Finding the right group accommodation in Yorkshire is harder than it should be. You want somewhere with enough space for everyone to spread out, but not so spread out that you lose the whole point of being together. You want character and quality, not a featureless barn conversion with magnolia walls.
And ideally, you want the kind of setting that makes people put their phones down and actually look out of the window.
Givendale Cottages, a pair of beautifully restored 18th-century country retreats on the Newby Hall Estate near Ripon, solves all of this rather neatly. Moat Cottage and Chantry Cottage sit side by side with interlinking gardens and terraces, sleeping up to 9 guests across 5 bedrooms when booked together. They offer something that larger group properties rarely manage: the togetherness of a shared holiday with the breathing room of separate front doors.
Set on the banks of the River Ure, surrounded by woodland, parkland and far-reaching views towards the Yorkshire Dales, this is group accommodation in North Yorkshire that earns its setting. The cathedral city of Ripon is five minutes away by car. Harrogate is twenty. York, forty. The Dales and the Moors are both within easy reach. But many guests find they barely want to leave the estate grounds, and it’s easy to see why.
Why Givendale’s Two-Cottage Setup Works So Well for Big Groups
Most large group accommodation in North Yorkshire follows a predictable formula: one big house, lots of bedrooms, a single shared kitchen. It works, up to a point. But anyone who has actually organised a group holiday knows the friction points. Someone wants an early night while others are still up. The kitchen becomes a bottleneck. Personal space disappears.
Givendale’s two-cottage arrangement sidesteps all of this. Moat Cottage (sleeping 4) and Chantry Cottage (sleeping 5) are attached properties, each with their own sitting room, fully equipped kitchen, log burner and enclosed garden.
When booked together, the gardens and terraces connect, creating a generous shared outdoor space that opens onto those stunning Dales views. You eat together when you want to. You retreat to your own space when you need to. Nobody has to negotiate.
It’s a setup that works brilliantly for multi-generational families (grandparents in one cottage, the rest of the family in the other), for groups of friends who want proximity without living on top of each other, and for anyone celebrating a milestone who wants the flexibility of two kitchens, two living rooms and two front doors, all in one booking.
The reviews bear this out. Guest after guest describes the same thing: both cottages feeling genuinely like a home rather than a holiday let, with the connected gardens providing a natural social space that brings the group back together without forcing it.
What You’ll Find Inside
Moat Cottage (Sleeps 4)
Moat Cottage overlooks the site of a medieval moated manor house, with views stretching across open fields towards the Yorkshire Dales. Inside: a spacious open-plan living and dining room with a two-way log burner shared with the kitchen, smart TV, and a fully equipped kitchen with washer/dryer and coffee machine. Upstairs, two south-facing bedrooms (configurable as twin singles or super king) share a bathroom with separate bath and shower.
The kitchen opens directly onto a private enclosed garden with a dining terrace and BBQ area. The view from here, dappled woodland, open fields, the moated lake, the Dales in the distance, is the kind of thing you photograph and then realise the photograph doesn’t come close.
Chantry Cottage (Sleeps 5)
Chantry Cottage offers three bedrooms: a master with king-size bed and en-suite shower room, a double with Dales views, and a pretty single room overlooking the garden. Two separate living spaces (a snug and a sitting room, both with log burners and smart TVs) make this cottage particularly well-suited to families with children who need a quieter room for bedtime while adults stay up.
A utility room with washing machine, dryer and downstairs WC adds practical convenience. Outside, a private enclosed garden leads to a furnished BBQ terrace built into the garden walls, with panoramic views of the Dales and Ripon Cathedral that feel almost absurdly beautiful for a holiday cottage.
Shared Amenities Across Both Cottages
When booked together as group accommodation, guests also benefit from: a shared paddock and walled garden for children and dogs to run around in, free bike hire from the onsite bike store, a generous welcome pack (milk, bread, butter, fresh eggs, tea, coffee and essentials), a 25% guest discount for Newby Hall and Gardens, and the option to hire a hot tub for your stay (subject to availability, enquire with Shanie). Dogs are welcome too, with enclosed gardens and walks from the doorstep.
Givendale Cottages is finished to a standard that genuinely surprises people. Exposed beams, antiques, luxurious bedding with professionally laundered white cotton linen, coffee machines, good Wi-Fi, and interiors that feel considered rather than thrown together. Several reviews note that the cottages are even more beautiful than the photos suggest, which is not something you hear often about holiday lets.
Check availability and book your group stay here →
Who Stays at Givendale as a Group?
The beauty of Givendale’s setup is how naturally it adapts to different types of group holiday. Here are some of the most common reasons people book both cottages together.
Family Reunions and Multi-Generational Getaways
This is, by some margin, the most popular type of group booking. Families spread across the country use Givendale as a meeting point, with grandparents taking Moat Cottage and the wider family in Chantry. The interlinking gardens mean toddlers, teenagers and adults all have space, and the two separate kitchens mean mealtimes don’t have to be a military operation. Several guests have described it as feeling like visiting family who happen to live in the most beautiful spot in Yorkshire.
Milestone Birthdays and Celebrations
A 50th, 60th or 70th birthday. A retirement. A wedding anniversary. Givendale’s setting lends itself to the kind of occasion that deserves more than a restaurant booking. The BBQ terraces and garden views provide a backdrop that makes even a simple lunch feel like an event, and with the hot tub add-on available, there’s a touch of indulgence that elevates the whole stay. The hosts don’t allow formal parties, but intimate celebrations with family and close friends are very much in the spirit of the place.
Friends’ Getaways
Groups of friends, from girls’ weekends to walking groups, find the two-cottage setup especially useful. You can cook together in one kitchen or eat separately, share the garden for drinks in the evening, and nobody has to sleep on a sofa bed. The proximity to Ripon (restaurants, pubs, independent shops) and Harrogate (Betty’s, the spa town atmosphere, boutique shopping) gives plenty of options for days out that don’t involve hiking, though the walking is exceptional if that’s your thing.
Extended Families with Dogs
Dogs are genuinely welcome at Givendale, up to two per cottage with a small pet charge, and the enclosed gardens, riverside walks and estate parkland make this an outstanding base for a group holiday with dogs. If you’re interested in the full picture of what’s on offer for dog owners, there’s a detailed guide on the website: Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages in Yorkshire.
Things to Do as a Group Near Givendale Cottages
One of the genuine advantages of Givendale’s location is that it offers something for every taste within a group, and groups always contain different tastes. The sporty ones get their walking. The culture-seekers get their historic houses and galleries. The ones who’d rather sit in a pub garden with a view get plenty of that too.
Walking from the Doorstep
You don’t need to get in the car. The Newby Hall Estate grounds begin outside the cottage gate, with paths through parkland and along the River Ure. A walk through the estate up to the House and Gardens Entrance Pavilion takes around 25 to 30 minutes each way, and the terrain suits all fitness levels. For longer walks, the Ripon Canal towpath connects you to the city on foot, and Fountains Abbey (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is a short drive away with miles of trails through ancient woodland.
Newby Hall and Gardens
The estate you’re staying on is home to one of Yorkshire’s most impressive stately homes. Givendale guests receive a 25% discount on admission, and for groups with children, the adventure playground, miniature railway and Giles Brandreth’s teddy bear collection make for an easy, memorable day out. The gardens are award-winning and worth a visit in their own right. You can walk or cycle up to the entrance, no car required.
Ripon, Harrogate and York
Ripon is five minutes away, with its cathedral, independent cafes, market square and the nightly Hornblower tradition. Harrogate is twenty minutes and offers a completely different pace: elegant architecture, RHS Garden Harlow Carr, the Turkish Baths, and more restaurants and shops than you could cover in a weekend. York (forty minutes) needs no introduction, but for group visits, the city walls walk, the Shambles and the Minster are hard to beat.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
A ten to fifteen minute drive takes you to one of the most beautiful landscapes in England. The ruins of the 12th-century Cistercian abbey, the Georgian water garden with its moon ponds, and miles of woodland trails along the River Skell make this an extraordinary day out for any group. It’s the kind of place that quietens everyone down, even teenagers.
The Yorkshire Dales
Givendale is exceptionally well placed for accessing Nidderdale, often called the “secret Dale” for its relative quietness. Walking routes range from gentle valley strolls to dramatic ridge walks. How Stean Gorge, known as Yorkshire’s Little Switzerland, is a particular highlight for active groups. Further afield, the full Yorkshire Dales National Park is within easy reach for day trips.
Pubs Within Walking Distance
Two excellent pubs are reachable on foot or by bike from Givendale. The Black Lion at Skelton-on-Ure is a community-owned pub run by acclaimed hosts Taigh and Mary, offering exceptional food in a warm setting: a 30 to 40 minute walk through the Newby Hall parkland or 15 minutes by bicycle. The Blackamoor Inn is a 20-minute walk from the end of the Givendale lane, a proper Yorkshire country pub with honest food and a relaxed atmosphere. Both are dog-friendly. Find out more about where to eat and drink here.
When to Book Your Group Stay
Givendale works year-round, but different seasons suit different kinds of group holiday.
Spring is glorious for walking groups. Wildflowers fill the meadows along the Ure, bluebells carpet the woodland floors, and the estate parkland comes alive with birdsong. The gardens at Newby Hall and Fountains Abbey are at their showiest.
Summer is peak season for families. Long evenings on the terrace, BBQs in the garden, days at Newby Hall’s adventure playground, and the option to cycle into Ripon for an ice cream. This is also the best time to order fresh-cut flowers from the Givendale Girls’ cut-flower patch.
Autumn might be the most beautiful season in this part of Yorkshire. The woodland along the Ure and at Hackfall Woods turns extraordinary shades of gold and amber, and the quieter footpaths make for walks that feel genuinely private. Perfect for smaller, more reflective group getaways.
Winter brings a particular magic. Log burners lit, frost on the meadows, the Dales under a pale sky. A winter group stay at Givendale, with its cosy interiors and that view, is restorative in a way that few holidays manage. Givendale is currently offering 10% off Autumn 2026 and Winter 2026/27 bookings, which makes this an excellent time to plan a group trip.
Practical Information for Group Bookings
Capacity: Up to 9 guests across both cottages (5 bedrooms total). Enquire with Shanie about accommodating additional guests.
Price: From £288 per night when both cottages are booked together.
Check-in / Check-out: 3pm / 10am. Late check-out may be available on request.
Children and infants: Welcome. The enclosed gardens are particularly good for toddlers, and Chantry Cottage’s two separate living rooms make bedtime routines much easier.
Dogs: Up to 2 per cottage (£20 pet charge). Additional dogs may be accommodated depending on size and temperament, just ask.
Hot tub: Available as an add-on when both cottages are booked together. Pricing and availability vary by season, so enquire early.
Parking: Free parking on site.
Cancellation: 100% refund up to 30 days before arrival. 50% refund up to 14 days before arrival.
Location: Great Givendale Cottages, Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5AD. Five minutes from Ripon, 20 minutes from Harrogate, 40 minutes from York.
Please note: Parties and events are not permitted. Givendale is a place for quality time together in a peaceful setting, not a party venue, and the hosts ask that guests be respectful of the property and the surrounding countryside. Music should not be audible after 10pm.
Ready to Book Your Group Stay in North Yorkshire?
Givendale Cottages offers something genuinely rare in the group accommodation market: two beautifully finished, characterful cottages that feel like a home rather than a rental, in a setting that makes the rest of the world feel a long way away. The Newby Hall Estate location, the connected gardens and terraces, the walks from the doorstep, the proximity to Ripon, Harrogate and the Dales: it all adds up to a group stay that people come back from talking about.
Whether you’re gathering the family, celebrating a birthday, or simply getting a group of friends into the same place at the same time, Givendale makes it easy and makes it special.
Check availability and book your stay here.
Great Givendale Cottages, Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5AD
