Wonderful Staithes Escape

Treat your loved one to a romantic getaway in this cosy stone barn conversion. Beautifully furnished to reflect its character and charm, this one-bedroom hideaway offers a memorable setting for a staycation. It is one of a complex of four cottages as well as a fabulous shepherd’s hut which sit opposite the owner's country house, and is brimming with original features such as exposed wooden beams, a cosy wood burner and a unique gallery bedroom.

The heart of the home is the open-plan lounge/kitchen/dining room. After a day of adventure, you can settle on the sofa and watch a film together on the TV in the warm glow of the wood burner. When you're feeling peckish, you can rustle up a meal for two in the kitchen and serve it up at the dining table. You'll find the shower room on the ground floor, and the gallery double bedroom is up a set of stairs on the first floor – it looks over the living space via its wooden balustrade. When the weather is warm, head outside to soak up the sunshine on the private terrace. There is also a shared 4-acre paddock and a games room with a snooker table to enjoy. And the owner can arrange guided walks and Tai Chi lessons.

Only 2 miles away lies the fishing village of Staithes, a picture-postcard destination immortalised since Victorian times by artists. Wander its cobbled streets, dipping in and out of shops, pubs and restaurants, and keep your eyes peeled for Dog Loup Alley, said to be the narrowest in the world at just 18 inches wide. Staithes is also a magnet for fossil hunters, as it's situated on the Jurassic Coast. See what you can unearth on the shoreline or set out on a scenic hike along the long-distance Cleveland Way.