Kingfisher & Yew

• Sleeps: 2 per unit
• Bedrooms: 1 per unit
• Bathrooms: 1 per unit
• Minimum stay: 2-3 nights

Kingfisher and Yew are two soul-soothing couples’ retreats, both lovingly created by owners Gemma and Andrew to share their magical North Yorkshire farm and woodland with lucky guests.

A seventh-generation farmer, Gemma is particularly passionate about nurturing these enchanting natural surroundings. Abundant trees and hedgerow are being planted on the farm in 2026 alone, with exciting future plans to introduce beehives and off-grid energy.

Kingfisher Cabin is special in myriad ways: a lakeside cabin crafted on site with FSC-certified timber, nestled in the woods for blissful seclusion… in a spot where Andrew brought Gemma for picnics when they first dated.

The cabin itself is a fully self-contained, sanctuary-like haven with a kingsize bed, underfloor heating, and a large screen projector for chilly evenings spent snuggled up in front of a movie. Outside await indulgent spa delights and a wonderful wealth of big-sky woodland space to call your own – and with no other cabins on the lake, you’ll have all the privacy you could want or need.

So… you’re free to decide just what you’ll do: take a dip in the deep, hand-hammered outdoor bathtub-for-two, perhaps? (Don’t worry if it rains, as there’s a roof for you to sit back and listen to that rhythmic drumming sound as you soak!). Or relax in your traditional Swedish sauna, complete with a cold water bucket dunk for the brave.

What else? Curl up with a book in the dedicated lakeside reading nook as the local wildlife goes about its day… if you’re lucky, you may even catch sight of a deer. By evening, follow the winding lakeside path to your very own ‘hidden’ firepit, where you can toast marshmallows and laugh the way you once did, under clear skies sprinkled with stars.

Yew Tree Cottage, meanwhile, is a 17th-century, Grade II-listed farmers’ cottage that’s very dog-friendly – so much so that the guide book is written by dogs, for dogs! – and with a village pub just opposite (your best four-legged friend is very welcome there, too).

At a glance

• Two lovingly-crafted couples’ retreats in rural North Yorkshire:
  • Kingfisher Cabin is a handcrafted lakeside cabin in the woods
  • Yew Tree Cottage is a restored 17th-century farm cottage that also welcomes dogs
• Kingfisher Cabin boasts a private outdoor spa with sauna and bathtub, with a lakeside reading nook and a ‘hidden’ firepit in its own woodland clearing.
• Yew Tree Cottage features a magical cottage garden and a wood-fired hot tub for stargazing.
• Both retreats include full self-contained kitchen and bathroom facilities, along with a kingsize bed.
• Yew Tree Cottage is situated just across from the dog-friendly village pub, and there are plenty of walks to be taken in the local area.
• Wander into Burythorpe village, or jump in the car and visit celebrated market towns and cathedral cities (including Malton and York), the Yorkshire Wolds and the North Yorkshire Moors.

Features

• Adults Only
• Dog Friendly
• Hot Tubs

More information

Gemma and Andrew have restored the cottage into a calm and comforting space that harks gently back to days gone by; where wooden beams and centuries-old sandstone bricks blend beautifully with modern amenities and quirky antique finds. There’s an enormous leather-and-velvet sofa to curl up on together, too – just light the log burner to feel ridiculously cosy.

Head into nearby Malton to stock up on treats from the award-winning patisserie, Florian Poirot (Queen Camilla is a fan of their lemon-flavoured macarons) and take afternoon tea in your sun-dappled cottage garden, surrounded by sweet-scented lavender, roses, and whispering olive trees. Is there anything better?

Well… perhaps a sunset dip in your wood-fired hot tub, glass of fizz in hand, as you await the arrival of the stars.

Things to note

A range of indulgent treats can be pre-ordered for your stay, please see the property website for details. Please note that Kingfisher Cabin is not dog-friendly, while Yew Tree Cottage welcomes dogs. Both retreats are adults-only. Helipad access is available for both retreats.