One of the most exciting new arrivals to the North Yorkshire coast, The Woodlands is a small hotel of just five, subtly themed contemporary rooms (including French, retro and New England styles). Despite its size, it still manages to bring a bit of va va voom to the Whitby seaside – which, let’s face it, hasn’t always been in ready supply. If you’re after a special location for all your loved ones, you can even hire out the whole hotel for yourself, getting full access to the kitchen and all other facilities, in the process.
The Woodlands might be within handy spitting distance of the main road (the A174), but it’s also cleverly tucked away in an idyllic, wooded valley so you can’t hear cars at all. The sea is also a short hop away, so you can spend the day ‘en plein air’ or, if a storm rolls in, shopping in Whitby.
The whiter-than-white Scandi-chic restaurant, which is five-minutes walk from the hotel, is the spot for indulging in seasonal, fine dining menus. In the morning you can stroll here to have your breakfast too or, for the ultimate lazy start to the day, opt to stay in bed and order a breakfast hamper to be brought to your bedroom door.
What’s hot?
- Taking home the chef’s gastro-souvenirs from the deli
- There’s always something quirky going on in Whitby – from folk festivals to war re-enactments from the 1940s
- Traditional fish and chips in Whitby
What’s not?
- Dieting is tricky here
- Splashing back from the restaurant in bad weather
Need to Know: The Woodlands
Number of rooms: 5
Check-in/check-out times: 2-4pm and 10.30am
Swimming pool: No
Spa: No
Dogs welcome: No
Eating and drinking: Scandi-chic meets Scottish hunting lodge, in the part white, part tartan-with-antler details restaurant, which is a short walk from the hotel. Opening hours are latest on the weekend, when, beware, the restaurant shuts at 7pm. On warm days you can have a pre-dinner refresher in the hotel bar before heading out for dinner al fresco on the vast terrace.
Near to? The Woodlands overlooks a beck in a wooded valley tucked neatly off the coast road. To the south is Whitby while a little to the north are the scenic delights of Runswick Bay and the former fishing port of Staithes. The cobbled streets of Whitby make for great wandering and you’ll stumble upon the impressive abbey, various art galleries and plenty of cafes and bars.
Getting there: The hotel is situated on the A174, 57 miles from Leeds and 40 miles from York. Trains operate from London, the Midland Mainline and the North to Whitby.
SPECIAL OFFERS AT THE WOODLANDS:
The Woodlands are offering a 15% discount to ELLE escapes users on all bookings from now until the end of November.
COMMENTS
