When you arrive in Appleton Le Moors, one sign simply says “Slow Down”. It turns out to be very good advice.
Many guests arrive at the Long Barn with a list of places they plan to visit. Then something unexpected happens. The car stays parked for the weekend, not moving until departure day.
Guests arrive, unpack and settle in. Their first plan is often a walk from the door. Then they discover just how many walks there are to choose from, all within the beautiful North York Moors and all without needing to get back in the car.
Walks from the Door
From gentle woodland rambles to longer hikes across moorland paths and bridleways, there is something for all abilities. Walks take in picturesque villages such as Lastingham and Hutton-le-Hole, while one of our favourites links together five pubs, two cafés and an ice cream shop within a few miles of the Long Barn.
The beauty is that there really is a walk for every ability. A recent group split into two. One set off for a day out walking to Gillamoor, which may have involved a pub lunch along the way. The other fancied a slower start and chose a shorter circular walk around the village.
Another group all decided to tackle the Sinnington circular walk, a three-hour route that drops down the valley from Appleton to the picture-postcard village of Sinnington, with refreshments at the Fox and Hounds before the climb back home.
A Pub Five Minutes Away
Our own lovely Moors Inn is just a five-minute walk away and is often part of guests’ plans. Many head up for a pint, lunch or a group meal. Walking through the village, stepping around the sheep grazing on the verges, is a wonderful way to leave everyday life behind for a few days.
No designated driver. No taxis to book. Just a gentle stroll home afterwards.
The pub garden, with its views towards Sutton Bank, is something of a hidden gem. On clear moonless nights, the walk back can be just as memorable as the evening itself. Guests often stop to look up at the stars, sometimes seeing the Milky Way for the very first time.
More Time Together
Perhaps the biggest surprise is how much more time groups spend together when they are not constantly jumping in and out of cars. There is more time for conversation, more time around the table and more time simply enjoying being together.
Whether it’s breakfast stretching into mid-morning coffee, a long lunch in the courtyard or dinner around the vaulted dining table, guests often tell us that they really slow down within a day of arriving.
Space to Spread Out
The West Barn adds another dimension to a stay. It gives children, teenagers and grown-ups alike space to spread out, whether that is a game of table tennis, table football, yoga, reading or simply finding a corner with a book.
Combined with the layout of the Long Barn itself, it means groups can easily come together or find their own space when they need it.
The Little Things Matter
Sometimes it is also the little things that make a difference. Guests quickly realise there is no need to rush out and buy forgotten essentials. Dishwasher tablets, washing-up liquid, tin foil, coffee beans, Yorkshire Tea and plenty of other kitchen basics are all provided in generous quantities for the duration of the stay.
Two examples sum up how we like to look after guests. We happily supplied flour when a group found themselves short while making a cauliflower cheese sauce for their Sunday Roast.
On another occasion, a group were enjoying a drink at the Moors Inn and had planned a curry for perfect evening meal. The only problem was they had forgotten to bring yoghurt for the raita. They asked John if they could buy some. Instead, he made them a dish of homemade raita and dropped it off at the Long Barn later that afternoon.
It’s that sort of community spirit that makes staying in a village like Appleton-le-Moors so special.
And yes, all barbecue fuel and logs for your stay are included too.
The Long Barn Becomes the Destination
We want guests to arrive, unpack and relax. To spend less time organising and more time enjoying themselves.
While there is no shortage of wonderful places to visit across the North York Moors, many guests discover that they don’t actually need to go anywhere at all.
The Long Barn is not just a place to stay. For many groups, it becomes the destination.
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