Location and Surroundings

Country Living

Near the City

York, North Yorkshire

Five-star Eco Friendly Holiday Cottages

Located on a family arable farm, just 10 miles south of York city centre, the farm is located in the pretty and peaceful village of Kelfield. A bus service to the barns operates between York and Selby as well as being just ten minutes from the York Designer Outlet Park and Ride. Conveniently placed for easy access to both York and Leeds and some of Yorkshire’s best historic estates and attractions.

Please see below for travel times by car and bus.

Across the road is the River Ouse where the riverbank provides an easy stroll to historic Cawood with a real ale 17th century pub.

The Dovecote Barns has easy access to major motorways (A1/M1/M62) as well as the A64 for the East Coast.

Convenient access for day trips to The Yorkshire Wolds (David Hockney country), The North Yorkshire Moors (Pickering Steam Railway), The Yorkshire Coast (Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay) as well as a number of Yorkshires finest estates (Castle Howard, Harewood House, Newby Hall) and attractions (Go Ape, Flamingo Land, Eden Camp World War II Museum and Elvington Air Museum).

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York Races

We are ideally situated for easy access to the York Racecourse within 20 minutes. The Ebor races are a popular annual event as well as regular meetings throughout the year.

York Marina

The York Marina is located just a short distance away, offering modern self-drive boats for hire. A great way to relax, sitting by the river and enjoying a drink and food from the restaurant.

York Designer Outlet

Also just a short distance away, on the way into York there is the York Designer Outlet. This is an undercover retail therapy outlet which also operates a park and ride system into the city centre.

Activities on the Farm

Cycling

We keep a stock of adult bikes, so subject to availability, you can come and use a bike for free! We have helmets for you to use free of charge. We are also a member of the Welcome to Yorkshire Cycle Charter Scheme.

There is a cycle path called ‘The Solar System’, part of the Sustrans route that can be joined at various points nearby. This is a planetary route on the old railway line that brings you directly into York city centre.

Skipwith Common is just 2 miles away. A nationally important nature reserve with over 500 acres of lowland heath and is one of the last remaining such areas in the North of England. It was used during the 2^nd World War as an ammunitions store and runways for airplanes. You can cycle right through the common and have lunch in Skipwith village before returning.

Click on this link for the video of land art we did on the farm capturing the helicopter footage Tour de Yorkshire 2016 – Land Art at The Dovecote Barns

Walking

There are a number of walks, both locally and from the door. The riverbank across the road provides an easy stroll of approx 25 mins along the riverbank to Cawood where there is a pub serving real ale and food as well as two lovely cafes to stop off at.

This walk also incorporates the ‘Wolsey Walk’ – including the gatehouse of Cawood Castle, once the seat of Cardinal Wolsey.

Alternatively, you can walk through the farmland to Kelfield Wood, home to a number of wild deer which are frequently seen on the farm. There is a large amount of environmental work undertaken on the farm, with over 7% of the land devoted exclusively to the management of biodiversity and encouraging bird populations.

Within 5 minutes by car you can explore either Skipwith Common or Bishops Wood, both excellent woodland walks.

Wildlife Birds, deer, hares and more...

There is a large population of owls surrounding the farm, helped along by the owl boxes we have erected.

Over 80 species of birds have been identified on the farm, 63 of them alone during a single recent RSPB survey, 10 of them on the BTO red list. Come and try to spot them.. We’ll provide the list.

The wood beside the farm plays host to wild deer which are frequently seen around the farm. Approximately 7% of the farms area is specifically managed for the benefit of wildlife.

Getting Around

Visiting our local attractions & facilities

York City Centre

By Car: 15-20 minutes depending on traffic (we provide a shortcut route on arrival)

By Bus: 27 minutes to city centre, Arriva number 42 service runs 7 days incl late night returns from York to the barns at 9pm and 11pm. View the timetable here http://getdown.org.uk/bus/bus/42.shtml

Park & Ride: 10 minutes. Service runs every 15 mins from the York Designer Outlet. Downloadable bus timetable found here getdown.org.uk/bus/bus/7.htm

York Racecourse

By Car: 15-20 minutes depending on traffic

The York Designer Outlet & A64/A19 junction to Moors/East Coast

By Car: 10 minutes

York University

By Car: 15 minutes

Selby Market Town

(Monday is market day)

By Car: 15 minutes

By Bus: 30 minutes, Arriva No. 42 (see link above for timetable)

Leeds City Centre

By Car: 30-40 minutes depending on traffic cross country avoiding traffic

York Train Station

LNER and Grand Central Trains operate from London Kings Cross to York (under 2 hours)

By Car: 20- 30 minutes depending on traffic

By Bus: It is possible to get a connecting service to the train station by using the Park and Ride (Red Line No. 7) service opposite the train station entrance to the Designer Outlet and then pick up the Arriva No. 42 (Selby direction) bus from the side entrance of the outlet on the B1222 (Naburn Lane).

Alternatively, walk from the station to the Arriva No. 42 terminus on Piccadilly and catch the service directly to the barns. Please see timetable link above. We are at the Cawood end of Kelfield village.