The Owl at Hawnby gallery Gallery
The Owl at Hawnby
Hawnby,
Yorkshire
Inn
+44 (0)1439 330180
Visit owner's website
£130 - £170
per night
Refurbished pub in a village high in the hills of the North York Moors, with stylish rooms and unpretentious food using quality ingredients
9 rooms
Rooms sleep 2
Children welcome
Pets welcome
Babies welcome
Your enquiry details
2 Guests 06 Dec 24 - 06 Dec 24
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£130 - £170 per night
The Experience
The Owl dates from the 19th century and is still very much a village pub, with flagstone floors, blazing log fires and quirky touches including stuffed pheasants and owls in glass boxes behind the bar.
Chef/owner Sam Varley makes full use of North Yorkshire’s rich larder and draws on influences from across Europe and beyond. Seasonal ingredients such as estate game regularly feature and there are terraces on two levels with gorgeous views across the village and surrounding hills. Six rooms are upstairs and three are in a cottage across the road, and all have a cosy, classic feel; expect to sleep well as this is Dark Sky country and there’s no passing traffic.
The area is exceptional walking country, with footpaths and trails radiating from the front door. Nearby Hemsley has an excellent deli and a proper farm shop, and the 18th-century Castle Howard, the dramatic ruins of Byland Abbey and York Minster are in easy reach.
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We think you'll love
- The stunning drive through the dales to reach a glorious, very peaceful location, and the amazing Dark Skies
- Sam's sublime seasonal cooking followed by a sundowner on the top terrace soaking up the view towards the Howardian Hills
- Following a hearty breakfast, exploring the beautiful surrounding landscape via the myriad of footpaths and trails
You should know
- The village is rural and quite remote, with the nearest town seven miles away – although Sam's food alone is more than a good reason to stay
- Dogs are allowed in the cottage rooms across the road
Essentials
- EV charger
- Swimming pool
- Hot tub
- Garden
- Open fire / woodburner
- Breakfast included
- Breakfast available
- Meals available
- Vegetarian meals
- Parking on premises
- Free parking nearby
- Accessible by public transport
- WiFi
- Spa
- Central heating
- Limited mobility
- Wheelchair access
- Mobile reception
- Hob
- Bar
- Barbecue
- Licensed premises
- Paid parking nearby
- Air conditioning
- Relaxation areas
- Tennis court
- No smoking
- Credit cards
- Working farm
- Owner has pets
- Pets welcome
Family friendly
- Baby monitor
- Books and toys
- Children welcome
- Babies welcome
- Stair gates
- High chair
- Fire guard
- Cot available
Nearby
- Pub/bar within 3 miles
- Restaurant within 3 miles
- Shop within 3 miles
Activities
- Bikes available
- Food courses
- Kayaking
- Other courses
- Sailing
- Surfing
- Wild swimming
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Accommodation
Pricing
- Nightly price
- from £130
- 9 Doubles
- From £130
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Information
Booking information
- Check in
- 3-11pm
- Check out
- 10am
- Closed
- Mon-Tue except bank holidays.
- Meals
- Lunch from £20. Dinner from £30.
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Location
The neighbourhood
Hawnby is a pretty estate village above the river Rye and approached by winding lanes criss-crossing river valleys and rolling hills. The pub is set at the top of the village and has stunning views of rolling farmland to wooded hillsides. The market town of Hemsley is 6.5 miles away.
Local points of interest from Sam Varley & Alex Foots
- This is exceptional walking country, river valleys and rolling hills on the edge of the North York Moors.
- Castle Howard - Still privately owned and home to the Howard family for more than 300 years, this splendid 18th-century house is set in 1,000 acres of fabulous landscape in the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
- Byland Abbey - These austerely beautiful ruins of what was once one of the greatest monasteries in England are very dramatic.
- York's cathedral is one of the biggest in Northern Europe, a stunning example of Gothic, Perpendicular Gothic and Early English building styles, and the Great East Window, finished in 1408, is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world.
- The Sutton Bank Centre provides the ideal starting point for exploring the North York Moors. All kinds of cycling routes and walking trails for all abilities begin here, including a walk to the famous White Horse of Kilburn.
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Introducing
Sam Varley & Alex Foots
The pub and village are owned by the Hawnby Estate. Sam Varley was the chef/patron of the well-respected Bantam Restaurant in Helmsley and moved his whole team to The Owl when it closed. He has worked at the Kinneuchar Inn in Fife, Duck Soup in Soho and Naughty Piglets in Brixton.
Lost down lanes in a remote estate village below the North York Moors, this refurbished old drovers' inn has long been a stopping off point for walkers and cyclists, yet since December 2023, Sam Varley's sublime seasonal cooking has seen foodies flock into the hills for his delicious food. Savour stunning views from the terrace, explore miles of footpaths, and stay over in cosy, peaceful rooms.