The Mollycroft
Yorkshire, United Kingdom
- Wagon for 4 from £100 per night (read our low price promise)
- 1 4x6 double, bunks are 5’9 by 2’4
Suitable for children of all ages
Pets welcome
Children are welcome but care must be taken of the raised deck and the stoves. Pets are welcome, but dogs must be kept on a lead
Overview
The Mollycroft is a lovingly restored 1940s showman’s living van, as eccentric as the people who once toured in it. A combination of dark wood and bright yellow and green decor, creates a lively but homely feel. There are sofas in both the living room and the bunk room, which doubles as the kitchen, so you have plenty of space for lazy loafing in this tumbling, spacious wagon.
Next to the Mollycroft is a fire pit complete with cooking gear. The simple life is complemented by a couple of modern touches though. Gas hobs in the kitchen, mains power and even wi-fi! Not very 40s perhaps, unless you think of it as extremely sophisticated radar.
The area around the Mollycroft is a joy to discover. From Greville’s modern art collection in the chapel and bamboo gardens (ask for an informal tour), to the enormous sunday market and stunning coastal and pastoral scenery. The private boat house has a bench looking out over the lake, and is a wonderful place to idle away the hours on a summer’s day.
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in time is from 3pm - PLEASE call on the day you’re travelling to let Greville know when you will arrive
- Check out time is 10:30am
- Whilst children are welcome, it should be noted that The Mollycroft is not great for toddlers. The stoves get very hot and are within reach and the decking is three feet off the ground
- There is 240v power in the main room and the kitchen but not the bedroom
- There is free wi-fi throughout
- The bed in the main room is 4ft wide by 6ft long
- The enclosed bunks, in the kitchen, are 5ft 9in long by 2ft 4in wide
- Some wood and some charcoal provided - more can be purchased from Greville, who makes the charcoal himself!
- There is faint road noise when there is no wind
- There are sheep in the field that you need to cross to get to the bluebell wood, so please observe the countryside code
- Please be aware that the owners will sadly not be there to meet and greet you but there is a comprehensive welcome pack to settle you in
- SKY FULL OF STARLINGS! The bamboo garden in The Mollycroft is currently home to 15,000 starlings so if you're coming to stay in 2016, please be aware you may need to share your space. The starling murmuration leave their nests in daylight hours so won't be disturbing you between dawn and dusk but they will be around and chirruping after dark so it might not be as peaceful as usual. Please also be aware that they aren't as house proud as Greville and do emit a bit of a stench. Ornithologists, this is your chance to witness one of nature's spectacular events for free and get in the thick of it, admiring the birds' dancing in the sky each evening!
- Sleeping arrangements
- 1 4x6 double, bunks are 5’9 by 2’4
Extra space available
Space for 2 pets no charge. dogs must be kept on a lead
Space for 1 baby no charge.
Kids & Pets
Children are welcome but care must be taken of the raised deck and the stoves. Pets are welcome, but dogs must be kept on a lead
Cooking
- Double gas hobs
- Fridge
- Butler’s sink
- Fire pit and benches
Washing
- There is an outdoor shower at the back of the Mollycroft which will have its own cubicle nesting amongst the bamboos. Its very private and is operated from the kitchen. Its not the most powerful shower but comparable to a normal caravan shower.
- There is an earth closet loo at the end of the bamboo garden. It is about 100 yards from the Mollycroft and a torch is needed at night (supplied).
- The loo is for the exclusive use of the mollycroft and we use charcoal fines which eradicate any smells! (supplied)
Heating, lighting & bedding
- The coal-burning stove in the main room and wood-burning stove in the bunk room
- All linen and towels are provided. Please note that bed linen is air dried flat in the fresh Yorkshire air and to reduce his carbon footprint further, Greville does not iron the sheets.
Entertainment
- Interesting books!
- Two sofa seating areas, one in the main room, one in the kitchen, for lots of lazy loafing space
- Swimming in the lake
Getting there
The Mollycroft, Tunstall, North Yorkshire DL10 7PJ
By train
The nearest station is Darlington, from which you can take a bus to Catterick
By car
From the A1 South, heading North
Leave the A1 at Catterick A6136 (it’s 4 m South of Scotch Corner, which gets name checked from miles away)
At the roundabout take first exit, Catterick A6136
After 1/2 mike, take first turning to left, Tunstall
After 16th Mile, take first left through posh gates ‘Brough Park’
Take first slip off to right towards church
Park on right outside arch
Entry to Mollycroft is round the old oak tree and in a little foot gate (but do open the large gate if it’s easier)
From A1 North, heading South
Leave A1 at Catterick, A6136 (4 Miles South of Scotch corner)
At Roundabout take 3rd Right to cross A1 again, following sign Catterick A6136
To second roundabout, following Catterick
After 1/2 mile, first left to Tunstall
(If you get to Lidl, you’ve gone too far)
After 1/6th Mile take first left through gates Brough Park
Take first right lane to church
Park before gates on right
Entrance to Mollycroft on right round the old Oak Tree
Food & Drink
Pubs & restaurants around the Mollycroft
The White Heifer - Scorton - Great food and excellent wine, best to make a reservation, so call 01748 811357
The Bay Horse - Tunstall (3.1 miles) Real local feel, a warm welcome and a coal fire in winter, good for beer but no food on offer
The Black Bull - Moulton (4.7 miles) Famous for oysters and lemon sole - ask to dine in the railway carriage!
The Wensleydale Heifer - West Witton (12.4 miles) A delightful seafood place in the midst of great walking country
The Blue Lion - East Witton (9.6 miles) Also on some great walking routes, game and seasonal cooking that are hard to beat plus a cosy log fire
Activities
The Mollycroft is on the edge of The Yorkshire Dales National Park with hundreds of miles of walks across moors, valleys and pastures, waterfalls and woodland with pubs and restaurants aplenty. The Mollycroft has its own library of guidebooks of walks and eateries to tempt you. If you are outwardbound, you will not be short of adventure.
See what's on at nearby Catterick Racecourse for a day out that will get your blood racing! Mollycroft guests get two free tickets if you stay on a race day - just check the fixtures list and email Greville in advance, and your tickets will be waiting on arrival. For a real taste of the local area come to the largest Sunday Market in the North. On every Sunday at Catterick racecourse, with about 200 stalls offering hundreds of bargains. Perfect for that idle wander around before lunch. It is in fact possible to walk there in about half an hour if you are feeling like it, and mostly across fields. Otherwise Richmond (5 miles away) is a delightful market town with a handsome Norman castle and a beautiful market square with an outdoor market on Saturdays and a farmer's market alongside on the third Saturday of the month. The castle also has lots of different events on during the Summer.
You're also within one hour's drive of the metropolitan centres of Newcastle to the North and Leeds to the South. Both are very easy to get to on the A1 which is 1 mile from the Mollycroft. Newcastle has culture in abundance, apart from all the bars and restaurants. Famous for its Sage Centre for the best in music in an incredible new building, just next door to the Baltic for world class exhibitions in another incredible building and hundreds of excellent restaurants and bars dotted along the river Tyne.
Heading South for 1 hour takes you to Leeds and another great day or evening out. Highlights include the West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Henry Moore Institute for edgy art shows. Again, with all the restaurants and entertainment at your fingertips. Or heading towards the coast, swing through the trees at Go Ape! Dalby Forest for Tarzan swings and zip wires aplenty.
Meet your hosts
Greville's family have been living on the same land for 800 years and, in 1827, built the chapel in which he now lives with wife Sophie and his three kids. The chapel's large rooms make for a wonderful family home and give Sophie the space to run ilovegorgeous, her children's clothing label. More importantly to the Worthingtons, it makes a great party house.
The chapel was the first chapel built after the Catholic Emancipation act of 1823 and is clearly a neo-gothic building of celebration. They also lend themselves to art, especially sculpture. The family has an impressive private collection featuring works by Edmund De Waal, Catherine Yass and Damien Hirst and the chapel has even hosted shows, the most recent of which was an exhibition by Roger Hiorns, currently the star of The British Art Show at Haywood Gallery in London.
The area sourrounding the Mollycroft is a mix of farmland, mainly sheep and cattle farming on lowland pastures and extensive hardwood woodland, managed by Greville. He manages the woodland by coppicing hazel and using the offcuts to make charcoal on site (a charcoal burn can be arranged occasionally as a participation activity). The woodland is home to rabbits and deer as well as a thriving bird population, which also extends to the bamboo garden around the Mollycroft. There's a resident flock of green finches in winter as well as owls, woodpeckers and starlings. On site, there is also an organic veg garden and it may be possible to pick up the odd fresh grown treat depending on availability.
Our guests say...
Beautiful. A perfect start to autumn. A lovely relaxed few days, making fires and drinking tea outdoors.
19/09/2018Tamsin
we had a brilliant stay - a really fun getaway with the kids - masses to do in the local area. we'd thoroughly recommend it.
13/08/2018sara
Absolutely fantastic! Beautiful location, we had everything we needed. The owners were great and very attentive. I would recommend to anyone who wants to explore Yorkshire as a good base. Would definitely stay again.
26/07/2018Eva
Really relaxing, peaceful and everything i had hoped
14/07/2018Sophie
We loved staying here...!! Beautiful location, amazing grounds. The people we met were friendly and chatty. We got to walk all day and shower under at night under the stars. One more of our great memories together.
15/09/2017Heidi
Love this place? Tell everyone!
Booking Terms
Canopy & Stars low price promise
Book with us in confidence knowing you won’t find that place cheaper elsewhere. All of the prices we display are set and matched by our Owners. (In this world of foreign currency, we do have to say 'subject to exchange rates' for some of our European places.)
What does ‘from price’ mean?
Our ‘from price’ is based on a four night stay in low season and designed to help you to compare different prices across our collection. Some of our Owners vary their nightly rates and check in days throughout the year, so it may differ from the rate quoted below the calendar. It is quite common (although by no means universal) for places to charge a little more in peak season or for shorter stays, to cover changeover costs. Consider booking longer stays during the cooler months if you’re looking for the lowest nightly rates.
Agency Terms & Conditions
Except where otherwise specified, we Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd Company No 09088366 of Merchants House, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RW act only as an Agent in respect of all bookings we take and/or make on your behalf. Sawday’s Canopy & Stars is part of the Alastair Sawday’s Group of Companies. We accept no liability in relation to any contract you enter into or for any services or arrangements you purchase (“Booking(s)”) or for the acts or omissions of any supplier(s) or other person(s) or party(ies) connected with any Booking. For all Bookings, your contract will be with the supplier of the Booking in question, and in most cases this will be the owner of the property you’ll be staying at (“Owner(s)”). When making your Booking we will arrange for you to enter into a contract with the Owner of the Booking. Your Booking with us is subject to these Agency Terms & Conditions and any specific booking conditions of the relevant Owner(s) you contract with. The Owner’s booking conditions may limit and/or exclude the Owner’s liability to you.
You may decide to make more than one Booking with us at the same time. The price charged in total for more than one Booking will always equal the prices charged separately for each individual Booking. All Bookings are available to be purchased separately at the same price as they are when more than one Booking is made. This means that any multiple Bookings do not constitute a package as defined in the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992.
By making a booking, you agree that:-
- you have read these Agency Terms & Conditions and agree to be bound by them;
- you consent to our use of your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy;
and
- you are over 18 years of age and where there may be age restrictions in place, you declare that you and all members of your party are of the appropriate age.
The Canopy & Stars online booking system enables Guests to make Bookings 24 hours a day. A Booking is confirmed on receipt of a 25% non-refundable deposit for all Bookings with check in dates of more than 10 weeks away. For all Bookings that have a check in date of less than 10 weeks before check in, payment for the Booking will be required in full and the entire Booking will be non-refundable. The Canopy & Stars telephone booking line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm. When using the online enquiry form, for those Properties without online booking, please allow 24 working hours for us to contact you by telephone to confirm the Booking. If we are unable to reach you by phone we will attempt to contact you by email. We will contact you during Canopy & Stars working hours (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm). Online or email enquiries will be dealt with in the order they are received, but please be aware that we cannot guarantee reservation of your selected dates until the receipt of suitable payment. Therefore, if possible, we do recommend that you book on the Canopy & Stars website using the online booking system.
1. Booking and payments
1.1 In order to confirm your chosen Booking, you must pay a non-refundable deposit as required by the Owner of the Booking in question (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks of the date of your check-in).
1.2 Your Booking is confirmed and a contract between you and the Owner will exist when we receive payment of the deposit and send you a booking confirmation on the Owner’s behalf. This booking confirmation will normally be sent out within 24 hours in the case of email and seven working days in the case of post, and will contain the details of your Booking and of payments made and due. If you have not received your booking confirmation within the specified time, please notify us as soon as possible by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk). Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to us immediately. As we act only as booking Agent, we have no responsibility for any errors in any documentation except where an error is made by us.
1.3 Where a deposit has been paid, full balance payment will be due 10 weeks in advance of your check in date and a reminder will be sent to you two weeks prior to this date, where applicable, by email. We automatically take the balance payment using the same card as used to make the deposit payment. It is your reponsibility to advise us if we should use a different card and to contact us by telephone (0117 204 7830) to arrange for alternative payment method. If the balance payment does not successfully go through as there is a problem with your card, such as it expiring, then we will contact you to try and take alternative payment. If we have been unable to take payment after two weeks of the balance due date, then with regret, we will notify the Owner who may cancel your Booking.
1.4 Except where otherwise advised or stated in the booking conditions of the Owner concerned, all monies you pay to us for a Booking will be held on behalf of the Owner(s) concerned.
1.5 Credit Card payments are processed via Alastair Sawday’s Publishing Co. Ltd who provide merchants services facilities to Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd.
2. Cancellation and Amendment by You
2.1 Any cancellation or amendment request must be sent to us by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk) and will be considered and responded to within one working day of receipt. You are also advised to confirm all changes to our Customer Services Department by calling 0117 204 7830. Please ensure that you have received written confirmation of any changes to your Booking prior to travel. Whilst we will always try to help, we cannot guarantee that such requests will be met.
2.2 Amendments and cancellations can only be accepted in accordance with the booking conditions of the Owner of your Arrangements. The Owner may charge the cancellation or amendment charges shown in their booking conditions (which may be as much as 100% of the cost of the Arrangements and will normally increase closer to the date of departure). The Owner may charge cancellation or amendment charges in accordance with its own booking conditions, however for the sake of convenience only, we have outlined the Owner’s charges at clause 2.3 and 2.4 below. Please note that these are the Owner’s own cancellation and amendments charges, not Canopy & Stars’, and therefore the Owner may vary their charges as they wish, without notice to us. The correct charges will be notified to you at the time of your cancellation or amendments.
2.3 Owner’s General Cancellation Charges:
2.3.1 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your deposit being forfeited, as all deposits are non-refundable.
2.3.2 All monies paid for a holiday (deposit and balance) are non-refundable within 10 weeks before check in date.
2.3.3 Cancellation of any holiday after it has been paid in full and at a date 10 weeks or more in advance of your check in date, will result in forfeiture of your deposit (or an amount equivalent where one was not paid as the holiday was paid in full) and the balance being returned to you.
2.3.4 Cancellation insurance is available but will be a third party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way.
2.4 Owner’s General Amendment Charges:
2.4.1 Alterations to your Booking can only be made more than 10 weeks prior to the check in date, after which time alterations will be treated as cancellation. All alterations are subject to availability and may incur a £30 adminstration fee.
2.4.2 Differences in the total amount payable resulting from alterations will be refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price and paid by you in the case of increases in price.
Special note: Generally Owners will charge the above cancellation and amendment charges, however we must stress that these are a guide only and charges may differ from those shown here depending on the Owner. The exact charges will be notified to you by the Owner at the time of cancellation and/or can be found in the Owner’s own booking conditions which are available from the Owner on request.
3. Changes and Cancellations by the Owner
We will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if the Owner needs to make a significant change to your confirmed Arrangements or to cancel them. We will also liaise between you and the Owner in relation to any alternative Booking offered by the Owner but we will have no further liability to you.
4. Complaints
Because the contract for your Booking is between you and the Owner, any queries or concerns should be addressed to them. In the event that you have any complaint about your stay, please notify the Owner as soon as possible. If you don’t follow this procedure there will be less opportunity for the Owner to investigate and resolve your complaint and so make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Delays may also mean that amount of compensation you may be entitled to may be reduced. Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also contact us as we appreciate all feedback. It’s important to us and the Owner to know that you’ve enjoyed your stay or if anything could have been improved.
5. Pricing
Canopy & Stars reserve the right to amend advertised prices at any time on behalf of the Owner. We also reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices.Special note: changes and errors sometimes occur.
6. Information & Accuracy
The information and prices shown on this website are varied from time to time and may change between the time you first view a property and make a Booking. You should check that all the details are as you expect prior to making a Booking. It is always possible that, despite our best efforts, some of the properties (including the features and extras available) may be incorrectly described and/or priced. If we discover this is the case after you have made a Booking, we reserve the right to contact you with details of the correct information and/or pricing and will give you the option to:
(1) proceed with the Booking based on the correct information and/or pricing, which may require the payment of an additional amount by you;
OR
(2) subject to availability, change your booking dates to dates when the pricing can be honoured ad so no additional charge to you. In the event that a lower price can be offered for alternative dates then the difference would be refunded;
OR
(3) cancel the Booking. If we do not receive your instructions within 5 days of contacting you, we reserve the right to cancel your Booking without liability to you.
7. Our Responsibility for your Booking
Your contract is with the Owner and its booking conditions apply. As Agent, we accept no responsibility for the actual provision of the Booking. Our responsibilities are limited to making the Booking in accordance with your instructions and acting properly in accordance with our legal duties as an Agent. We accept no responsibility for any information about the Booking that we pass on to you in good faith. However, in the event that we are found liable to you on any basis whatsoever, our maximum liability to you is limited to twice the cost of your Booking (or the appropriate proportion of this if not everyone on the Booking is affected). We do not exclude or limit any liability for death or personal injury that arises as a result of our negligence or that of any of our employees whilst acting in the course of their employment.
8. Pets
Not all properties accept pets. If you wish to take your pet on holiday, please advise us before booking and we can check whether pets are accepted at the property. You must obtain the prior consent of the Owner before taking any pets to the property. A nightly charge may be made by the Owner for each pet and additional terms may apply.
9. VAT
Many of the Owners of properties in the Canopy & Stars portfolio are not registered for VAT in which case no tax is payable. Where VAT is payable, the tax is included in the advertised holiday rental price.
10. Visa, passport and health requirements.
Unless you tell us otherwise, we assume that all members of your party are British citizens who hold or will hold full British passports valid for the entire duration of the Arrangements you chose to purchase. Information on visa, passport and health requirements, where given and applicable, is so given on this basis. Requirements may change and you are therefore strongly recommended to check the up to date position with the Owner of the Booking, Passport Office, appropriate embassy or consulate or your doctor as applicable in good time before the commencement of your holiday.
11. Insurance
You are strongly recommended to take out personal travel insurance for all members of your party. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance you purchase is adequate and appropriate for your particular needs. Please read your policy details and take them with you on holiday.
12. Special requests
If you have any special requests (for example dietary requirements, cots or room location), please let us know at the time of booking. We will pass on all such requests to the Owner, but unfortunately, we can't guarantee that they will be met and we will have no liability to you if they are not.
13. Group Bookings
Not all Owners accept Bookings for a single sex group (for example, a stag or hen party). Guests wanting to make such a Booking should check with us beforehand to enable us to check whether the Owner is prepared to accept the Booking. We will then advise you accordingly. In event that an Owner does not accept this type of Booking then it is with regret, that the Booking may be cancelled and cancellation fees may apply. It is the Guest’s responsibility to enquire with Canopy & Stars and/or check on our website beforehand to make sure that this type of booking is permitted.
14. Maximum Numbers
Please note that except by prior arrangement confirmed in writing, only the number of persons specified on a booking confirmation may occupy a property. Most owners reserve the right to refuse admittance or revoke a booking if this condition is not observed and you are unlikely to receive any refund.
15. Your Responsibilities
Please note that you have a contract with the Owner of the property. As such you are under a responsibility to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner whilst staying at the property with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their property. You are responsible for informing the Owner of any losses or damage to the property as soon as possible. Please note that you will be liable to pay the Owner for any losses or damage to the property caused by you or a member of your party (except reasonable wear and tear). Some Owners will also require damage deposits. You must also leave the property by the check-out time specified on your booking. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period and/or refuse any future bookings from you. Any refund for so doing will be at the entire discretion of the Owner. In addition, the Owner reserves the right to sue the guest for any loss, damage or injury caused to the Owner, the Property or to other guests and/or their property. As agent, we will have no liability to you in these circumstances.
16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These terms and conditions have been drafted in accordance with and are governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any and all disputes arising out of these Agency Terms & Conditions.
17. Discrepancies
In case of a discrepancy between these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Agency Terms & Conditions shall prevail.
18. Validity clause
In the event that a court finds that a condition in these Agency Terms & Conditions is illegal or void, the illegal or void provision will be severed from the remainder of the Agency Terms & Conditions, which will continue to be valid and have full force and effect.
Beautiful. A perfect start to autumn. A lovely relaxed few days, making fires and drinking tea outdoors.
19/09/2018