3 Star Reactive Dog Rated
2 Star Reactive Dog Rated
Bilsdale Cottage | Helmsley Dog Friendly Cottage | North York Moors
🏡 Bilsdale Cottage – A Cosy Stone Retreat in Rural North Yorkshire
Welcome to Bilsdale Cottage, a warm and welcoming haven of historic beams and rustic stonework. Situated less than 2 miles from the vibrant market town of Helmsley, Bilsdale feels wonderfully “away from it all,” offering big skies views.
Perfectly suited for couples, solo travelers, or small families, Bilsdale sleeps four guests in two comfortable bedrooms. Leave the car behind and head straight out onto the Ebor Way for a morning ramble—this is Yorkshire life at its best.
🌟 Why Pack Members Love Bilsdale:
🌳 NEW Private Garden: Enjoy your own secure garden (1.2m V-mesh fencing) with lovely views over the lawn and bridleway.
🐕 Off-Lead Freedom: Access to two large on-site paddocks (115cm high) for stress-free exercise.
🥾 Bridleway on the Doorstep: Direct access to countryside walks and the scenic route into Helmsley town centre
🔥 Character & Comfort: Hard floors downstairs, a romantic log burner, and beautiful exposed beams.
🚿 Doggy Spa: Outdoor cold-water dog shower with towels and shampoo provided.
🚗 Stress-Free Travel: EV charging on-site and off-road parking for 2 cars.
- Short breaks throughout the year and flexible with arrival and departure dates
Additional information
| Barbeque on Site | Barbeque |
|---|---|
| Beds | 3 Beds |
| Dogs | 3 Dogs |
| Garden | Enclosed garden to 1.2 metres (see through) fencing and lockable gate |
| Location | North Yorkshire |
| Bathrooms | One Shower Room |
| Parking | Off road parking for 2 cars |
| Reactive Friendly Dog Rating | 3 Star Reactive Dog Friendly (see below) |
| Sleeps | Sleeps 4 |
| Smoking | Smoke Free Property |
| WiFi | Broadband & WiFi Available |
| EV Charger | EV Charger on Site |
| Grooming | Outside cold water dog shower |
| Secure Dog Paddock | Two paddocks 115cm high with 5 wooden horizontal beams |
Reactive Dog Guide
Bilsdale Cottage is a great choice for many reactive or sensitive dogs, thanks to its peaceful rural setting, enclosed spaces and walking opportunities from the door. Here are some key points to help you decide if it’s suitable for your dog(s): Position and Outlook: Bilsdale Cottage is tucked away down a private road. It feels quiet and tranquil, with big skies and a strong sense of being in nature.There is farmland and open fields around, so you may see livestock and farm traffic.Garden Accessibility and Fencing:Bilsdale Cottage has its own private enclosed garden, with approx 1.2 metre V-mesh fencing and a lockable gate. Suitable for most dogs who are used to standard garden fencing Guests are also welcome to use the shared courtyard garden and grounds and the enclosed dog exercise paddocks. The paddocks are fenced and gated and offer a large space to run, play and burn off energy, but are not “escape-proof” for determined jumpers or climbers or small dogs Neighbouring Houses: Sproxton Hall Cottages sit slightly away from the main village, on a private lane with a working farm opposite. There are 3 other holiday cottages on site with shared use of grounds including the paddocks plus the owners cottage. Passing Traffic: There is some coming and going from other cottage guests and the owners, plus farm vehicles along the lane, but there is no through-traffic and the setting feels very peaceful.Quiet Walks from the Doorstep: From the cottage, you can walk straight into the countryside along the Ebor Way, including to Helmsley.The cottage contains walking guides including nearby forest trails that are ideal if your dog prefers quieter walks away from crowds and traffic.In early November or New Year holidays, this rural setting is a tranquil escape from firework displays – though, as always nothing can be 100% guaranteed.If you have specific questions about a very reactive dog, please get in touch and we’ll happily talk through suitability in more detail.
Accessibility guide
Bilsdale Cottage is a traditional countryside cottage and is not specially adapted for wheelchair users. The driveway and parking areas are gravel and flat. Guests with blue badges can park in the courtyard area closer to the cottages. Internal layout includes standard cottage features (doorways and circulation typical of an older property) Stairs are present inside the cottage (bedrooms are not all on one level) and the toilet is upstairs.If you or a member of your party has particular mobility needs, please contact Gail before booking so we can check whether Bilsdale is suitable and answer any specific questions.
Location & Directions
🛋️ Inside Bilsdale Cottage
Your Cosy Country Hideaway
Bilsdale is all about that traditional cottage feel. Once you step inside, you’ll see those gorgeous original stone walls and beams from its time as an 18th-century farm building.
Living & Dining
The living room is a firm favorite with dogs thanks to the log burner. It’s the perfect spot to hunker down after a day exploring the coutryside. We’ve kept the flooring downstairs hard and practical, so you don't have to stress about muddy paws. There's also a lovely window seat where you can sit and soak in the Yorkshire views.
The kitchen is bright and well-equipped, perfect for a slow holiday breakfast. It has everything you need—dishwasher, microwave, oven, and fridge-freezer.
Bedrooms & Bathroom
Heading upstairs, you'll find the sleeping quarters:
Bedroom 1: A comfortable double bedroom with a premium mattress and a hair-drying station.
Bedroom 2: A light and airy twin bedroom with new ottoman beds for extra storage.
The Bathroom: A modern family shower room (recently refitted) with a walk-in shower cubicle, basin, and WC.
🌳 Garden & Paddock Life
NEW for 2025, Bilsdale now has its very own private enclosed garden! It’s fenced with 1.2m V-mesh and has a lockable gate. It looks out over the lawn towards the bridleway—it’s a wonderful, safe space for your dogs to sniff around while you relax with a book.
You also have full use of the two large dog exercise paddocks on-site. These are gated and fenced to 115cm, providing a huge area for your pack to run off-lead. There’s even a bench there so you can sit and enjoy the Howardian Hills views while the dogs do the hard work!
🐾 Reactive Dog Guide
Bilsdale is a 3-Star Reactive Friendly property.
Quiet Setting: Hidden down a private road, it feels very peaceful. While you are near a working farm, the outlook to the front of the cottage is over the shared gardens and there is a private side gate
Secure Arrival: You can unload right at the door in the courtyard.
Low Traffic: There’s no coastal path or public thoroughfare passing the cottage. There is farm traffic and deliveries and a quiet public bridleway
🦴 For Your Pack & Hoomans
For Dogs: Up to 3 dogs stay free! We provide sofa throws, dog towels, drying mitts, bowls, and poo bags.
For Humans: A welcome basket of logs for the fire, tea, coffee, sugar, and high-quality bed linen.
On-Site Perks: Free Wi-Fi and an EV charger
🗺️ Exploring Helmsley
Dog Friendly Hotspot: Helmsley is famous for its welcoming pubs and cafes. Don't miss the National Centre for Birds of Prey (though dogs stay in the car, you can walk them around the surrounding Duncombe Park).
Steam Trains: Take the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from Pickering for a magical trip to Whitby.
❓ FAQs
Can dogs sleep on the beds? We ask that dogs stay off the beds, please. If they are sofa-snugglers, we provide plenty of throws for them to use!
Where is the nearest supermarket? There is a small supermarket less than 2 miles away in Helmsley, along with a fantastic bakery.
Outside
New in Spring 2025, Bilsdale Cottage has its own private enclosed garden, designed with dogs in mind:
Approx. 1.2m V-mesh fencing
Lockable gate
Outlook over the lawn towards a high hedge with the bridleway and farm beyond
The garden is mainly laid to grass with outdoor seating – a lovely spot for morning coffee, evening drinks, or simply watching the light change over the surrounding countryside.
Guests are also welcome to:
Relax in the shared courtyard garden
Use the enclosed dog exercise paddocks – two large, timber farm fenced and gated area where dogs can enjoy off-lead time while you sit and enjoy the views. The paddocks are enclosed, but not guaranteed escape-proof for determined jumpers,climbers or small dogs, so please ask if you need more details. The perimeter fences on the two dog paddocks are 115cm high and have 5 wooden horizontal beams. The dividing fence between the two dog paddocks is lower (80-86 cms).
There is an outdoor cold water dog shower, with towels and shampoo provided, to rinse off muddy paws after walks or beach trips.
What we provide
A warm welcome
- Hard floors downstairs
Bed linen & towels
- Central heating
Tea towels
Tea, coffee, sugar and basic kitchen essentials
Free WiFi
- Welcome basket of logs and lighters for the woodburner
Heating & hot water
- Books and board games, walking guides and books / maps
Cottage facilities
Well-equipped kitchen with oven/hob, microwave, fridge, toaster, kettle
Dishwasher
Freeview TV and DVD player
High chair and cot (on request)
Log burner
Free WiFi
Parking for up to 2 cars
Access to EV charger (Type 2)
There is a small supermarket less than 2 miles away, plus a bakery, delicatessen in Helmsley plus a farm shop at Beadlam Grange. Helmsley has a wide range of shops, pubs and cafes.
And for our dog guests
We’re genuinely dog-friendly, not just dog-tolerant. At Bilsdale Cottage, dogs enjoy:
No extra charge – up to 3 welcome
Private enclosed garden (approx. 1.2m fencing and lockable gate)
Access to the enclosed dog exercise paddocks
Outdoor dog shower with towels and shampoo
Throws for the sofas
Dog towels/drying mitts, bowls and poo bags
We can also point you towards:
Dog-friendly walks from the door
Quiet forest and moorland trails a short drive away
Dog-friendly pubs, cafes and beaches within easy driving distance
Out and About
- Guests who have stayed, have enjoyed Michelin star dining in nearby Harome, Oldstead and Hovingham.
- York is approximately 20 miles away and has been voted Britain's most popular city due to its castle, walls, museums, shops and Minster; it is particularly popular with our guests whatever the weather.
- The picturesque steam railway from Pickering crosses Goathland/Heartbeat country to the coast at Whitby.
- Following in the footsteps of James Herriot, guests can visit the museum at his former vets surgery in nearby Thirsk, admire his ‘finest view in England’ at Sutton Bank and explore the film locations on a day out in the Yorkshire Dales.
Groceries and dog food
Most major supermarkets deliver to the area (please check your chosen provider using the cottage postcode). Helmsley has a good selection of independent food shops, plus a small supermarket, bakery, deli and local farm shop.
There are also plenty of places to buy dog food and treats locally.
Please note
Bilsdale Cottage is strictly non-smoking
Up to three dogs welcome at no extra charge
- The cottages are surrounded by farmland in an agricultural community, so do expect typical farm sights (including livestock), sounds and smells
Dogs are welcome on the sofas with throws, but not in bedrooms please
Around the shared grounds, please keep dogs on a lead, except when using the enclosed dog exercise paddock
Please clean up after your dog at all times
We are in a rural area with livestock nearby, so we do not permit fireworks or lanterns.
If you’re travelling with a larger pack or have a dog with particular needs (e.g. reactive, nervous, elderly), please get in touch so we can advise on suitability.
Book Now
Available start dates are in blue circles. To book please select your desired start date.
This calendar shows you all our up to date availability for all properties and you can use the scroll forward to look at future months availability. Click on a start date to see the price. If you are looking for a different arrival date or not too sure what you are looking for, do give me a call or email me gail@packholidays.co.uk / 079 353 75899
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