Overview:
The Black Swan Hotel is a characterful inn dating back to the 15th century with an Elizabethan building on one end, a Tudor one on the other and a Georgian House sandwiched in between.
Location:
The hotel is located in the centre of the attractive town of Helmsley within the North York Moors National Park and being just off the A170, it is a short 40 minute drive from York. The charming small town boasts an array of high quality independent shops and is the starting point for the Cleveland Way, a national trail that runs 110 miles (175 km) between Helmsley and Filey taking in some dramatic moorland and coastal scenery.
Arrival and check-in:
The Black Swan takes pride of place overlooking the market square with a small area to the front of the inn available for short term parking enabling guests to drop off their luggage.
A narrow lane down the side of the building leads to the hotel’s car park however this has limited spaces and is available on a first come first served basis only. However, we actually arrived just before the check-in time of 3.00 p.m. and had no difficulty in finding a parking space. The inn prides itself in working with the local community and since the town’s post office closed down people have been able to temporarily access its services from one of the rooms in the Black Swan.
There’s a dedicated front desk just inside the main entrance where we were greeted by Bogdan, the receptionist on duty who had us speedily checked and also reserved us a table in the restaurant for dinner.
The Room:
As the inn is an amalgamation of three buildings, the charming interior is higgledy-piggledy and a maze of corridors. We were booked into a ground floor room but as the building is built into a slope, we needed to climb several short flights of steps to reach it. Directions to rooms are printed on walls enabling us to find our room without getting lost along the way.
Our room was tastefully decorated in neutral shades with an attractive floral and bird patterned wallpaper adding a splash of colour over the bed head. The mattress on the king size bed was very comfortable and was topped with a lightweight duvet. USB sockets were conveniently positioned on both bedside tables as well as on the desk so that we could charge all our devices with ease.
With a large wall mounted television, two comfortable armchairs, a coffee table and hospitality tray filled with tea, coffee and biscuits we had everything at hand for a relaxing stay.
The stylish en-suite bathroom came with a large walk-in shower, huge bath towels and fragrant Sea Kelp toiletries from the Scottish Fine Soaps company.
Dining:
The hotel restaurant is comprised of several rooms, all equally attractive and as we were seated at one of the window tables we were able to watch the sun set as we enjoyed our evening meal.
From the menu we chose starters of cheese soufflé and a delicious salad of prawns and avocado. Moving on to mains, our lamb chops and seared tuna steak salad with sides of seasonable vegetables were both very flavoursome.
To round off our meal we enjoyed desserts of lemon posset and warm chocolate pudding. Drinks were reasonably priced with wine available by the glass or bottle. Service was friendly and efficient and it was so nice to see that dogs are welcomed into the restaurant, with several sleeping quietly under tables whilst their owners dined.
Breakfast is also served in the restaurant and comprises a buffet of cereals, yoghurt, fruit and pastries. Cooked dishes including a full cooked breakfast, eggs benedict, and scrambled eggs can be selected from the menu and are served to the table.
The Facilities:
The hotel boasts two bars with lots of cosy alcoves to sit and enjoy a drink. There isn’t a dedicated lounge as such although the ground floor rooms work well both as dining and relaxing areas. During the winter months log fires cast a warm glow and must be lovely to curl up in front of with a glass of wine and a book.
During the warmer months guests can sit out in the terraced walled garden to the rear of the hotel. Public rooms and five of the bedrooms are wheelchair accessible however due to the age of the building the hotel does not have lift access. Pets are warmly welcomed and well catered for with complimentary dog treats and water bowls.
Out and About:
There are a wealth of interesting places to visit in the surrounding area and with the North York Moors National Park being popular with walkers, there’s something for everyone. Do take a look at my suggestions.
Helmsley – take a stroll from the hotel to explore this picturesque town, a previous winner of the Great British High Street award (best market town category). The town has independent bookshops, boutiques, antique shops, galleries and a branch of the high quality Browns department store. Friday is market day and we enjoyed wandering the stalls ranging from artisan cheese, fresh vegetables to cashmere knitwear.
Helmsley Castle – maintained by English Heritage, (standard admission £9). From the stylish visitor centre and gift shop follow the path through the castle ruins with information boards and audio guide points along the way. Discover how the castle evolved over the centuries from a medieval fortress to a Tudor mansion and a Civil War stronghold. Parts of the castle are still intact and contain a fascinating exhibition on the 900 year old castle’s history.
Rievaulx Abbey – a ruined Cistercian abbey on the North York Moors. This was one of the great abbeys in England until it was seized by Henry VIII in 1538 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The abbey is an easy three mile walk from the hotel taking around an hour or you can drive there as there is a good sized car park. The abbey is also maintained by English Heritage with standard admission £10. It’s very atmospheric to wander through the abbey ruins and then visit the exhibition, cafe and gift shop.
Sutton Bank – a high point in the North York Moors National Park with stunning views over the Vale of York. Call into the visitor centre to view exhibits on the dramatic action of the ice age glaciers to the surrounding area then follow one of the walking trails from the car park.
Thirsk – a bustling market town located 14 miles from Helmsley. The town centre is arranged around an attractive marketplace with a clock tower as its centrepiece. With lots of inviting shops, pubs and cafes it’s a pleasant place to spend a few hours. If you are a fan of All Creatures Great and Small then you might also like to visit The World of James Herriot as Thirsk is the home of the original veterinary surgery on which the books and programme were based.
Northallerton – another attractive market town just a 30 minute drive from the hotel. With a weekly market, high class shops and a branch of Betty’s Tea Rooms it’s a lovely place to visit.
Overall:
The Black Swan is a delightfully restored former coaching inn where guests are always assured a warm welcome, can relax in their spacious, well appointed rooms and tuck into some hearty pub fare.
It’s a perfect place to stay whatever the time of year and with so many interesting places nearby it makes an ideal base for exploring the North York Moors National Park.
Details: The Black Swan, Market Place, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, YO62 5BJ.
During our stay we were guests of the Inn Collection Group and as always all views and opinions are entirely my own.
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