A sort of Bill Bryson's "Notes from a Small Island," from a lovely Goathland Guest House instead! Here you'll find local information, news from the house, short tales and observations and anything else which springs to mind as I type.

Well, I’m baldly going to start May’s guide by blowing our trumpet! We were awarded TripAdvisor’s “Traveller’s Choice” award in 2012 and this year, we’ve earned it again. It’s always fantastic to earn an award on the basis of our guests’ feedback. And then last week, at our annual (unannounced) assessment by Quality in Tourism, we moved from being 4 Star Silver to 4 Star Gold status, and got a ‘Breakfast Award’ – scoring 100% for our breakfasts! Chuffed to say the least!  

Back to business… “May flowers” – indeed it does! The daffodils have finally joined us and everywhere looks incredibly cheery. There’s still a little nip in the air when the wind catches you unawares, but the sun has been out every day and out in our garden, you can sit and sunbathe without a care in the world! The forecast looks great for the forthcoming Spring Steam Galas, too. It’s the 40^th Anniversary for the North York Moors Railway this year and celebrations span two weekends this May. 

And you can tell it’s getting to that busy time of year as everywhere begins to launch fairs and markets again… Castle Howard’s Craft and Produce Fairs begin again in May, there are Vintage Fairs in Scarborough, Antiques Fairs at Danby and so forth. Plus May plays hosts to one of our favourite events of the year: Malton Food Lover’s Festival. Local produce, amazing homegrown and crafted foods and for every simple yet beautiful cut of meat, you’ll find a wacky spin on a classic cheese! Last year we left armed with venison sausages, sloe gin, tasty brownies and more artisan bread than we could eat. We feasted on wood-fired oven pizza slices, handmade chocolate truffles and frozen yoghurt. There’s also a beer tent and all the usual fantastic local shops open around the town. This year it’s on Saturday 18^th and Sunday 19^th.

And on the day you don’t go to Malton, you can go to Pickering Game & Country Fair and experience all the countryside has to offer – from all the country sports with loads of have-a-go opportunities, to fine foods and animals – all this and lots more not just for the country sports enthusiast but all of the family to enjoy throughout the weekend.

Later in the month, Duncombe Park hosts its Country Fair (Monday 27^th) which is a great day out in a beautiful location. You can even call to the Black Swan Tea Rooms in Helmsley whilst you’re out that way! 

You might like to know, for example, that if you've had a leisurely Saturday hopping on and off the NYM Steam Railway, eaten an ice-cream or two and whiled away an hour watching the sheep nibble their way up The Common, that you won't need to drive down to Whitby to enjoy fish and chips... Eskdale Fisheries in Sleights is a great spot, with picnic benches in the garden outside so you can enjoy fish and chips at their best - open, in paper, in the sunshine!

Ever heard about the little pub you just have to visit in Beck Hole? Just a mile from Goathland by car and little less to walk down the Rail Trail... The Birch Hall is one of the best and smallest pubs in Britain, complete with sweet shop and beer garden. Enjoy a 'Beck Hole Butty' and a pint of 'Beck Watter'! Our little dog, Bailey, does so every visit!

Sandsend... glorious beaches, good coffee and cake at both 'Sandside' and 'Wit's End', art gallery, pub, a 'foodies' shop and just a couple of miles north of Whitby town centre. Perfect. But don't tell anyone else about it!

For fish and chips, 'The Magpie' is rightly famous. Cue the queues! Alternatively head over the swing bridge into the old town and keep to the right... you'll find Hadley's. It's good. And Fortune's own-smoked kippers (find them on Henrietta Street), can even be posted home for you.

For a walk from our doorstep, follow the Rail Trail down to Grosmont - head to the Geill's Art Cafe for coffee and cake to set you up for the walk back. Or pope into the Old School House Coffee Shop for a slice or scrumptious chocolate cake. And you can even cheat and catch the train back to Goathland Station.

One of our favourite 'drives' starts by heading out of Goathland towards Egton, then up through Glaisdale and on to Danby. If you're peckish en route, stop in Lealholm for a home-baked treat from the bakery and enjoy it whilst looking at fantastic views towards the North Sea. Beyond Danby you'll find Castleton before circling back towards Hutton-le-Hole. Stop off at the Red Lion at Blakey Ridge for a spot of lunch or just a cheeky drink. By Hutton-le-Hole you might need to stretch your legs around the shops and if you forfeited lunch after your hearty Fairhaven breakfast, head to the Blacksmith's at Lastingham for an early dinner and then head towards Pickering for a straightforward drive back to Goathland, or towards Stape for a more adventurous route across the top of the moors! 

More evidence that Spring is here? Scampston Walled Garden recommences its ever popular ‘Walk with the Head Gardener’ on the last Tuesday of each month. Scampston is a great spot, with the house, gardens and plant sales and somewhere to enjoy a cuppa and cake.

And don’t forget, for every event that takes place to fill your day; you can also easily fill your days simply enjoying the landscape on our doorstep. We have an abundance of walks and guide books helping you to plan anything from a two-mile amble around the village, enjoying a sit on one of the numerous benches o helpfully located at all the best view-points and sun-traps, to a twenty-mile hike over fields, valleys, moors, woodlands, fords and yet never that far away from a highly recommended pub or cuppa! We’ve started compiling driving routes to, to help you get the most from your day whether you want to explore North Yorkshire’s beautiful coastal villages or charming moorland spots. You can simply enjoy your breakfast and then head out with a newspaper or borrow one of our books (yes, that’s right, you’ll have time to sit and read!) see all the best spots – and share with us any gems you discover in the meantime) and then head back and relax in the guest lounge with drink from the bar.

And what's happening right now? Well, we've had a morning of continuing with the spring clean (which if I'm honest is more like a 365-days-a-year cleaning programme!) and then an afternoon in the garden. We're having some additional external lighting installed at the front of the house and mum has been busy planting marguerites in the front porch. Dad has been digging over the veggie patch - around the newly planted potatoes I hasten to add - and cutting the lawn. I was in charge of weeding and trimming and car cleaning. Our guests are busy planning tomorrow's walks and our railway volunteers are preparing for a busy weekend on the lines. And they're all eating homemade chocolate cake!  

Tempted to join us? I hope so. We’d love to hear from you once you’ve got some dates in mind… sit, walk, snooze, explore, cycle, climb, catch a train, hop on the Coastliner, catch up with that book you’ve been meaning to read since you unwrapped it at Christmas, eat, drink and be merry… Well, I can think of worse ways to spend a few days! And few places better than here to spend them…

Kelly

"Nothing could be better than this. Thank you."

"Magic! Again!"

"Fantastic! Thank you for a perfect stay. Second to none without doubt."

"Perfection – food, accommodation & service. See you soon."

"Thank you for making my stay so lovely. This was an early Christmas gift from my family, and one I shall never forget."

"Fantastic – amazing eye for detail and exactly the weekend we were after."

"The BEST!"

"Perfection from start to finish! Thank you for your hospitality! We will be back for your breakfasts!!"