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Family friendly holiday cottage in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside.

Photo gallery for Family friendly holiday cottage in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside.

A stone building with a red roof, a small waterfall, and a garden area.
A dining area with wooden chairs and a table set for six, a kitchen with wooden cabinets and a refrigerator, and a window providing natural light.
A hallway with a wooden door, a radiator, a plant, and a hanging light fixture.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets, a stove, a microwave, and a dishwasher.
A serene garden with a pond, a wooden table with chairs, and a stone wall with flowers.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits

    Top-rated for families.

  • Games at the ready

    One of the few properties with video games available for guests.

  • Centrally-located

    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue
  • Fenced yard

Explore the area

View map
Great Ayton, North Yorkshire
  • Place, Guisborough Forest
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Flatts Lane Woodland Country Park
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Place, Middlesbrough Golf Club
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Airport, Durham (MME-Teesside Intl.)
    ‪35 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Bunk Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Family friendly holiday cottage in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside.

Welcome to The Old Forge; our 4* holiday cottage dating back to 1840 and located in the village of Great Ayton in beautiful North Yorkshire.

Enjoying a delightful riverside location with views across fields, The Old Forge offers excellent accommodation with an ideal setting to enjoy tranquil countryside surroundings, the great outdoors, local cafés, pubs and restaurants all within walking distance.

Many walks start from the front door and take in wonderful scenery.

On the edge of the North York Moors National Park, the village was home to Captain Cook and is mentioned in the Domesday Book.

Explore the North Yorkshire coast including Saltburn and Whitby.

In addition to shops, pub, restaurant and take-away all within 100 yards, Great Ayton offers tennis courts, a bowling green, cricket club and football field.

A great place to enjoy a holiday or short break – families, individuals, children, pets all welcome! We hope to see you soon.

(Please note the neighbouring property to The Old Forge has access though our driveway).

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Check out before 10:00 AM

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

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Events

No events allowed

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Pets

Pets allowed

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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 3717068
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Middlesbrough

Located in Middlesbrough, this cottage is in a rural area. Captain Cook Birthplace Museum and Middlesbrough Theatre are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Guisborough Priory and Ormesby Hall. Travelling with kids? Consider Rainbow Leisure Centre, or check out an event or a game at Prissick Plaza Skate Park.
View more Cottages in MiddlesbroughOpens in a new window
Map
Great Ayton, North Yorkshire

What's nearby

  • Stokesley Golf Range - 7 min drive - 6.2 km
  • Guisborough Forest - 7 min drive - 6.8 km
  • Flatts Lane Woodland Country Park - 8 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Middlesbrough Golf Club - 10 min drive - 9.5 km
  • North York Moors National Park - 13 min drive - 12.4 km

Getting around

  • Great Ayton Station - 17 min walk
  • Durham (MME-Teesside Intl.) - 37 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Brunton Arms - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Treebridge Hotel & Restaurant - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪The Bay Horse - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Cherry Hill Garden Centre Cafe - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Truffled Hog - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Family friendly holiday cottage in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside. pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Family friendly holiday cottage in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Family friendly holiday cottage in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside.?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Family friendly holiday cottage in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Family friendly holiday cottage in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside. located?

This family-friendly Middlesbrough cottage is located in a rural location, 1.9 mi (3 km) from Roseberry Topping, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Rainbow Leisure Centre and Newham Grange Leisure Farm. North York Moors National Park and Guisborough Forest are also within 6 miles (10 km). Great Ayton Station is 17 minutes by foot.

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 47 out of 62 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 62 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 62 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 62 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 62 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It's a spacious house with a massive potential.Parking for two cars at the front. Gates can be closed for the safeguarding kids or dogs.Alex is very fast replaying messages.Some other nice features are - wood burner, TV in the upstairs bathroom, lovely view over the river.Everything we needed for cooking was there to use. Complementary coffee, tea, sugar and milk.3 spacious bedrooms upstairs and a small one with a bunk bed downstairs. All came with fresh, clean bedding.All in all we enjoyed our two night's stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This property could be great but needs a bit of TLC to make it so. The only downside from our point of view was that the weir which is very close to the house is also the gathering place for the local families. As a result due noise/music lack of privacy etc during the day we were unable to use the outside space provided.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Great location
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property is in a great location with off street parking - and the hosts were very responsive to messages via the Vrbo app in advance of our stay. We look forward to returning.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very nice stay at this cottage couldn't really fault the place, the cottage has everything we needed for a good holiday
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Easter gathering

Great property in a lovely location. Well equipped with very comfy beds.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Ayton

Great stay
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very nice house in an excellent location

Check in went very smoothly, and the house had everything we needed for an extended stay. Location is perfect - right next to the river, and a short walk to many excellent restaurants and pubs.
Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had an absolutely wonderful stay. Alex's holiday home was fully equipped with everything you needed for a stay. Takeaways and pubs just around he corner, great walks to take the dogs out. And don't let me to even start on the upstairs bathroom... TV and a jacuzzi bath add a fire to warm yourself up after a rather cold day and it all adds up to the wonderful short break. Hoping to return soon.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family time

Great village, lovely cottage enjoyed our time here.
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Extremely Clean and Great Location.

Ideal property for family get together. Perfect weather made it a perfect location.. Minutes walk to shops and pubs.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Family celebration

Great stay, property was just as described, extremely clean and comfortable. Host was always helpful and contactable and assisted with a last minute request for a late check out, thanks again đź‘Ť
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family break

Great house with good fixtures and fittings in a lovely private area7 people and 2 very well behaved greyhounds Loads of walks available Good food on your doorstep Lovely neighbours
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely 3 Night stay

Just returned today from the cottage, which was spotless, well equipped and in a lovely location. The whirlpool bath and tv in the upstairs bathroom was fantastic and the teenagers enjoyed the xbox. Hope to return sometime in the future!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 23 July 2024
Thank you Shaun for your lovely review. You are certainly welcome to come back any time!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Visiting Family

This was a perfect location to visit our family. We live in the US. It had all the amenities needed. The shops nearby were convenient. Cozy cottage.
Stayed 10 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Half term getaway

This was our second time staying at this property and we were not disappointed. The house is spacious, clean and the kitchen is well equipped. The bathroom was a highlight with the kids with a tv and jacuzzi bath which was well used after a days walking. The location of the property was perfect and the village is beautiful.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved our stay

The property was clean and beautifully appointed. The location was excellent being so close to the town and some picturesque walks. We loved the cafes and especially the butcher's pork pies!! The host was responsive and ensured we had everything we needed. We hope one day to come back and stay again. Thanks.
Stayed 9 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely area with lots of walks and everything you need in great ayton itself .

Good
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend break

Had a very nice weekend break at the old forge cottage good location nicely equipped and clean Would return Only downside was young men in the river at bottom of the garden using bad language not good when you have grandkids with you but nothing to do with the cottage though
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location

House was great, as listed. Bunk room downstairs is quite small. Lovely spot by the river, the sweet/ice cream shop across the road was perfect for the kids, the butcher's round the corner does amazing pies. Enjoyed walks up Roseberry Topping and the Wain Stones
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 4 June 2024
Really glad you enjoyed your stay, hope we can host you again.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Wonderful place to stay!

We had the best time. The home was very comfortable and in the best location. The view from the kitchen table is so serene. If you have never been to Great Ayton before you are in for a treat. The village is at the end of the home's driveway. The people are so friendly and you are within walking distance of the co-op and the Royal Oak Inn. The food and pub make it a great place to eat.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 5 March 2020
Hi Clydia, Thank you for your fantastic review, we are so pleased you enjoyed your stay. We look forward to seeing you again sometime at The Old Forge!! Best regards, Alex Fawcett
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ideal House and Location

We stayed over the Bank Holiday weekend with family that included various ages from 39 to 82, the house was perfect and accessible to all. It was very clean and the facilities were as listed. The house was in a great location in Great Ayton nearby nice pubs and restaurants. I can only mention the Roya Oak for the fantastic food and service and also the Stone Quarry pub for its service, ambience and cost. All in all this was a fantastic weekend in a great house and location.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 27 August 2024
Really pleased you enjoyed your stay, please feel free to visit us again any time!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thank you

Just wanted to say a massive thank you. This property was perfect, the local village had everything we needed and more. Everyone was really friendly. We will be looking to book again, longer next time.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 16 April 2024
Thank you Sarah, so glad you enjoyed your stay!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic property in an amazing location.

The cottage was very cosy and had plenty of room. The location by the weir was lovely and relaxing and only about 100 metres from the village shops and restaurants. Great Ayton has an amazing amount of facilities for a village it's size. Maybe as its also a bit of a tourist destination and ideal centre for walkers and cyclists. The communication with Alex was excellent and very helpful. Overall, this is a great place to stay for a family group.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 April 2023
Really pleased you enjoyed your stay Andrew.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Riverside gem

Lovely stay at this Riverside cottage. Great location. 4th bedroom bunk beds which were unsuitable for our infants and too small for our adults (over 6ft). However one couple had cancelled so we were OK.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 20 September 2022
Thank you for your review Viv, I am glad you enjoyed your stay. We have always made it clear to prospective guests that the fourth bedroom is a bunk room suitable only for children. But I can see from the HomeAway/Vrbo listing that this is no longer clear. I will edit the listing to reiterate this, and I hope this did not detract from your enjoyment of your stay.

About the host

Hosted by Alex Fawcett

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Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests

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