Taking over Grassfield Hall for a weekend is a special treat. It’s a chance to spend precious time with friends and family, celebrate special occasions and enjoy the magical setting within the Yorkshire Dales.
To help you enjoy your luxury mini-break in Yorkshire even more, here we have compiled an article to give you the inspiration to help you plan your weekend. From private dining experiences to yoga lessons and cycling routes, let us share with you some of our best local secrets to help with your organisation.
Get to know the house before you arrive
We recommend to all our guests try to get to know the layout of the hall before they arrive, therefore, once your booking is confirmed, we will send you a planning guide via email.
Within the guide, you will find a floor plan of the hall, so that you and your guests can get to know the layout of the house before arrival. You might want to allocate bedrooms to each guest in advance, to save time and deliberation once you arrive. This way you can each settle and relax into your own space as soon as you arrive.
There are 8 beautiful bedrooms in the hall, each with their unique style and facilities, therefore you might feel that certain rooms suit certain guests more than others. Elderly friends may want a ground floor room, while others may love a jacuzzi bath or appreciate the best view in the house, or perhaps want their own private lounge area if they are early risers!
Make the most of the surroundings
The Nidderdale AONB is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, bordering the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the east and south. Grassfield Hall is ideally situated at the halfway point on the Way of the Roses coast-to-coast cycling route and is in the middle of both the Six Dales Trail and the Nidderdale Way. Therefore, you are perfectly positioned to explore the local surroundings on one or both of your weekend days.
You could spend a long day walking or cycling in the Dales using the maps and guidance from the website www.uppernidderdale.org. Or, perhaps you fancy a visit to How Stean Gorge for some outdoor pursuits, Brimham Rocks for a spot of climbing, or Fountains Abbey to explore the wonderful lake, gardens, and café.
Wherever you choose to go, we can organise a delicious hearty breakfast before you leave, as well as a packed lunch for all guests prepared from our local bakery. Once you return after a long day, all guests will be looking forward to soaking their aching limbs in one of our spa baths or enjoying an invigorating shower in the luxurious bathrooms.
Plan a private dining experience
There are many choices available when it comes to dinner. You could allow us to arrange some transportation and visit one of the many gourmet restaurants in Harrogate or the surrounding areas. From gastro-pubs to International cuisine, we would be happy to recommend some of our favourites in the area.
You could choose to prepare dinner yourselves – perhaps each couple taking on a course to share with everyone. There are many fabulous local producers nearby, where you can get fresh meat and vegetables, as well as some delicious bakeries for dessert.
Alternatively, private dining is always popular with our guests, and we can help you plan a perfect dinner party to wow all of your guests. You can use our private dining room to make your evening that little bit extra special, dressing it exactly as you choose with crockery, name places, and decorations to suit the occasion.
We can suggest local caterers depending on what style of theme or cuisine you would like, and with a team on hand to serve dinner, clear away and refill glasses, you don’t have to spend time running around to accommodate everyone as you would when throwing a party or dinner at home. Simply sit back, enjoy your dinner and your company, and don’t worry about a thing – it’s all under control.
Organise some evening entertainment
After dark, the hall really comes alive, with plenty of potential for fun and games. After spending time in your rooms getting ready for the evening, you and your guests can meet up in the grand hallway for a champagne reception, and why not hire an acoustic singer or pianist to add a relaxed atmosphere.
You could surprise your guests with a magician who magically appears in the dining room before you eat to perform a parlour show. Or, what about dressing up for a murder mystery night – you can hire actors to join in with the dinner party before you find out who done it, or even a Casino night, giving you the opportunity to don your finest black-tie attire and have a flutter on the tables!
A cocktail masterclass is also a great idea for those who love a tipple, and we can arrange for an expert mixologist to come in and give you lessons on how to make your favourite classics.
Alternatively, if you fancy something a little more chilled, we can hire you in a hot tub to splash around on the patio, while sipping on some chilled rosé and admiring the stunning views.
Incorporate some wellbeing
It’s always nice to have a balance of indulgence and wellbeing while on your weekend away. Therefore, as well as the dining and drinking elements, you might want to consider some holistic therapies and activities to leave you all feeling zen and relaxed before you depart.
We can arrange yoga classes, sound baths, or meditation retreats, as well as massages, manicures, or reflexology sessions to have at your leisure.
Also, if healthy eating is your thing, then we can always source specialist dieticians or caterers who can help you to prepare delicious and nutritious meals, juices, and snacks to leave you feeling refreshed and nurtured.
Make it personal
We always believe that it’s the small things that make the most lasting impressions, therefore you could add personal touches throughout your stay to bring a smile to each of your guests.
Why not make an itinerary to leave in each of your guest’s bedrooms for when they arrive so that they can see exactly how the weekend is planned out, or even prepare them a little goodie bag to collect when they arrive with some little keepsakes and local gifts in to remember the weekend.
However, you want your weekend to plan out, our team are here to help you as much or as little as you need. Whether you want complete relaxation, or adventure and activities galore, the opportunities are endless when it comes to creating the perfect weekend at Grassfield Hall! Get in touch to start the planning…