North York Moors Champion
We love living in the North York Moors National Park and want all our guests to experience this wonderful place to its full. Staying self-catering in the Long Barn, means that you can chose exactly where you want to explore and spend your time. But with so much...
Foraging for mushrooms in the North York Moors
We went foraging for the first time for mushrooms this October. It was a perfect option for us. Loving mushrooms, but not feeling confident to pick our own other than the classic puffball which grows round here. We met Justin when he was selling wild mushrooms at...
In the shoes of a self-catering guest
Recently, we’ve stayed in several very different self-catering cottages in Croatia and the UK. Being self-catering guests ourselves, really made us appraise what it’s like to be in the shoes of our guests. Here are three things that have struck us: Finding the perfect...
Our 5 Favourite Villages
We thought we’d feature our 5 favourite villages in this week’s blog. Obviously our very favourite village is Appleton Le Moors, which we’ve blogged about previously. But our challenge in writing this is which ones to choose. There are so many lovely places to visit...
What’s on in October?
Discover a variety of festive events in North York Moors this October, from harvest festivals to spooky Halloween fun for the whole family. Here are some of our favourite things to do this October. Malton Harvest Festival 5th – 6th October is the autumn version of...
Christmas and New Year at the Long Barn
Spending Christmas or New year self-catering away from home is a great solution to organising a family gathering. Especially at this festive time of year. The North York Moors is a wonderful wintery backdrop to a Christmas holiday. We can’t promise snow (although we...
September Wildlife in North York Moors
September is a wonderful month to see the North York Moors wildlife in all its autumn glory. The days may be shortening, but we often have blue skies and sunshine. The leaves begin to hint at the autumn colours to come. And the hedgerows are full of berries and fruit....
Our 5 “must visit” historic sights
The North York Moors is full of wonderful sights to visit. From wonderful views of the spectacular countryside to gorgeous market towns and villages. It’s also an area rich in history. We are spoilt for choice of places to visit, and you’ll find lots of information...
What’s on in September?
September is here, and it’s a beautiful time to visit the North York Moors. Every year, the North York Moors themes September as a mindful month, and signposts to a host of relaxing activities to do. Travel writers and adventurers Fay and Matt Doyle have written a...
Cycling Adventures in the North York Moors
The North York Moors offers incredible cycling adventures for riders of all skill levels, from leisurely family outings to world-class mountain biking. Explore the huge network of downloadable cycling routes spanning the North York Moors and Howardian Hills. There are...
Special celebrations at the Long Barn
We think that the Long Barn is perfect for celebrations, and it seems our guests do to. Many guests book a stay with us to celebrate a special occasion. And lots return for other celebrations and gatherings. Our unique barn provides the perfect backdrop for...
The Northern Lights in North Yorkshire
We live in the North York Moors, a Dark Skies Area where we've seen amazing events like the Perseid meteor shower and Northern Lights. In this blog post, we'll share our experiences and give you tips on where to go,. What apps to use, and how to enjoy stargazing in...
The Flower Belt
Part of our ethos of running our own self-catering business at the Long Barn, is supporting other local business. And there are some brilliant ones in the North York Moors that we encourage our guests to support. The Flower Belt is a perfect example of one. It...
What’s on in August?
Summer is here and August is a great month for visiting the North York Moors. Our 3 absolute favourite things to do this month are: 1. North York Moors Chamber Music Festival runs every year for two weeks. This year’s theme is “Echo’s”. Where the musicians explore the...
How a weekend away makes you think.
During a recent self-catering getaway to the Lake District, we found ourselves reflecting on our North York Moors home, appreciating its beauty and the value of local hospitality. We both grew up in the Northwest of England, and as kids, many family holidays were in...
The 3 Challenges of booking a self-catering cottage for a large group.
Booking a self-catering stay away on behalf of family and friends can be stressful. We think that there are 3 challenges if you are the “lucky” person in charge of organizing. Challenge 1: Agreeing on one date that everyone can make. This can be made easier with a big...
July at the Long Barn
July is a lovely month to stay self-catering at the Long Barn and enjoy the North York Moors in summer. There’s plenty of space to relax in the south facing private courtyard with friends and family. You can enjoy walks from the door and or explore the beautiful...
Discovering Appleton Le Moors – 5 historical gems
Nestled in the picturesque North Yorkshire countryside, Appleton-le-Moors is a historic medieval village that offers a unique glimpse into England's past. When you stay at our beautiful self-catering Long Barn, you'll experience the village's rich history first hand....
Self catering a Summer BBQ
It’s official. The weather currently is rubbish. However, dodging a few showers is part and parcel of a British BBQ. And as the weather starts to improve, we guarantee we’ll all be making up for lost time. The good news is that it really is easy to BBQ when...
Five Unforgettable Coastal Adventures in North Yorkshire
Would you like to know our five favourite places for an unforgettable coastal adventure in North Yorkshire? One of the great reasons to stay at the Long Barn is how close we are to the wonderful coast. The Yorkshire coastline stretches 100 miles from North to South;...
Behind the Scenes
We get lots of comments whenever we post anything about behind the scenes on social media. So, we thought we’d let you see behind the scenes on a changeover day at the Long Barn. As you can imagine, turning round a large self-catering barn for 14 people is quite some...
Something for every generation
We have lots of families staying with us especially grandparents, their grown-up children and grandchildren. Self-catering in the luxury of the Long Barn is perfect for all ages. There is plenty of space for everyone to have fun and relax in. The West Barn is a great...
What to do on a wet day
The good news is that the North York Moors is one of the driest of Britain's uplands owing to our easterly position. However, when the clouds gather, and the rain arrives there are plenty of things to do when on holiday self catering in the Long Barn. Here are some...
Indulgent Dining “in”
There have been so many big birthdays being celebrated this year at the Long Barn. So, we thought we’d suggest a few ideas on ways you can indulge yourself when dining in. Self-catering doesn’t mean that you must do it all. We have some fantastic local catering...
Long Barn Sustainability
Living closer to nature than we ever have before has made us think more about how we can be more sustainable. There's been real change in the climate since we moved to Appleton. Wetter and wetter winters and springs, followed by drier summers. This year, the local...
May in the North York Moors
We think that May is possibly one of our favourite months. It looks like lots of guests agree with us, as we are booked every single night in May. So, a busy month ahead. May is the month for hawthorn blossom. Along with all the hedgerows in bloom, the common from the...
A Taste of North York Moors
If you’ve stayed at the Long Barn, followed us on social media or get our monthly newsletter, you’ll know that we love our food. And also that we love supporting our local passionate chefs, producers, farmers’ markets, food experiences (and cake…) The North York Moors...
Share with Care
Share with Care We’ve lived in the North York Moors for almost 11 years. Before then we’ve lived in suburban areas as well as cities and towns. We loved the countryside for weekend walks but living in it has given us a different perspective. It's made us appreciate...
Why the Long Barn is great for your family gathering
When we decided to renovate Town End Farm and set up the Long Barn as a holiday let we knew the space would be perfect for big family gatherings. Now, almost 11 years later, we think it's the perfect spot for all sorts of get-togethers, thanks to how it's set up and...
April in the North York Moors
April is a lovely month to spend in the North York Moors. It really feels as if the countryside is coming alive with bird song and wildlife. The blackthorn is flowering; look out for it’s white frothy blossom in the woods and hedgerows. Make a mental note, as that’s...
Easter Activities
Easter Activities The last few days have felt like spring. Hurrah! That said, we can’t quite believe that it is Easter this weekend. Easter is a lovely time to visit the Long Barn. We tend to book up quickly so if you are interested in staying for Easter in 2025,...
FAQ about the Long Barn Bedrooms
We have recently blogged about guest FAQ before they book and also about the FAQ many ask after they’ve stayed with us. A recent query from a guest visiting us for the first time reminded us that some guests ask questions about the individual bedrooms. So we thought...
Beware all vampires
Spring heralds the arrival of wild garlic in the woods near Town End Farm and gets us thinking about delicious things to make with it. The weather has been pretty grey and wet here (as everywhere) so we have to admit that we are yet to do a foraging run. But we know...
Celebrations at the Long Barn
We appreciate that it’s stressful enough organising a gathering of 14 people. If it’s for a special celebration, that goes up another few notches. If you stay at the Long Barn, we are here to help you organise the perfect celebration and take the stress out of it all....
What’s on in March
March is the time of year when it feels as if everything is starting to wake up from the colder winter months. The appearance of wild daffodils in the North York Moors, really does herald the start of Spring. Depending on the weather, they are usually in bloom from...
Appleton Sheep
The sheep which roam on the common and through the village are one of the things that many of our guests love when they stay at the Long Barn. When the ewes gather on the road over the common into Appleton, they force everyone to slow down and drive at a slightly...
Questions our guests ask after they’ve stayed
Obviously, the best question a guest can ask is “can I book again” when they’ve stayed with us. We’re really proud that well over half our bookings are from repeat guests. With many more bookings coming from guest’s who’ve then recommended us to their friends and...
Arts and Culture in the North York Moors
Spectacular scenery, wonderful coastline, a heritage railway, fabulous restaurants, pubs and cafew. The list of reasons to visit the North York Moors goes on and on. But did you know that we also have vibrant arts and culture scene? The beauty of the North York Moors...
Five Tips when booking a self catering place
It’s the time of year when many of us start planning for the year ahead. It’s always good to have something to look forward to in the cold and dark winter months. It’s clear from our bookings that lots of people are planning ahead earlier than ever before. We have our...
The Abbey Inn, Byland
We are always on the lookout for great places to recommend to guests who fancy a meal out. We are blessed with some wonderful places on our doorstep, as well as some a short drive away. There was a lot of excitement when local chef Tommy Banks announced that he was...