Explore some of the amazing things to do during your stay
Experience the excitement and adrenaline of a day out at the races! York Racecourse is the third biggest racecourse in Britain in terms of total prize money offered, and second behind Ascot in prize money offered per meeting.
York Racecourse is the third biggest racecourse in Britain in terms of total prize money offered, and second behind Ascot in prize money offered per meeting.
Race meetings are held throughout the summer months between May and October. Its a fantastic day out with friends and family and some events run into the evening with live music!
Experience the excitement and adrenaline of a day out at the races!
York is a city with a dark past, its history is rife with tales of guts, gore, torture and ghosts. The International Ghost Research Foundation once even declared York as the most haunted city in Europe due to its bloodstained history and over 500 hauntings within the ancient city walls.
Founded by Romans in 71AD the city’s violent and volatile history – including Viking invasions, the Norman Conquest and the Civil War – makes its sinister legacy easy to understand. Sometimes it seems as though a ghostly figure with a score to settle is in residence in just about every street or ginnel.
Take a look at the latest events at Sandburn Hall and Tykes Restarant.
Hosting themed events in Tykes, Wedding Open days, golf club house sports bar and competitions. There is something for everyone!
Get your cowboy hats & boots at the ready and head down to Goodness Farm to visit the sheriffs for the unique alpaca experience.
It’s the ultimate experience for any animal lover of any age.
Meet the Sheriffs and take them on a gentle stroll around the woodland area, whilst having the opportunity to learn lots of fascinating facts about these interesting animals. Just a few miles up the road from our lodges!
Multi award-winning entertainment on the streets with The Wizard Walk of York, a wonderfully whimsical tour that wizard fans are going Potty for!
Join the Wizard on a quest to find magical creatures as you wand-er the alleys and snickelways of this enchanting city…
Ideal for children in particular (or big kids with a silly sense of humour and passion for the wizarding world!) A truly magical alternative to the many ghost walks in York. No spooky ghosts, no scary stories…The Wizard Walk focuses on FUN over frights!
York Barbican is the largest music and arts venue in York, hosting some of the biggest touring acts in the country such as The Specials, Suede, Manic Street Preachers, Little Mix and the UK Snooker Championships.
The venue offers a diverse programme of world-class events, including comedy, a range of live bands, sports, family shows and community events.
For full details of upcoming shows click link below to visit website
Enjoy a fantastic day out at Castle Howard!
Let off steam with your little ones in the Skelf Island Adventure Playground, get creative with crafty workshops, or try your hand at something new with archery and tomahawk throwing.
Immerse yourself in sweeping parkland dotted with lakes, temples and statues; a formal walled garden and an impressive woodland housing a rare botanical collection, there are endless opportunity to explore! Plus, enjoy Skelf Island, our award winning adventure playground hidden across the Great Lake. Any visit can be topped off with a treat from one of our of cafes, serving the best food and drink from the region, as well as shops, including garden centre and farm shop.
Castle Howard sits in 1,000 acres of beautiful parkland in the Howardian Hills – a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty just outside York.
Enjoy a day out at Castle Howard, one of the UK’s finest stately homes and discover a place like no other!’
Revel in the tranquillity of the award-winning contemporary Walled Garden at Scampston, designed by renowned Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf.
Journey through the arresting perennial meadow, discover the contemporary waves of grass and enjoy the calm of the contemplative ‘silent garden’.
Within the Walled Garden you’ll also find our welcoming café serving delectable lunches and cream teas.
The traditional Hall gardens and ‘Capability’ Brown parkland provide beautiful walks and scenic views out to the rising Wolds and include the stunning Palladian Bridge, a restored icehouse and the lakes brimming with wildlife.
A nature trail is also available for children – collect your explorer pack to discover the secrets of Scampston’s woodland. Scampston Hall is open for guided tours in the early summer.
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is a heritage railway in North Yorkshire that runs through the stunnng landscape of the North Yorks Moors National Park. First opened in 1836 as the Whitby and Pickering Railway, the railway was planned in 1831 by George Stephenson as a means of opening up trade routes inland from the then important seaport of Whitby. The line between Grosmont and Rillington was closed in 1965 and the section between Grosmont and Pickering was reopened in 1973 by the North York Moors Historical Railway Trust Ltd. The preserved line is now a tourist attraction and has been awarded several industry accolades.
<br>Hop aboard one of the heritage trains at Pickering, also known as the ‘Gateway to the Moors’. <br>Only a 20 minute drive from our lodges.
Discover Whitby with a delightful 40 minute drive across the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Prepare yourself for breathtaking panoramic views and historic landmarks!
City, Coast and Country
We love Griffon Forest, we’ve stayed a lot over the years and have never been disappointed. Great lodges, warm, clean and everything you need. We love our stays at Griffon Forest, there is always lots of wildlife around and brilliant walks.
A 15 minute walk away is Tykes restaurant, we booked a dog friendly table, and had a fabulous meal there as usual. We’ve never been disappointed with the service and food. We also went to the sports bar for lunch, it’s very reasonable and lovely staff and food too.
Google Reviews, February 2026
Amazing cabin weekend. Location great for exploring. Lots of local walks. Fishing lake which was good. The cabin was spotlessly clean. Bed was extremely comfortable. Hottub was lovely addition and jacuzzi bath was very relaxing. I would highly recommend and looking forward to returning!
Hoseasons, March 2026
Lodges are amazing with a private deck and hot tub. Small birds and squirrels are constant if you put out seed. And we saw our first badger last night wondered past while we were in the Hot tub!!
Google Reviews, October 2025
Perfect layout in a perfect place, clean well thought about in terms of layout. Everything you need for a fully functional kitchen. Just the perfect place for a stress free break, loved it. Loads of beautiful walks around the forest, sports bar a short walk away, dog friendly. Dogs on leads in grounds which is great for nervous dogs/people. Private hot tub, I can not stress enough how pieceful this beautiful place is. Highly recommend , well done to the staff and owners of Griffon Forrest York amazing place 👏
Tripadvisor, February 2026
We had an amazing time and would highly recommend. All staff were so friendly and always there to help with any issues straight away. They made our stay more than wonderful and we will definitely be back again soon. Thank you to all staff who make the holidays so special.
Hoseasons, February 2026
We came away for a weekend get away. Had the best time. Quiet, relaxing and peaceful. Someone came to check we had everything we needed.
We had walks around the forest and walked to Tykes at the main hall a couple of times. All staff were amazing across both sites.
Google Reviews, January 2026
This is probably one of the best lodges I have stayed at , I felt totally immersed in nature. From the moment I arrived everything was perfect .the lodge was spotlessly clean, cosy warm and spacious …… I saw foxes at night , badgers and daily visits from a variety of birds including a woodpecker and a Nutt hatcher, whilst walking through the forest a spotted many deer scattered around the lodges. My absolute highlight was sitting in the hot tub whilst I hand fed the squirrels that were always running around the patio. Everything was perfect from start to finish.
Tripadvisor, January 2026
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The golf course was completed in 2004 and opened in 2005. It has already been recognised as one of the best courses in the area and hosts major amateur and professional county events.
Since 2004 the 30 hectares of new tree plantations and large lakes have become a haven for many forms of wildlife which can be seen as you play your round.
BookWe have a range of offers and packages available at Sandburn Hall. From golf packages, to a luxurious stay at our hotel, or an intimate afternoon tea.
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There is no better place to holiday than "God's Own Country"! We can help you plan the perfect itinerary for your Yorkshire Staycation.
You could enjoy a visit to the historic and bustling City of York - ideal for a day of sightseeing, eating and drinking, and shopping; A trip to Castle Howard (location for the hit series Brideshead Revisited and Bridgerton) is a must and is only a 15 minute drive, followed by a visit to...
