Fabulous Feversham Arms is Perfect Base for Exploring the North York Moors

The Feversham Arms in picturesque Helmsley is a wonderful option for those looking for a great base from which to explore the North York Moors, anyone wanting an indulgent and relaxing weekend or those interested in Helmsley itself.

The Hotel

The hotel is relatively small, with just 33 rooms and suites but has everything you need. The suites, in particular, are spacious bordering on huge and are nicely finished with lots of individual touches and indulgent offerings, including luxurious toiletries and bedding and flash entertainment and sound systems. Holing up in your room on a cold winter’s day would be a treat in itself, although with so much else to do you’d be missing out.

The Spa

The Verbena Spa at the Feversham Arms is a great way to unwind, be that after a long week at work or after a long walk in the countryside and there is a good choice of treatments, with staff well trained and highly qualified. Set in a pleasant courtyard there is a heated outdoor pool in nice gardens, a decking area and a small outdoor hot tub.

Inside there are various treatment rooms, a relaxation area where drinks, light refreshments and afternoon tea are served and the usual array of rooms and spa experiences. All hotel guests get full use of the saunarium, monsoon shower, aromatherapy room, salt inhalation chamber, ice fountain and foot spas, whilst various treatments and packages are also available.

The Food

The restaurant blends fine dining with more traditional, hearty fare and does it with typically unfussy Yorkshire service. It has two AA rosettes at the time of writing but seems to switch between two and three on an almost yearly basis, although only minor improvements would be needed to elevate it.

The a la carte menu is perhaps a little pricey but most guests are on some form of package or inclusive deal. Refreshingly, this is flexible in the way it works, with guests allowed an allowance towards any of the different menus offered, including the taster menu.

We opted for a very tasty and perfectly cooked beef rib to share with all the various accompaniments, including a delicious, unctuous, red wine jus, whilst for starters we chose an original, though not entirely convincing, “pastrami” of Scarborough woof and a nicely made bisque. We were so full from the huge rib of beef that we had to pass on desserts but there was a tempting selection including plenty of Yorkshire rhubarb.

Breakfast was also exceptional, with delicious local meat at the centre of a hearty full English, although there were plenty of other options too.

Helmsley and the Local Area

Helmsley is a delight: a very nice square, great pubs and some interesting shops, with plenty of quirky options offering far more than the usual twee and somewhat naff small-village trinkets. There is more excellent dining to be had at the renowned Black Swan whilst on a sunny day it’s hard to beat fish and chips sat outside from the excellent local chippie.

Just a stroll from the Feversham you can access the Cleveland Way, a well-marked 110 mile trail from Helmsley to Filey Brigg. There is a great circular route from the hotel of about seven miles that takes in some truly stunning scenery, including the fabulous Rievaulx Abbey, an English Heritage site. Further afield you have all the wilds of the Moors, whilst the coast is only a short drive away.

All in all we would thoroughly recommend the Feversham Arms and will certainly be going back soon!