tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525704174342580892024-03-13T12:26:05.709+00:00Noelle's CottagesThis is a blog for www.noellescottages.co.uk Luxury 5 Star Self Catering Cottages in Middleton, Pickering, North Yorkshire.Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-2402573222841333862014-06-22T09:00:00.000+01:002014-06-22T09:00:25.624+01:00Catering for self-cateringAll our cottages are set up for being self-sufficient - just add ingredients. When we were taking our small children to Wales on holiday we found being responsible for three meals a day was quite demanding yet eating out was either difficult with lively children or else expensive. We found a lovely man selling beautiful, simple food he prepared that day and life took on a new dimension. Not leastNoelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-65433353685129165292013-11-18T23:30:00.001+00:002013-11-18T23:30:25.821+00:00Your cottage as the centre of excellent eating in RyedaleIt is always a pleasure to point our guests towards the wide variety of excellent eating that is on offer in the locality. One of the rising stars is the Black Swan at Oldstead. Despite its relative youth since extensively renovated by the local farmer it has collected just about every award on offer including a Michelin star. Waiting for its star is the Fox and Hounds at Goldsborough which is Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-75761101626231179452013-07-15T12:07:00.000+01:002013-07-15T18:01:15.696+01:00Good News. Prices on hold. There's a lot to be thankful for. The sun is shining, our Grandson Nathaniel flourishes, the roses are more vigorous than ever. Murray won Wimbledon, The Lions triumphed and we are nudging ahead in the Ashes. The Economy looks as if it might have turned a corner but I am sure many are feeling the strain and concern over uncertainty. Noelle has usually increased prices year on year to reflect fuelNoelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-62555765229102455502013-01-01T22:51:00.000+00:002013-01-01T23:55:44.363+00:00New Year's Day walk from Robin Hood's BayHappy New Year and best wishes for 2013.
Noelle and Tim wanted a walk avoiding the mud and set off in the sunshine with blue sky to Robin Hood's Bay for a walk along the beach to Ravenscar. The hope had been to climb the steep path up to the hotel at the top and return along the cliff top. As it turned out the main path had been washed out in the rain and the narrow alternative was thought to beNoelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-56513518777520883802012-11-26T23:16:00.000+00:002012-11-26T23:16:04.944+00:00Coach House Comments
Here are the latest comments –
October 2012 Wow! What an amazing cottage! We all had a truly fantastic stay. You really have thought of everything, from tea lights to luxurious bedding to logs for the fire….I have been looking at your cottages online for about 3 years and have finally saved up to come for our 21st wedding anniversary and it fulfilled all my dreams. …The children loved using Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-80447560343493417342012-11-25T09:16:00.000+00:002012-11-25T09:16:49.530+00:00Autumn gardeningThere is plenty to do at this time of the year despite the weather. Our friend at Trailblazers says there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. Mmmm. The soil is more welcoming though for the bulbs that Noelle planted under the watchful eye of her garden advisor Stephen Bean. He has been responsible for the overall feel and appearance of the cottage gardens and the modifications to Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-90077626388816407362012-09-13T21:20:00.000+01:002012-11-25T08:34:17.642+00:00Photography expedition.
Tim recently enjoyed a weekend course in landscape photography - with time to spare and fresh eyes it is amazing to see what a beautiful part of the world this is. Liz Shepherd is a local photographer who was running a weekend course and 'supervised' our visits to various sites on the Coast and on the Moors. There are more pictures on Flickr but here are a few. We now have a few recommended Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-66365437880973523092012-07-09T12:34:00.000+01:002012-07-09T12:34:06.853+01:00Alice's CottageMany of you will have met Alice who has helped Noelle with the cottages from the start. She has supervised the cleaning and welcomed guests in our absence as well as handling the linen and much more. Hospitality, excellent baking and thorough cleaning have been her hallmarks.
Alice has just launched her cottage - Holly Cottage - which is just past Middleton Church. Built perhaps in the 1800's it Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-32286893310506209812012-04-22T18:51:00.000+01:002012-04-22T18:51:44.160+01:00Biking from Noelle's CottagesBiking is big in GB this year. We are happy to encourage all abilities and ages to get on their bikes in Ryedale and enjoy the exercise, countryside and then wind down afterwards in Noelles Cottages.
A list of a dozen (well nearly) things to help you on your way...
1 Advice from a man who knows..... Mike Hawtin breathes biking and has a wealth of knowledge of the bike routes in Ryedale. You Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-59551676420586863902012-03-11T11:41:00.001+00:002012-03-11T12:03:17.061+00:00Hole of Horcum to Levisham, a 3 hour circular walkToday it was a beautiful Spring morning with blue sky and little wind. We parked a mile beyond Lockton on the road to Whitby on a car park on the right just before you tip over a steep bank and down to Saltersgate and Fylingdales.
We crossed the road and turned right along a track that follows the road and an iron age dyke.
There are wonderful views down into the Hole of Horcum which I am Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-92232959854030375692012-03-10T19:20:00.000+00:002012-03-10T19:50:29.384+00:00Family WeddingNoelle and Tim are delighted to announce etc. Alex our firstborn married Kasia, a lovely Polish girl, on 25th February in Pickering Parish Church where Alex had been a choir boy for six years. The night before we met with our new Polish family and had 20 for dinner. We all had a lovely day with some sun, no rain but chilly for those in stylish wedding wear. Kasia was preceded onto church by her Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-59219254392962927262012-02-23T00:03:00.001+00:002012-02-23T08:05:32.605+00:00Website spring clean and chatWe had a great meeting today with our website team Design Farm. We want to offer plenty of information but also have a lively appearance to the site. Gary and Cheryl are working on an upgrade of the site which we hope you will like. We can add more itineraries as time goes on - Our 10 favourite picnic places, what to do in Helmsley, wet weather activities with children and so on. If all goes Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-81873619770746416912012-01-14T23:55:00.002+00:002012-01-14T23:57:13.544+00:00Circular walk from Pickering.Pickering is an attractive market town with a small shopping street leading up to the Parish Church at the top of the Market Place. This is well worth a visit to see the medieval wall paintings and the Georgian chandeliers and pulpit. Our walk started near Pickering Castle - go left at the top of the Market Place up Burgate which becomes Castlegate where there is often parking to be had.
It isNoelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-73981600872948696682012-01-03T00:06:00.001+00:002012-01-04T13:19:45.473+00:00A walk up the hillside from Noelles CottagesWe are looking at the walks that you can make straight from the door of the cottage and this one is an extension of Millie's usual excursion. It starts from the top of the garden where you turn left along High Back Side above the Church. At the tiny cross roads you turn right and start up the seemingly endless slope heading north. You pass a large badger sett on the left and soon reach the bench Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-4296021292172722212011-12-10T10:18:00.001+00:002011-12-11T08:41:33.800+00:00Christmas Greeting and Noelle's updateNoelle and Tim would like to wish you a Very Happy Christmas. We are looking forward to a crisp Festive Season and recall the knee deep snow we were experiencing last year. We are enjoying the clear morning skies and this morning we have a good frost on the ground and in the trees. We have made a few lovely walks lately and have added one to the cottage blog with photos of the route. We hope to Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-43220788410450990612011-11-29T19:51:00.001+00:002011-11-29T22:16:18.799+00:00A short walk from Noelle's CottagesTim slipped away with Millie to allow Noelle to enjoy her birthday celebration coffee morning with a group of her girlfriends. A yearly event in the Dutch tradition that is best left undisturbed by a male intruder. The day started sunny and mild and the walk past the Coach House garden showed the efforts we have made to put the garden to bed. Our landscape adviser loves to crown lift everything Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-63126137400412898492011-11-04T21:28:00.001+00:002011-12-10T22:51:28.580+00:00Views from Namibia
While Tim has been busy in the Kalahari attempting to set up a village health care system, Noelle has been looking after the cottages and our Autumn guests. She slipped away for 2 weeks, confident that her team were able to manage the cottages and support the guests. It's always hard to leave your carefully nurtured business but we have made sure everyone knows what is expected of Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-5907667080506974412011-10-25T20:27:00.000+01:002011-10-25T20:27:04.067+01:00The Team who are there to help you.
We have a great team who support our guests at Noelle’s Cottages but it was not until we started to list them that we realised the just how many people are there to help you have a very special holiday. Our longest serving help is also our key person - Alice Thompson. Years ago when the Hall was in different ownership she looked after the household and the family. She has returned to help us Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-6039585790633754872011-07-12T13:02:00.003+01:002011-12-11T15:22:41.669+00:00Eating your way round RyedaleWe are always amazed at the variety and quality of the eating places within striking distance of Noelle's Cottages. You can see our recommendations soon on a set of itineraries we are launching. We have just been inspected again by the Sawday's lady who made all the right noises about the developments we have made and the emergence of the gardens and paddock. We exchanged enthusiasms Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-51202701365066740672011-05-22T08:17:00.002+01:002011-05-22T09:01:39.176+01:00Dalby and Pickering, the World Mountain Bike Cross Country Championship 2011.It was a dramatic contrast to return from a few days walking in peaceful countryside in Arkengarthdale and then be amongst the Mountain Bike race round Pickering and next day in Dalby. My camera certainly enjoyed the outing. Dalby Forest host the event that was voted the most popular by the riders last year, for the course and the venue. In Pickering residents line the streets to watch the best Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-50939807488164689742011-04-16T21:05:00.003+01:002011-04-16T21:42:39.707+01:00Easter at Noelle's CottagesWonderful warm sunny days and a paddock full of daffodils in full bloom helps dispel thoughts of the long winter. It was magical to return to the garden bursting into its spring enthusiasm, tulips chasing the daffodils up and no end of birds intent on recovering the winter losses by pairing and breeding. Noelle and Tim had an exciting adventure in Namibia, first looking into health care delivery,Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-19389190450496676552011-02-23T22:02:00.004+00:002011-02-23T22:12:07.207+00:00Spring is in the airAfter a long and silent winter slumber, our garden in Middleton definitely thinks spring is here. There are birds and flowers appearing in numbers and the days seem longer and brighter with a little warmth to the sun. The ground is littered with snowdrops and aconites, making a colourful carpet just a short stroll from the cottage doors. Watch robins, tits and goldfinches hopping from tree Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-47057711144820143382011-01-22T22:06:00.004+00:002011-01-22T22:13:05.963+00:00Vikings and ValentinesWe have just come across the Jorvik Viking Festival which is held every year in York. It looks a fantastic event and runs from 19th - 27th February. Not only can you see grown men trying to whop each other's heads off but you can learn Viking skills - whopping for beginners, carrying young ladies off, archaeology, more whopping or storytelling and crafts. There are a range of visits and Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-89097155756995727732011-01-22T22:04:00.001+00:002011-01-22T22:05:51.773+00:00IT GremlinsNoelle and Tim would like to apologise if your emails have not been answered promptly and if access to the website has been patchy. We hope the server issues have now been addressed and that you will be able to use the website satisfactorily and exchange emails again.Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152570417434258089.post-62786843773456441032011-01-03T13:34:00.005+00:002011-01-03T14:52:25.050+00:00Happy New YearNoelle and Tim wish you a very Happy New Year. The Festive Season has been notable for the persisting snow and ice. We are nearly reaching the 6th week of snow in Ryedale which has largely melted now but remains behind walls and persists as lumps of ice where cars and walking has compressed it down. We escaped with few freeze ups and burst pipes and have been grateful to our attentive and Noelle's Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12943248286093002832noreply@blogger.com0