Clay Bank Huts Reviews

Superb quality

Shepherd's Huts on this site are of a very high standard and were spotlessly clean. Hosts were friendly and welcoming, but not intrusive. The hut has everything you need for a comfortable stay, and the location is perfect. So peaceful, and forest walks on the doorstep - my dogs loved their stay too.

Cozy, well-maintained cabin on the edge of the moors

My girlfriend and I stayed two nights in one of the camping pods. The pod was very comfortable, with warm sheets and hot water bottles to keep out the cold at night. The site is convenient for accessing the moors, including sections of the coast-to-coast trail just five minutes up the road.

Outstanding

This site caters for adults only and has been designed by the owners to be as relaxing as possible. We stayed in a shepherd's hut (called the Roseberry) and it was really lovely. The site does operate a size limit for pooches due to the nature of the accommodation so please be aware of this before booking. We were greeted on arrival by Joanna who said she had placed some milk in the fridge. I thought that was really nice. However, after receiving the key and opening the door, we found 2 bottles of soft drinks and a bag of fudge. That was very thoughtful and most welcoming. All the things you actually need are already provided, such as hand wash, washing up liquid and ant-bac wipes in the kitchen area - hand wash at the basin in the toilet and the shower cubicle had a large bottle of shower gel. Two bath towels and one hand towel - of the crisp white variety were also provided. Hot water is in plentiful supply via the large gas bottles behind the Hut. Water pressure is very good. Do note: if you turn off the shower to apply gel - when you turn it back on, there will be a few seconds of hot water followed by a few seconds of cold water as the pump and heat exchanger come back on line and then hot water is re-established. Just step out of the way for 8-10 seconds or so. Pots, pans, microwave, toaster, double gas hob, caravan type fridge/freezer which works very well indeed, kettle, crockery, glasses, cutlery, chopping board. Its all there. Its a total self contained environment. If you look for the TV - you won't find it - that's because its not there. This site is about relaxation and taking in the beauty of the natural environment rather than the excessive drama of TV soaps and depressing news. The hut itself was wonderfully clean and the décor was modern and beautifully appointed. There is also a separate shared facility toilet/shower block with an outside sink if you stay in one of the pods - think canvas camping site facilities - but much cleaner and better looking! The owners will come and have a chat if you are outside taking in the views and they happen to walk past - really nice folks called Joanna and Richard. They live on site no more than 1500m away from their rental units. So they naturally take an interest in their business venture and keep things ticking along nicely. The area in which the Huts/Pods are located feels very much like the Lake District, minus the lakes, with large crags of rocks covered in trees and pink heather. On a clear night, the Moon rises above the tree line and skims across the night sky as you look out of your hut window. Marvellous. You are in a forested area so you can expect to hear Owls at night - although on our visit, unfortunately, we did not. There are walks aplenty within minutes of the sites but as we only had 2 nights we took the opportunity to go to Saltburn which is about 30 mins away. Really nice beach, good friendly vibe, family friendly and sections clearly marked for dogs if you bring your four legged friend with you. There is a vertical cliff railway which is a great way to get down to the beach if you park at the top, which is free at time of this review in Aug 2024. You can also use the steps if you feel up to task. Great fish and chips and nice ice cream from several places along the promenade. You can walk out onto the pier, which is free to access (dogs on a leash please), and feel the temperature difference between pier and shore. We also stopped at Northallerton on the way in and again on the way back home. A nice town with some interesting shops and a cracking butchers called 'Kitson' which sells some amazing pastry covered items at the rear of the shop. Try their large sausage rolls and you wont have to eat for 24 hours. Or maybe the "Yorkshire Pasty" - warm on the day I got one - excellent. Would I go back to Clay Bank? Yes, absolutely.

Fantastic find

We initially booked this for the 9th but due to work commitments I needed to change the dates. Joanne was amazing about this, and changed it immediately for us. The site is a small site with soon to be three shepherd's huts and three pods. We stayed in Rosemary, the middle of the three. Although compact, to be expected of a shepherd's hut, it had everything you needed for your stay. The décor and furnishings had been thoughtfully done. The bed was super comfy, the little kitchen had everything you needed, it even had a little freezer, and a pint of milk with tea and coffee for a hot drink after your journey, the shower room was more than adequate with towels provided. The only downside we found was it was too hot to use the cosy wood burner! The site is in a lovely peaceful location, with no TV or Wi-Fi which added to our stay. We were lucky to have warm evenings to sit outside and watch the shooting stars. We're already looking at dates we can go back for a winter break to use the wood burner!

Outstanding place

Just stayed 2 nights at Clay bank huts. It's in a beautiful location. Our hut was beautifully decorated with everything you would need, including a microwave and a fridge to chill our drinks after a day out. There are power points to charge your phone and our hut had an en-suite. It's not far to drive to places like Saltburn for a breath of sea air. Or, to walk into the nearest village Ingelby Greenhow for a drink and a bite to eat. All in all, a lovely few days. The host, Joanne, was so lovely. We definitely want to go back.

Perfect for stargazing

We stayed at the Rosemary hut and it was absolutely stunning. The attention to detail by the hosts was remarkable, the hut had everything one could possibly need and more. It was very cozy and nicely decorated. We were lucky enough to have clear skies on our second night and we sat on the porch stargazing, this was the highlight of our stay! The site is a wonderful pocket of quiet, the only sounds you will hear are the chickens, the sheep, the nearby stream, and of course the wind! All in all, 100% recommend staying here and we'll certainly be back.

Proper glamping site!

We stayed in the Rosemary hut and we loved it! The hut has everything you would need; a microwave, stove, towel, frying pan, fridge etc . The road is well paved by rocks and pebbles so despite heavy rain on one day, the site was not muddy at all. The owners were very kind and helpful too.

Incredible location with the most wonderful hosts

Beautiful Shepherd's Hut in the most stunning location. Everything was beautifully laid out and the hosts were absolutely fantastic people. A really wonderful few days away. I can't wait to come again soon!

Site's response

Thanks for the lovely review, Bradley. It was a pleasure to meet you and thank you for staying with us. Enjoy the rest of the summer and we hope that we see you again in the future. Take care Joanne & Richard