On the other side of the fence hens potter, ducks waddle and sheep graze. Head for the garden with a pint of Helmsley Honey and lap up the countryside. If the setting is peaceful, the building is special: a Gothic Revival chapel restored to full glory. Spangles of light filter through windows of stained glass, Nordic insulation keeps you cosy, and the curved ceiling soars above.
You sleep in a large bed by the altar enclosed by the original screen, and snuggle up on sofas by the wood-burner. A beautiful new wing houses a sunny kitchen where a welcome basket awaits, while the sofa-bedded sunroom (sleeping two) opens to a garden for breakfast on warm days.
St Aidan’s lies at the gateway to the heather-covered North York Moors, and the coast (Staithes, Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay) isn’t much further – perfect yomping ground for you and your dog. Helmsley, a historic market town, is a walk through the woods. The Star, a revered pub, is a ten-minute drive.
We have visited St Aidan Church in Autumn. The Church was fabulous to stay in with a well equiped kitchen a lovely room with a woodburner. To go asleepe during a hurricane in the evening and awake in the morning with a bit of light scattering through the small tall church windows was a special happening. We like the surrounding area and quiet walks to beautiful little villages. This spot is fabulous. We will come back for another relaxing week or weekend