www.letour.yorkshire.com

Riley and I have been enjoying some great walks recently too, he's been enjoying cooling off in the local reservoirs of Swinsty, Fewston and Thruscross, great places to walk around with or without a dog and just a stone's throw from Harrogate.

Well as we sail into August, have a terrific summer wherever you may lay your hat and hopefully you'll come to visit a Yorkshire Bolt Hole very soon for a short break or a little longer perhaps?

Best wishes

Sarah and Riley the dog x

Wild Garlic, Sunshine and Beautiful Bluebells!

Hello folks!

This is more like it, a lovely bit of sunshine to enjoy!  What a change a few weeks make!

April came and went in a flash to be honest, welcoming back lots of familiar faces and waggy tails!
We have launched our new range of natural toiletries thanks to our friends at Oakwood Aromatics - Phil and Kate.  They lovingly make their goodies just down the road in West Tanfield, close to Masham and even use local Yorkshire rapeseed oil no less.  Hope you will enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed trying them out!

Riley and I have managed to get some good walks in recently too, enjoying the sight of young spring lambs skipping about the fields, wild garlic and of course beautiful bluebells that grace our stunning woods.

Our calendar is booking up rapidly but we do still have availability during July, August and September so if you fancy a break at a gorgeous 18th century cottage just for two in Nidderdale, Yorkshire, then come say hello!

Wishing you a wonderful Summer,

Best wishes

Sarah, Tim and Riley the dog x

Springtime in Nidderdale

Hello Everybody!
Well here we are nearly at the end of March and Easter just around the corner.  This month we've welcomed back a few familiar faces as well as some new ones, we sat outside in the sunshine at the beginning of March and here I am writing to you on the 25th March with the log burner on and that white stuff called snow laying around outside!  Let's hope that the warmer days are just around the corner as we change our clocks to British Summer Time this weekend!
I love Spring.  I love to see the newly born lambs skipping about the fields as I drive upto our cottages in Nidderdale.  Everything is coming back to life and starting to grow again in the garden and these new green shoots seem to give everybody a real lift with the hope of sunnier and longer days within easy grasp.  Events are being planned, the wedding season is upon us and local attractions up and down the dale are getting ready for this years visitors. 
Life at Yorkshire Bolt Holes is as busy as ever.  We've received fantastic comments about the newly refurbished bathroom at Bewerley Hall Cottage and are looking forward to a busy and sunny Summer.
We are also very excited to be working with a new and very local toiletry provider, who is currently creating our very own signature scent no less... watch this space for more info to come, in fact I am testing out the samples this week! 
As I sign off, have yourselves a lovely relaxing Easter and here's to Spring and new beginnings....

Sarah, Tim and Riley the dog x



Snowdrops and Slipper Baths

Hello friends.  Well here we are in February already!  The days are getting longer, the snowdrops are out and the bulbs are pushing up!  I feel as if we have achieved so much since I last wrote my blog just before Christmas!  We started the New Year with some great news that www.greentraveller.co.uk wanted to feature us in their new guide to Nidderdale AONB which has just been launched.  It's packed full of places to stay, to eat and activities to enjoy; including Llama trekking which you can enjoy in nearby Fellbeck, just a short drive from Bewerley Hall Cottage.

We started our renovation of the bathroom at Bewerley Hall Cottage at the beginning of January and welcomed our first guests back just a couple of weeks ago now, it was fantastic to hear their superb feedback about the new slipper bath and walk in shower, we hope you will love it as much as we do!

The last few weeks have been exceptionally busy with new bookings for the year ahead which is fantastic.  There will be lots of familiar faces returning to our cottages this year, aswell as lots of new ones too! 

Yorkshire received some superb news just before Christmas with the success of winning the bid to host 'Le Tour'.  This amazing event will be starting from Leeds on Saturday 05th July 2014 and will be in our area again on Sunday 06th July 2014, and will be passing through Masham, Ripon and Harrogate which are very close to where our cottages are situated in Pateley Bridge and Kirkby Malzeard.  So to catch the action and to make a holiday of it, why not come and stay with us?

Have a fabulous February!

Best wishes

Sarah, Tim and Riley the dog x

Have yourself a very merry Christmas......

Why is it we know when Christmas is every year, the date doesn't change, but it always creeps up on you?
Here we are on the 20th December, the shortest day is tomorrow and we'll be welcoming back some familiar faces and new faces to our cottages this weekend and next, for their Christmas and New Year break in Nidderdale, Yorkshire.
This time of year is when I prepare myself mentally and physically for the year ahead.  Historically it's just after Christmas when people plan and book their summer break or perhaps book a last minute break to recover from the busy Christmas holidays.  In previous years, running a self catering business was just 'seasonal', now I am pleased to say it's all year round, and why not?!
Tim and I stayed in our cottages during December and enjoyed very much being in their company!  We lived liked a local and ate and drank in the local pubs, did our favourite walks and took some time out for ourselves, perfect.
Getting away, just for a few nights can really make all the difference.
What will 2013 bring?  Hopefully another busy and blessed year.  Filled with happy faces, tail wagging dogs and hopefully a little more sunshine! 
So wherever or whoever you are spending this Christmas with, be happy, merry and enjoy!

Best wishes to you and yours for a great Christmas and happy and healthy 2013.

Sarah, Tim and Riley x

A Special Welcome Back Gift for 2013 from Yorkshire Bolt Holes

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/A-Special-Welcome-Back-Gift-for-2013-.html?soid=1107401835225&aid=uExJLKQrejM

Hey strangers!  I know, I am so sorry for being a bit tardy about writing lately, I suppose from a business point of view it's great to be so busy I don't have the time to blog, but now that Christmas is fastly approaching and the maintainence jobs are nearly all done, it gives me a bit more time to write.

We've loved 2012, it's been so busy and we are very excited about 2013 and welcoming new and familiar faces to our cottages.

So if you fancy staying with us next year then why not book by next Friday 14th December 2013 and receive a rather special welcome hamper filled with delicious Yorkshire goodies.

Just our way of saying ' thank you'.

Best wishes

Sarah and Tim Manby