Yorkshire moors

A Long Weekend at the Luxury Cowslip Cottage

Cowslip CottageGorgeous cottageLast weekend saw us pack up our bags and wrap up warm for two nights at Cowslip Cottage in the quaint village of Sleights, Yorkshire, one of many luxury cottages within the Gorgeous Cottages portfolio.

Arriving on Friday evening to this picturesque cottage in the midst of the Yorkshire moors (lights and heating on for a warm welcome), it had everything we could ask for from a weekend getaway and more…

Yorkshire

It certainly lived up its name…Gorgeous huh?!

luxury cottage

A three story, converted former piggery (really), with high beams (originals), its style is elegant country chic with hints of vintage.

cottage

cottage kitchencountry chic kitchenloungecottage loungepretty loungeflowers

We loved the thoughtful festive touches too…

festive home decorarmchairNot just beautiful from the inside, breathtaking views of the Yorkshire moors enveloped us from out with every window (and the balcony) looking out into the open countryside.

The quiet and tranquility appeared to roll over us from the hilltops, it was almost hypnotic.

The best shots were taken during the day, with bright, clear skies and lots of light. We certainly lucked out with the weather on this weekend in December!

Yorkshire moors

Yorkshire moors

Yorkshire viewsfieldsSleights, YorkshireThe kids felt instantly at home and we settled in quickly…The oat biscuits and abundance of cute teddies along with Peppa playing on the box, certainly helped!

biscuits

teddies

So can we eat these yet?

biscuits

Cutie

Oliverwatching TVportraitTaking refuge in the pretty bedrooms on the higher floors, we all slept together despite the many rooms, falling fast asleep quickly to the sound of nothing. Absolute bliss.

master bedroom

bedroom

More teddies in the kids’ room and a cot was available if we wanted it.

kids bedroomchildrens' bedroom

sweet children's bedroom

…A 10 minute drive from Whitby, we spent the following morning enjoying a sunny but crisp Saturday on the beach, drawing our names in the sand with great long sticks as dogs in the distance chased waves and we eventually could take the wind no more…

Whitby

Whitby bay

Yorkshire coastseaside

Cold but refreshing, playing on the beach was a joy, nothing like some Yorkshire sea air to invigorate the soul…

beach

kids playing in the sand

running on the beachwinter sunshineAlexander

Alexander

seagullseagulltrainers on the sanddrawing in the sandOliver wrote his name in the sand. Outside learning is the best. Practising your writing skills with a big stick and miles of sand…

beautiful childwriting in the sanddrawing on the beachOliverbeautiful sunlight glaretoddler in a Cosatto pushchairBack in the Supa Firebird pushchair (we were gifted from Cosatto recently), it was time to make our way back to the cottage.

We passed this lovely chap below, on the walk to the car-he spends his retired life raising money for multiple charities, entertaining passersby on the streets of Whitby and was a joy to meet.

The boys enjoyed singing along to Jingle Bells with him and Alexander was as you can see, a little partial to playing the maracas.

We donated some money and the kids were kindly given some delightful little illustrations of animals and instruments to remember him by…

playing in the street

…My boots are c/o Air & Grace London-it was a clashing leopard print kind of day!

Shake it!

playing maracasWhere did my maracas go?!

Alexander

I know what’s going in Alexander’s stocking this year!

…Back at the cottage, my parents joined us for a late lunch, bearing food from one of their restaurants-spinach and feta filo pie, meatballs for the kids, basmati rice and Greek salad for all.

Mum had even made a healthy oat plum crumble that was was soon drizzled in lashings of Dad’s perfect homemade custard-‘no lumps please Papou’ pleaded Oliver…And there weren’t any!

healthy crumble

The next day, the weather wasn’t so kind to us with blustery winds but we persevered and ventured out to Whitby again. Our first stop, The Magpie Cafe, a multi award winning restaurant that’s never not in the Good Food Guide, for seafood hot pots and the best fish and chips for miles.

fish and chipsTummies full, taking in the port, I picked up sweet art deco style jet earrings in a local boutique and woven Santa sacks for the boys in anticipation of Father Christmas, unique treats I’ve struggled to find elsewhere…

Whitby

I even discovered decorative festive ribbon for Christmas tree biscuits in a indie store that homed rack after rack of ribbons and wool but alas no festive cookie cutters as hoped…

Whitby is like a living museum to bygone times, where people can potter around quirky shops full of fudge and homemade bread, a historically poignant place that inspired Captain Cooke to leave its shores and discover the world and Mary Shelley to create Frankenstein after a summer break there ….

Returning to Cowslip Cottage, settling in toasty and cosy as can be (heated floorboards are a lovely touch), I made Green and Blacks hot chocolate for all to enjoy.

Once Dad had emerged from a sweet, short nap (the whole family literally took it in turns to disco nap throughout our stay), together with Oliver and I, we conjured and squabbled over wheat free Christmas biscuits and whose shapes were best.

Dad making biscuits

baking Christmas biscuitsFailing our earlier Christmas cookie cutter quest, Dad and I carefully cut festive shapes out using a sharp knife (Dad made small abstract biscuits, I, stars and a Christmas tree and Oliver, a 3D snowman whom Alexander, frustratingly to his older brother, referred to as a penguin)…

biscuit dough

Kids making Christmas biscuits

biscuit snowman

biscuit makingCuteGrandad and grandchildkidplaying with doughXanderI escaped the mess (sorry Dad) to take a long, soothing bath by the bay window of the master bedroom overlooking the moors-a highlight of my stay- and then it was time to don festive onesies (for myself and the kids) before a one and a half hour drive home.

antique style bath

Sad to leave after such a restorative weekend away but happy to have found Cowslip Cottage, a haven for families (and couples alike), whatever the time of year, we shall be back…

Christmas lights

Thanks to Gorgeous Cottages for a complimentary 2 night stay at Cowslip Cottage, in return for this honest review.

Dragons and Fairy Dust

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