Buses
The Reliance Bus Company runs the No.40 which goes to the centre of York in one direction and to the local market town of Easingwold in the other.
If you are going to York the bus stop is right outside the double white gates to Pear Tree House. (There is no sign so be ready to put your hand out).
NB. It will feel counter intuitive to get the bus outside the gates (and not from the other side of the road where the bus stop is), because the bus will appear to be traveling down Main Street in the opposite direction of York. But in fact at the end of Main Street it turns right and makes its way back to the York Road. Some visitors have been caught out by this and ended up in Easingwold instead of York.
The bus travels past the hospital and down Gillygate. The best place to get off is in Exhibition Square – The Art Gallery is on your right and if you turn left at Bootham Bar and walk under the city walls, you are in the centre of York. If you don’t get off here, the bus will take you on to the railway station.
If you want to go to the lovely Georgian market town of Easingwold, the bus stop is on the other side of Main Street, opposite the gates to Pear Tree House and is clearly marked.
The buses are infrequent, please visit the Reliance Bus website for an up-to-date timetable information by following the link below.
Useful links:
York
Distance from Pear Tree House – 8 miles
York, with its Roman, Viking and Medieval past, is one of the must-see destinations for most visitors. The city is full of exciting places to visit and things to do and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in England. The following links provide further information about the main attractions which include York Minster (the largest medieval church in England), JORVIK (perhaps the best known visitor attraction in York), Betty’s Tearoom and The National Railway Museum.
Useful links:
Easingwold
Distance from Pear Tree House – 6 miles
Easingwold is a pretty Georgian market town just 6 miles from Sutton-on-the-Forest. The market is every Friday and there are plenty of good places to eat and drink including The George, an 18th century coaching inn set in the heart of the cobbled square, and The Olive Branch, an excellent café and bistro (which offers vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free meals as well).
Useful links:
Helmsley
Distance from Pear Tree House – 16 miles
Helmsley is a picture postcard market town and hugely popular with visitors to North Yorkshire. It lies 15 miles north of Sutton-on-the-Forest. It has a number of good pubs, restaurants and tearooms as well as nice shops. It has an Arts Centre which hosts several themed events throughout the year, five acres of walled gardens set beside the backdrop of Helmsley Castle and Duncombe Park, a beautiful historic house and country estate. The area is popular with walkers – the town is the start of the Cleveland Way, a 110 mile walk which skirts the North York Moors National Park and finishes on the Brigg at Filey.
Our other holiday property, Fox Cottage, is located on the High Street. Rievaulx Abbey is just 3 miles from Helmsley.
Useful links:
Ben & Rosie’s Top 10 places to eat and drink
We regularly visit and review local pubs and restaurants so that we can recommend places to our visitors. (I know… someone has to do it)!
The Rose and Crown (Sutton-on-the-Forest) – Notice to all: unfortunately the pub in the village has closed which is a great disappointment to villagers and visitors alike. It is very much hoped that it will be taken on soon and any developments will be announced here as and when they happen.
Il Paradiso on the Forest (0.25 miles) – Family owned and run, genuine Italian restaurant serving a vast menu of authentic and delicious dishes.
The New Inn (Huby – 1.5 miles) – Excellent Cantonese restaurant just up the road in village of Huby run by husband and wife team, Mr Lin and Sally. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
The Bay Tree (Stillington – 2 miles) – Back in 2018 The Bay Tree was officially named Yorkshire’s Pub of the Year at the White Rose awards. But like so many village pubs, the fallout from the Covid pandameic threatened its future.. Simon Wade, who has owned the Bay Tree for fifteen years took on the management of the pub in 2022 in an effort to breathe new life into it. The pub was given a quirky and eclectic makeover and a brand new kitchen and now, this charming country pub is now doing very well again. The restaurant serves modern British cuisine in elegant and tasteful surroundings.
The Durham Ox (Crayke – 5 miles) – This three hundred year old pub has a reputation which extends far beyond the region. It has won numerous awards and has been family owned since 1999. It is also dog friendly.
Ambiente (Goodramgate, York – 9.5 miles) – If you like Spanish food and you like tapas, look no further than Ambiente in York. In fact there are two branches in York as well as one in Leeds and one in Hull. Our favourite is the branch in Goodramgate, which lies close to the city walls at Monk Bar. The staff are trained in Spain and the tapas is authentic and utterly delicious. Thank you to our friends and hispanophiles, Tom & Anne, for introducing us to the delights of Ambiente. Take the bus, as we do, and enjoy a good drink with your food.
The Fairfax Arms (Gilling East – 10 miles) – Tracy Cooper is head chef and deserving of her fine culinary reputation. Eat informally in the bar or in the restaurant or the new orangery. On a sunny day, sit at a table in front of the pub, by the little stream which trickles through the village and watch the cyclists hurtle past.
The Grapes Inn (Slingsby – 14 miles) – Our very favourite place for food, in terms of quality and value for money is The Grapes, another family run pub, a stone’s throw from Castle Howard. The pub is charmingly decorated and cosy. It feels posh somehow without being remotely snobby and you are always assured of a warm welcome. Catherine and Leigh have recently added a pizza oven and operate a pizzeria along side their outside bar at weekends. The pub is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Feathers (Helmsley – 15 miles) – Located in the market square, The Feathers is very much at the heart of life in Helmsley. The old coaching inn has twin bars and a capacious dining room. Perfect for a big family get together or simply pop in for a drink, a light lunch or afternoon tea.
The Star Inn at Harome (Harome – 17 miles) – The Star is a delightful, thatched, fourteenth century inn situated a few miles from Helmsley. This year, it is celebrating the arrival, 25 years ago, of Andrew Pern, chef/patron since 1996. The Star has an international reputation and is holder of 1 Michelin star.
Ben & Rosie’s Top 20 things to do and favourite places to visit in Yorkshire
Places we know and things we love doing. We hope you will too.
Brideshead Revisited – Castle Howard (11 miles) – No trip to this part of the world is complete without a visit to one of the loveliest country houses in England
Cycle – Cycling Heaven – Discover the top 20 cycling routes in the District of Hambleton
Day Trip – Beverley (40 miles) – Spend a day in historic Beverley, ‘the jewel of East Yorkshire’. Visit the Minster, walk on the Westwood and have lunch at one of the many excellent pubs and hotels
Day Trip – Harrogate (28 miles) – Discover what this beautiful spa town has to offer – great shopping and lovely places to eat and drink
Discover – North Yorkshire Moors Railway (24 miles) – A heritage steam railway running through the beautiful North York Moors National Park
Encounter – Jorvik Viking Centre (8 miles) – Encounter the Vikings, the Jorvik Viking Centre is a must-see for visitors to the city of York and is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the UK
Experience – The City Walls, York (8 miles) – A walk along York’s medieval city walls leaves a lasting impression of this beautiful city
Explore – Yorkshire Sculpture Park (47 miles) – Discover the leading international centre for modern and contemporary sculpture within the 500-acre, 18th-century Bretton Hall estate in West Yorkshire.
Feast – The Magpie Café, Whitby – (44 miles) – Treat yourselves to allegedly the best fish and chips in Yorkshire at the world famous Magpie Café
Go back in time – York Castle Museum (9 miles) – Famous for its collections of costume, textiles, military and social history
Golf – Easingwold (5 miles), Forest of Galtres (6 miles), Sandburn (9 miles), Strensall (6 miles) – (4 local courses to choose from, (ask Ben for tips)
Play – Skelf Island (11 miles) – A treetop adventure for children of all ages at Castle Howard
Picnic – Robin Hood’s Bay (48 miles) – Discover the North Yorkshire Coast – Robin Hoods Bay, Staithes and Whitby our particular favourites
Race Day – Beverley (40 miles) – Fancy a flutter, why not spend a day at the races at either Beverley or York. York Racecourse (9 miles) – is home to the prestigious Dante Festival in May
Shop – York Designer Outlet (16 miles) – Major brands at discount prices all under one roof
Treat yourself – Betty’s York (8.5 miles) – Indulge yourself at the world famous Betty’s Café and Tea Rooms in York
Treat the dogs – Fraisthorpe Beach (47 miles) – a beautiful sandy beach which is easily accessible and perfect for children and for the dogs. Ben & Rosie also recommend the beaches at Filey, Hunmanby Gap and Sands End.
Visit – National Railway Museum (10 miles) – Free entry into the home of the country’s best collection of locomotives
Walk – Cleveland Way (16 miles) – Experience the stunning landscape of the North York Moors National Park from Helmsley
Wonder at – York Minster (9 miles) – Experience the beauty of one of the country’s most loved medieval cathedrals