Damson Croft

41 Customer Reviews

• "Damson Croft September 2023 This was our sixth visit to Damson Croft and once again it did not disappoint."

  It is always clean, bright and warm and has everything you need for a quiet, comfortable break away from home. It seems to be one of the dwindling number of cottages for couples or small families who want to spend time together and not as a large party of folk. This time we spent a day at Rievaulx Abbey and one at the Yorkshire Air Museum. Our Whitby trip was to beautiful Pannett Park and museum, finishing off with a visit to the café with an indulgent snack! If you go to the park, remember to take something for the squirrels! We spent one day in Lastingham and visited St. Mary’s church and church yard; the village itself is well worth a walk around, especially early in the year when the lambs are about and if you like photography there are many places to shoot. On our return to Damson Croft we walked around the owners' wonderful garden and disturbed the fluffy chickens! Helmsley (about 14 miles away) is also worth exploring, with many small shops but be aware that Friday is market day and parking is limited to the main long stay car park near to the castle (so get there early). For breakfast or a snack, check out Barkers Café Bar just off the market square. Many thanks to Patsie and Rob (who are excellent hosts) for their kindness and concern when we had car exhaust problems (but we got home safely); and one of the first things we did was to book our 2024 stay at Damson Croft.

  Thank you for this lovely review. We look forward to seeing you again next September. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Margaret5.0★Sep 2023

• "The perfect country escape set in the beautiful garden of Rob and Pattie."

  We enjoyed watching the chickens and heating the owls at night! The accommodation is basic but perfectly clean and has everything you need to get away from it all.

  Thank you for your review. We are glad you enjoyed your time at Damson Croft and hope you will return. Property Owner

  Reviewed by John4.4★Sep 2023

• "Another lovely stay at Damson Croft."

  The property is in the pretty village of Lastingham with plenty of beautiful walks right from your doorstep! You have complete privacy even though you are on the owner’s land but they are on hand for any queries. The cottage has everything you need for a comfortable stay and the heating quickly warms the place up if the evenings turn chilly. The local pub is just a couple of minutes walk away and serves up delicious food. Always best to pre-book as it does get busy. I would highly recommend staying here and we will no doubt be returning in the future.

  Thank you for your review. It was nice meeting you again and we look forward to seeing you in future. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Lynda5.0★Aug 2023

• "For a peaceful holiday in a wonderful Moors village, Damson Croft would be hard to beat."

  Surrounded by a glorious and private garden, the accommodation was beautifully presented with all that one on holiday would require. We were entirely left to our own devices and simply enjoyed the surroundings. We sampled both the local pub and The Grange Hotel, both of which gave us a very warm welcome. Highly recommended, and we look forward to another visit.

  Thank you for your kind review. Patsie and I hope to see you again soon. Rob Property Owner

  Reviewed by Hyla4.7★Jun 2023

• "My sister and I had a wonderful stay at Damson Croft."

  The owners were helpful in every way, without intruding on our privacy, and they encouraged us to use the garden as often as we liked. It was quiet and secluded and very beautiful, with birdsong and three delightful chickens. The heating was excellent. Although small the cottage felt spacious and there was plenty of storage. Had we been younger we might have missed the mobile signal, but we enjoyed the extra solitude, and the view from the top of the hill, when we ventured out to use the phone. The countryside around was beautiful and there were plenty of places to visit. Rydale Museum in particular was fascinating, and if you're interested in history Lastingham Church is on your doorstep. If you don't like crowds omit Whitby !

  Thank you for your review. It was nice to have a fellow enthusiastic gardener to talk to (though we were pleased you also enjoyed the swingball!) We hope you will come and stay again. Rob and Patsie Property Owner

  Reviewed by Margaret5.0★Jun 2023

• "We have just returned from our fifth visit (since 2017) at Damson Croft, enjoying a lovely, peaceful week there."

  Going through the gate leads to a haven of peace and tranquility; the garden is beautiful with birds, bees and sheep over the hedges (not forgetting the odd squirrel or two). Damson Croft is snug and warm with everything you need for a holiday home from home. Lastingham is perfectly placed for coast as well as inland visits. The two nearest market towns of Helmsley (with castle, walled garden and Duncombe Park (Rievaulx Abbey is just past Helmsley and well worth a visit) and Pickering for shopping and the North York Moor Railway. Further afield are Whitby and Scarborough for coastal visits and inland there is Castle Howard and Yorkshire Lavender amongst many more: always not enough time to visit everywhere! After a day out, Damson Croft and the garden are perfect for returning to and relaxing in. This is truly a place for a calm, quiet stay with no noisy neighbours (other than the odd bleat or two from sheep!); we have already booked for September 2023! Many thanks to Rob and Patsie.

  Reviewed by Martin5.0★Apr 2023

• "Delightful gardens and wildlife excellent for what we enjoy, however for our own needs property was less spacious than anticipated."

  Furniture was small for 3 large men and 1 small lady. Compact is a great description, we had a lovely time and would recommend this property to others.

  Reviewed by Carole4.4★Aug 2022

• "A cosy little cabin with access to a truly wonderful garden."

  This week was incredibly hot, but it was shaded and tranquil in the garden, so we spent a lot of time there. The cabin itself also kept relatively cool, so long as the windows were open. We (2 adults, 2 kids) all had a lovely time. Thank you.

  Reviewed by Jeevani5.0★Aug 2022

• "Good base for activities - lovely garden setting - hosts very welcoming and helpful"

  Reviewed by Amanda3.8★May 2022

• "On the whole the cottage lived up to our expectations."

  There were a couple of things I’d alter, but nothing major enough to right on here, just little things. It was central to all main towns and cities, all situated within an hour, hour and a half from the cottage. The local area is quaint and quiet. Will definitely be going back.

  Reviewed by Michelle5.0★Apr 2022

• "The croft & surrounding area were lovely, from the sheep grazing by the roadside to the warm welcoming pubs."

  We enjoyed a relaxing break in a beautiful place

  Reviewed by Francis5.0★Oct 2021

• "Had a smashing time , Rob the host has a great place !"

  If you want high end luxury then go elsewhere, this place does what it says on the tin, you won’t be disappointed. A lovely secluded spot in what is a charming small village . Great local pub worth checking out.

  Reviewed by Andy4.7★Aug 2021

• "A cosy comfortable basic cottage set in wonderful surroundings."

  Ideal for visiting surrounding area.

  Reviewed by Roger4.1★Jul 2021

• "This is our fourth visit to Damson Croft, which speaks for itself."

  The garden and wildlife is wonderful to wake up to, as is the sound of sheep: lovely. Whilst there we visited Scarborough, Yorkshire Air Museum, Helmsley Castle & Walled Garden, Ryedale Folk Museum, National Centre for Birds of Prey at Duncombe Park, Rievaulx Abbey and Pickering (where we went to Whitby on the North York Moors Railway - steam train!) and always Damson Croft to return to.

  Reviewed by Margaret5.0★Jun 2021

• "Damson Croft is a fantastic place to stay in a great location."

  The Owners are helpful and friendly yet unobtrusive, and having full access to their magnificent garden is a bonus. The village is lovely with a great pub only 2 minutes walk away, and in less than 5 minutes you can be on the moors. The Croft itself is clean, comfortable and well equipped with everything you could need. Highly recommended !

  Reviewed by Greg5.0★May 2021

• "It's a great place to stay, wildlife is amazing, everyday we found something ..."

  It's a great place to stay, wildlife is amazing, everyday we found something different in the beautiful garden, Rob and Patsy were idea hosts and always helpful, will definitely be booking again

  Reviewed by Mandy5.0★May 2021

• "Our second holiday at Damson Croft, and just as good as the first."

  The cottage has everything we could require and is in a beautiful setting. The owners' garden, in which the cottage stands, is a wonderful place to relax and the owners are very pleasant and always ready to help if required but never intrude. We hope to return again, next year.

  Reviewed by Elizabeth5.0★Oct 2020

• "The cottage was listed as having wifi, which is one of the reasons we booked it (had an on-line meeting, a training course and a deadline to meet during the week we were there)- there was no wifi connection- our host said that even at the best of times their wifi could be patchy, because they are in a rural area, he said he'd tried a couple of things to connect us, but our gadgets (work dell lap top, chrome notebook and apple ipad) all came up with being out of range."

  The host's house was around 10 meters from Damson Lodge. Host told us to try to get connected in the bedroom which gets a stronger signal- but the signal was no better there. We've never had a problem with wifi connection in other rural areas where wifi was advertised as one of the facilities. We had to go to the pub to send emails explaining why we hadn't attended the meeting and the training course, and had to miss the deadline. To be fair, the pub was very welcoming and understanding. When advertising a cottage as having wifi, Sykes should ensure it is noted as being reliable or not- Damson Croft should not have wifi listed at all- it simply didn't have a signal.

  Thank you for your comments. We are very sorry that our Wi-Fi was not working at the time that these guests were staying with us, particularly since it was crucial for their work commitments. The Wi-Fi at Damson Croft has never been problematic in the past. Unfortunately, the guests did not inform Sykes Cottages or us that there was no Wi-Fi at all until halfway through their stay. Once we were made aware of this we made several unsuccessful attempts during the remainder of the week to correct the problem. Eventually we discovered it was a faulty cable/connection and the Wi-Fi is now back to normal. The current guests tell me they have been watching YouTube videos all week! We hope they enjoyed their stay otherwise. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Steve2.8★Sep 2020

• "We have had a lovely week, the weather has been brilliant, we have been able to do a lot of things within the Covid regulations and Damson Croft is a beautiful base to return to in the evening."

  The garden there is glorious if anyone just wanted to stay in Lastingham for their whole visit.

  Reviewed by Margaret5.0★Sep 2020

• "Very good lovely garden and location, when toaster broke it was immediately replaced."

  Wi-Fi speed was slow

  Reviewed by Tam4.7★Aug 2020

• "A wonderful little cottage in a beautiful location."

  The children loved playing in the garden and feeding the chickens. Lots of different birds and insects to spot and we enjoyed seeing a hedgehog trotting up and down the lawn in the evenings. Lastingham is a beautiful little village and well situated for many lovely day trips and local adventures. Owners are very friendly, helpful and welcoming. We’ll be booking again another year.

  Reviewed by Lydia5.0★Aug 2020

• "Damson Croft is in a lovely spot, ,the cottage is located in the owners garden which is large and beautiful, full of adventure for kids and quiet spots for adults."

  The cottage itself has everything you could need for a break. Highly recommended.

  Reviewed by Shaun5.0★Aug 2020

• "Great place to stay"

  Reviewed by Hazel5.0★Sep 2019

• "We can't begin to tell you what an excellent time we had at Damson Croft and the area."

  The cottage exceeded our expectations in all respects. We found it to be very clean and very comfortable. The setting and garden are perfect. The area is beautiful and we walked on the super paths and moorland tracks every day. We intend to return soon.

  Reviewed by David5.0★Sep 2019

• "We enjoyed the freedom in the garden, the couple who owned the cottage were friendly and did not interfere in our holiday, the cottage is quiet and the location is amazing."

  Reviewed by Peter5.0★Aug 2019

• "Perfect location for exploring the moors."

  Such a peaceful and beautiful location to escape too.

  Reviewed by Kathleen4.7★Jun 2019

• "Really liked it a lot and will be going again,lovely setting,would like a full shower unit."

  but it is what it is, great place nice welcome,Good pub near by enjoyed it.

  Reviewed by Hazel4.7★Jun 2019

• "We enjoyed a week here although it was cold and wet early in the week we still had fun The Blacksmiths Arms does wonderful food, it's best to book."

  ,you can order a take away from them too. The garden is beautiful, we had great entertainment watching the chickens and pheasant. All good no problems.

  Reviewed by Margaret5.0★May 2019

• "Damson Croft is a delightful place to spend a holiday."

  The owners are warm and welcoming, the situation superb. We hope to return.

  Reviewed by Elizabeth4.4★Apr 2019

• "Great place too stay great and friendly owners and a fantastic garden and a lovely village the cottage is located in"

  Reviewed by Geoffrey4.7★Jun 2018

• "The cottage was well placed to allow visiting places of interest and was in a very peaceful and relaxing location."

  The cottage is close to the village pub which serves excelent food and beer and is everthing a good pub should be

  Reviewed by Janet4.7★Jun 2018

• "Damson cottage is set in the lovely owner's garden."

  It is only a short walk to reach the open moors, which in early June had nesting curlew, lapwings and golden plover etc. The cottage was very comfortable for the two of us and we were made welcome by the owner. We wouldn't hesitate to make another visit when the opportunity arises.

  Reviewed by Jonathan4.7★Jun 2018

• "This was the best holiday we have had in a while, we had incredible weather and the owners have done a magnificent job with the surrounding gardens and the cottage is very nice and comfortable."

  I would advise anyone holidaying there to take plenty of food and make sure your car has plenty of fuel in it as there are no shops or filling stations. There is a good pub for the occasional meal and the area is good for walking albeit quite hilly. Because the area is in a dip in the valley some people may experience problems receiving a phone signal as there is no mast due to it being a conservation area. I would certainly recommend this holiday cottage to anyone wanting a quiet peaceful experience you will not be disappointed.

  Reviewed by Geoff5.0★May 2018

• "Superb peaceful location in lovely, quiet garden and village."

  Hosts very welcoming and helpful. The accommodation is simple but perfectly adequate - it suited us well.

  Reviewed by Douglas4.4★Apr 2018

• "Damson Croft is set in a wonderful garden."

  Looking out of the bedroom window we saw pheasants under the bird table with the chickens that live there and small birds too. The daffodils were not all in flower yet but some lambs could be heard bleating from the fields over the fence. Before we left we saw red legged partridges at the back of the property. Inside is warm and cosy with plenty of hot water for a relaxing bath after a day out. There is everything that you need if you want to cook a meal and books and DVDs are also available as well as the TV. The Blacksmith's Arms is the local pub in Lastingham and was pleasant and welcoming, we did not eat there but there were plenty of people ordering evening meals in advance. We have visited twice in the Spring now and maybe a holiday at a different time of year would be our next trip there.

  Reviewed by Margaret5.0★Apr 2018

• "The host was friendly and helpful ."

  The location is perfect for a relaxing time away and with fantastic walks on the doorstep. The host makes delicious honey and has a big lovely garden In which the cottage is set .

  Reviewed by Susan5.0★Sep 2017

• "It is a charming sort of 1930s type chalet cottage with a lovely period feel about it."

  Well decorated, warm and comfortable (as we found out on a very wet, windy night), has all the facilities required for a very pleasant stay. Robert, the owner, is great. So helpful. Gave us the free use of his one acre garden which is delightful. The location is brilliant. Perfect peace and tranquillity in a very picturesque setting. The most relaxing break we have had in a long time. Will stay again.

  Reviewed by Allan4.8★Sep 2017

• "Damson Croft is a beautiful little getaway, wish we could have stayed longer to enjoy the peace and tranquility and to appreciate the fantastic garden more."

  Our boys thought it was the best holiday ever and loved everything about it.

  Reviewed by Karen4.8★Aug 2017

• "We have just returned from a thoroughly enjoyable week at Damson Croft."

  The cottage itself is compact and well heated. It has a spacious double bedroom and also a second bedroom with two single beds in. The living area has a comfortable settee and the eating space has all required resources within easy reach. In the bathroom there is plenty of hot water. The garden in which the cottage is situated is absolutely beautiful with beehives and chickens. It stretches back in a variety of areas with seating under the trees and if the weather had been better we would have made much more use of it. It blends in with the surrounding countryside and the sheep were our nearest neighbours. From Damson Croft we had many trips out during the week. We chose Scarborough and Whitby, Castle Howard and Yorkshire Lavender, the Yorkshire Air Museum, the National Falconry Centre and Rievaulx Abbey, and the Mouseman Centre but we could easily have visited a lot more if time had allowed. A lovely holiday.

  Reviewed by Margaret5.0★Apr 2017

• "A lovely,peaceful location."

  Gardens were beautiful and the accommodation was very handy for exploring the surrounding countryside. The owners had ensured that there was information about walks in the local area,which we used and enjoyed.

  Reviewed by Anne5.0★Sep 2016

• "Peaceful and relaxing environment, beautiful garden and surroundings, lovely friendly hosts, with the local Blacksmiths Arms serving top quality and excellently prepared and served food, delightful holiday break for us."

  Reviewed by Jeff4.0★Sep 2016

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