Family Guide to Activities in Grewelthorpe

The possibilities of what you can do in Grewelthorpe's vast expanse of forest and fields is limitless. At first glance you may think this is nothing more than a sleepy rural village yet on closer inspection it is actually quite the opposite, offering many fun things to do in the village and surrounding area.

Begin with a scenic activity by taking an explorative hike around the wide-stretching woodland, discovering follies, ancient ruins, secret lagoons and tucked away beaches. You can also follow the snaking, rocky path of the stream that cuts its way through HackFall down to the River Ure, but remember your wellies, at it isn't a very dry route! There is over 120 acres of woodland to discover, no two walks are the same, it offers delight for children as they climb over fallen trees and get their wellies wet in the waterfalls and dogs love the chance to roam off the lead.

Leaving Hackfall and heading down the country lanes, you can locate a hidden gem called the Himalayan Gardens. Open through spring and summer yearly, the garden's beautiful, lush and bright flowers is perfect for a relaxing stroll with someone special or close to you. Not only do the gardens provide winding pathways and breathtaking blooms, but they also have a small café, which provides delicious home-made cakes and meals. The gardens are peppered with impressive sculptures and there is a playground for the little ones.

Within 2 minutes walk of the cottage you can visit the children's playground and the village duck pond. The pond has many hungry ducks and if you are lucky you may spot the Herron who regularly comes to sit on the side of the water hoping to catch a fish. The cottage is directly opposite the village hall, converted with lottery funding from an old methodist church this is now home to regular exercise classes (yoga, pilates and cardio classes) along with live music events on weekends, talks and even language classes. There is a cafe selling homemade treats, breakfast and delicious lunches.

In the surrounding area of Masham, there are 2 famous breweries, the Black sheep brewery and Theakstones. The Black Sheep offer Brewery tours and have a wonderful shop and pub serving great hot food to enjoy with your sampling of the local ales. Masham also has a 5 star pub called the White Bear, which is a lovely place to go out with friends or family for a meal and/or a drink. There are at least another 4 pubs to choose from, Fish & Chips takeaway and a number of traditional sweet shops and ice cream parlours. A playground, cricket pitch and tennis courts are located by the river and whilst there why not take a stroll along the river side.

If you are feeling energetic nearby Kirkby Malzeard has free tennis courts and a basketball court along with further playgrounds just waiting to be explored.

Swinton Estate Hotel and Spa is just a few minutes from the cottage. Have a relaxing day of spa treatment in the Swinton Estate or even get your riding gear on and saddle up for a horse ride down the winding lanes of backroads behind the large expanse of area the Estate covers. Afternoon tea in the castle is amazing and highly recommended. In addition the newly opened Grantley Hall is an outstanding 5 star hotel located in Grantly just a 10 minute drive through open countryside. A place of pure opulence, perfect if you have a special occasion coming up.

Lastly we can't finish this list without mentioning Bivouac. Part of the Swinton Estate, this hidden treasure offers the incredible Druids Temple, walks overlooking the nearby Leighton Reservoir and a wonderful cafe with play equipment and even some owls to see. On weekends in Summer they offer a BBQ experience for families with live music, enjoy the great outdoors, with a glass of wine while the children play.

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