Quirky charm and golf at Aldwark Manor: a playful Yorkshire escape
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A stay at Aldwark Manor offers golf, style and plenty of personality, from bold interiors to playful touches and a lively course - travel writer Julie Bayley has been for a short break
If you’re drawn to the quirky side of life, you’ll love Aldwark Manor. From the moment you sweep up the long driveway and into the beautiful grounds, it’s clear your stay is going to be a little different.
Lakes with fountains and waterfalls, the striking manor house itself, even a vintage double-decker bus, all make for memorable first impressions. Inside and out, playful design touches add to the charm: brass hands for door handles; bold wall art; exotic, feathery lampshades and even topiary with a sense of humour.
Tucked away in North Yorkshire’s Vale of York, the estate spans 200 acres of parkland, bordered by the River Ure.
Significant investment has gone into the property, with more to come as the spa undergoes a major refurbishment. While we were greeted by scaffolding and the odd digger, it was all neatly contained – and the view from our third-floor room more than made up for it.
The bedroom itself was stylish and welcoming, with thoughtful touches like Molton Brown toiletries and cute bottles of fresh milk. Ten out of ten for the comfort of the bed and the powerful shower.
We dined at Elements, where the food was both well-cooked and beautifully presented. The restaurant’s outlook is lovely, and even if you’re seated away from the windows, nature is brought inside thanks to a dramatic centrepiece: a towering, artificial tree.
Golfers will particularly enjoy the back nine of the hotel's 18-hole course, where holes weave through mature woodland and across water features, including the River Ure itself on the 14th - a drive not for the faint-hearted!
It's a Par 70 course, measuring 5,922 yards from the white tees and has benefitted recently from a major redesign: nine holes have been significantly changed, new water hazards added, drainage improved, bunkers updated, plus enhancements like a new putting green and more electric buggies.
The course offers a good challenge, especially the last few holes, where a lot of water and many bunkers come into play. It's a touch scruffy in places but still great fun and the golf team couldn’t have been more accommodating.
Aldwark Manor manages to balance elegance with character. The bar and lounges feel inviting, the bedrooms impress, and everywhere you turn there’s a spark of personality. It's perfect for a weekend break and definitely worth taking your golf clubs.
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