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Bracken Fern, Aldbrough St John

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Bracken Fern is a romantic shepherd's hut in North Yorkshire, perfect for couples wanting a peaceful retreat with their dog. This cosy hideaway features a private hot tub where you can relax under the stars after exploring the Yorkshire countryside. The property welcomes pets and provides everything needed for a comfortable stay.

The hut sits in rural North Yorkshire, surrounded by rolling hills and farmland. You'll find yourself in proper countryside here. The location offers peace and quiet whilst remaining accessible to market towns and outdoor activities.

The accommodation sleeps 2 guests in 1 bedroom with a double bed. There's 1 bathroom with a shower. The open-plan living space includes a kitchen area and seating.

About Bracken Fern

Bracken Fern is a romantic shepherd's hut in North Yorkshire, perfect for couples wanting a peaceful retreat with their dog. This cosy hideaway features a private hot tub where you can relax under the stars after exploring the Yorkshire countryside. The property welcomes pets and provides everything needed for a comfortable stay.

The hut sits in rural North Yorkshire, surrounded by rolling hills and farmland. You'll find yourself in proper countryside here. The location offers peace and quiet whilst remaining accessible to market towns and outdoor activities.

The accommodation sleeps 2 guests in 1 bedroom with a double bed. There's 1 bathroom with a shower. The open-plan living space includes a kitchen area and seating. Outside you'll find the hot tub and a small patio area for sitting out.

Richmond Castle (8 miles, 15 minutes) offers medieval history and river walks. The Yorkshire Dales National Park (12 miles, 20 minutes) provides hiking trails and waterfalls. Catterick Racecourse (6 miles, 12 minutes) hosts regular race meetings. Bolton Castle (10 miles, 18 minutes) features medieval architecture and falconry displays.

Bracken Fern works brilliantly for couples after a proper escape. Book here for the hot tub, dog-friendly policy and genuine Yorkshire countryside setting.

Check Prices & Availability »
At Sykes Cottages

Need To Know

Bracken Fern

  • Electric heater and woodburning stove - starter pack included
  • Fuel and power included in rent
  • Off-road parking available
  • Note: there are steps up to the property
  • Note: there is no tv or wifi in the property
  • Private front decking and lawn with wood-fired hot tub - starter pack included, extra logs can be purchased from the owner or locally
  • access to surrounding woodland
  • Relax in your own hot tub after days exploring the Yorkshire countryside, perfect for romantic evenings under the stars together.
  • Bring your dog along to enjoy the rural setting with plenty of wa
  • Microwave
  • 2-ring gas hob
  • fridge
  • Bed linen and towels included in rent
  • The shepherd's hut sleeps just 2 guests in 1 bedroom
  • One well behaved dog welcome - not on the beds or furniture
  • Please keep dogs on a lead
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • Adults only, the property doesn't accept children or babes in arms
  • Please note: this property only accepts a monday or friday change over day
  • Shop 2.1 miles
  • pub 1.3 miles
  • Note: the property is on a working farm
  • Richmond Castle | 8 miles | DL10 4QW
  • Bolton Castle | 10 miles | DL8 4ET
  • Catterick Racecourse | 6 miles | DL10 4TB

What Guests Love

What do previous guests think about their stay at Bracken Fern

Private Hot Tub

Relax in your own hot tub after days exploring the Yorkshire countryside, perfect for romantic evenings under the stars together.

Dog Friendly Retreat

Bring your dog along to enjoy the rural setting with plenty of walking routes directly from the shepherd's hut door.

Peaceful Rural Location

Escape to genuine North Yorkshire countryside with rolling hills, farmland views and complete peace away from busy towns.

Cosy Shepherd's Hut

Enjoy the compact yet comfortable layout with everything you need for a romantic break in characterful accommodation.

Close to Yorkshire Dales

Access the Yorkshire Dales National Park within 20 minutes for spectacular hiking, waterfalls and outdoor adventures throughout your stay.

Easy Access to Attractions

Visit Richmond Castle, Bolton Castle and Catterick Racecourse all within short driving distance for varied days out.

Getting To Bracken Fern

Find your way to your perfect countryside retreat

By Car

To reach Bracken Fern by car, take the A1(M) and exit onto the A6055 towards Barton. Follow local roads to the shepherd's hut where you'll find convenient off-road parking available upon arrival.

By Train

For those travelling by rail, the nearest station is Darlington, approximately 15 miles away. From there, you'll need to arrange a taxi to reach the rural location of the shepherd's hut.

Off-road parking available
Darlington station (15 miles)
Accessible from A1(M) and A6055

Group Attractions & More Nearby

Stuff for larger groups and families to try!

Richmond Castle
Distance: 8 miles
DL10 4QW
Bolton Castle
Distance: 10 miles
DL8 4ET
Catterick Racecourse
Distance: 6 miles
DL10 4TB
Yorkshire Dales National Park
Distance: 12 miles
DL8 3LY
Richmond Riverside Walk
Distance: 8 miles
DL10 4QW
Aysgarth Falls
Distance: 18 miles
DL8 3SR
Richmond Market Place
Distance: 8 miles
DL10 4HS
Tesco Superstore Catterick
Distance: 7 miles
DL9 4SA
Leyburn Market Town
Distance: 11 miles
DL8 5AS
Darlington Town Centre
Distance: 15 miles
DL1 1ND
Scotch Corner Services
Distance: 8 miles
DL10 6NS
Northallerton Town
Distance: 12 miles
DL7 8LU
Richmond Castle
Distance: 8 miles
DL10 4QW
Bolton Castle
Distance: 10 miles
DL8 4ET
Catterick Racecourse
Distance: 6 miles
DL10 4TB
Yorkshire Dales National Park
Distance: 12 miles
DL8 3LY
Richmond Riverside Walk
Distance: 8 miles
DL10 4QW
Aysgarth Falls
Distance: 18 miles
DL8 3SR
Richmond Market Place
Distance: 8 miles
DL10 4HS
Tesco Superstore Catterick
Distance: 7 miles
DL9 4SA
Leyburn Market Town
Distance: 11 miles
DL8 5AS
Darlington Town Centre
Distance: 15 miles
DL1 1ND
Scotch Corner Services
Distance: 8 miles
DL10 6NS
Northallerton Town
Distance: 12 miles
DL7 8LU

Is Bracken Fern Right For You & Your Dog

Discover why this cottage is the perfect dog-friendly hot tub retreat for you and your pet

For Families
Bracken Fern is designed specifically for couples rather than families with children. The shepherd's hut sleeps just 2 guests in 1 bedroom, making it unsuitable for families. The compact layout and romantic setting work best for adult couples. However, nearby attractions like Bolton Castle offer falconry displays and medieval history that older children would enjoy during day trips from alternative family accommodation.
Pet Friendly
Dogs are welcome at Bracken Fern, making it perfect for couples who want to bring their pet along. The rural North Yorkshire location provides excellent walking opportunities directly from the door, with countryside trails and footpaths nearby. The shepherd's hut offers a secure base for your dog and the outdoor space allows them to relax alongside you. Remember to bring bedding and bowls for your pet.

Dining & Cafes

Taste the local flavours during your stay at Bracken Fern

The Black Bull Inn

Located 5 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: DL8 1AT

The Bridge Inn Richmond

Located 8 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: DL10 4TJ

Seasons Restaurant Leyburn

Located 11 miles from your accommodation.

Postcode: DL8 5BQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to our most common questions about Bracken Fern

Is Bracken Fern pet friendly?
Yes, Bracken Fern welcomes pets so you can bring your dog along. The rural location provides excellent walking opportunities right from the door.
How many people does the shepherd's hut sleep?
The property sleeps 2 guests in 1 bedroom with a double bed. There's 1 bathroom with shower facilities.
Does the property have a hot tub?
Yes, there's a private hot tub outside for your exclusive use. It's perfect for relaxing after days exploring the Yorkshire countryside.
What facilities are included in the shepherd's hut?
The open-plan space includes a kitchen area, seating and sleeping quarters. Outside you'll find the hot tub and patio seating area.
How far is Bracken Fern from the Yorkshire Dales?
The Yorkshire Dales National Park is 12 miles away, taking around 20 minutes by car. You'll find hiking trails, waterfalls and stunning landscapes throughout the park.
What attractions are nearby?
Richmond Castle sits 8 miles away with medieval history and riverside walks. Bolton Castle is 10 miles away featuring falconry displays and medieval architecture.
Is there parking at the property?
Yes, off-road parking is provided at the shepherd's hut. You'll have convenient space for your vehicle throughout your stay.
What's the local area like around Bracken Fern?
The hut sits in rural North Yorkshire surrounded by farmland and rolling hills. Market towns like Richmond are within easy reach for shops and restaurants.

More Pet Friendly Cottages You May Like

Pet friendly & nearby

Pet Friendly Days Out Near Bracken Fern

Not sure where to take your dog on your hot tub break? Here are some handy and important places within easy reach. You'll find pet friendly pubs and cafés, beaches, walks and country parks, plus the nearest vets should you need one. Tire the dog out, then head back for a soak under the stars.

21 places nearby · Bracken Fern

Dog Friendly Pubs

Google Places

Proper country pubs near Bracken Fern that welcome dogs through the door - ideal for a post-walk pint by the fire.

The Fox Hole

Piercebridge, Darlington DL2 3SJ, UK

2.2 mi 4.6 (658)

The Spotted Dog

6 The Grn, High Coniscliffe, Darlington DL2 2LJ, UK

2.5 mi 4.4 (483)

Baydale Beck Inn

Low Coniscliffe, Darlington DL2 2JX, UK

3.6 mi 4.4 (718)

Tawny Owl

Neasham Rd, Hurworth Moor, Darlington DL2 1QE, UK

6.7 mi 4.5 (1816)

The Fox & Hounds Neasham

24 Teesway, Neasham, Darlington DL2 1QP, UK

8.1 mi 4.3 (536)

The Old Farmhouse

Yarm Rd, Darlington DL2 1JY, UK

8.4 mi 4.4 (1720)

Places data © Google. "Dog friendly" is based on listing and review text rather than an official flag, so it's always worth ringing ahead to double-check before you travel.

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Bracken Fern Reviews

Matthew
What cant i say about this place it is amazing so private and peaceful this is ... What cant i say about this place it is amazing so private and peaceful this is the best cabin i have been too the cabins are not close together giving you that privacy and all you can hear is the wild life in the woodland the hot tub was so relaxing and easy to use everything was just perfect for a stress free and relaxing weekend i would recommend to anyone i will 100 book again
Very relaxing. Fantastic place. Immaculate, so clean
Jessica
This is our second stay at Bracken Fern, as we really fell in love with it the first time round. Perfect location, cabin and hosts. We'll definitely be back for another peaceful weekend getaway. Such a little hidden gem!
Samantha
The accommodation was really clean, good shower and comfy bed. The only down point was that there wasnt anywhere comfortable to sit inside if it was cold. The kitchen was adequate for couple of nights but I wouldnt have wanted to be there for a week unless I was really good at cooking on open fire as it only has microwave and hob. It also wasnt as private as it could have been being able to view the neighbours. But it was a very relaxing place to be. Hot tub was amazing though, dressing gowns was also a nice touch.
Nichola
Lovely place to stay so relaxing. The 'hut' was super clean on arrival and very welcoming. The scenery and setting is perfect for total relaxation thank you for a lovely stay.
Melanie
We had a lovely time and would likely come again, only issues were that the pictures in the listing show a full sized round hot tub however when we arrived it was more an outside bath. The neighbouring hut was closer than we expected so we did see the other people staying a few times wasnt as private as expected, however we still have a lovely time and found the hut every comfortable and clean.
The cabin was great although the bed was a bit small me and the wife had to top and tail it otherwise we wouldn't fit. The facilities and cleanliness was great, the owner was very friendly and the area is lovely.
Georgina
Amazing little woodland break away to escape from life for a few days! So quiet and relaxing to spend quality time with my partner
Brilliant Stay, Loved every minute of it. It was very cold outside we were kept warm with the log burner and electric heater. Excellent stay and would highly recommend
Lovely location , very cosy cabin , lovely welcome pack , brillant place if you want a bit of piece and quite would highly recomend to every 1. Would like to return in.the summer to see the differnce. And its only 1,5 mile walk to local pub which is a lovely country pub
Helena
We have had a fantastic holiday
A delightful secluded hideaway with all the facilities needed for the most relaxing and enjoyable refreshing break you could ever wish for ! ! Surrounded by tranquil woodlands, this beautiful shepherds pod retreat has an amazing wood fired hot tub, outdoor space with fire pit and superbly appointed functional inside space topped off with a super comfy bed What more could you ask for, if a quiet, comfortable place is what youre after to recharge or simply escape the day to day life then this is for you ! Amazing place and will be looking to revisit as soon as possible !
Joanne
Beautiful cabin, amazing location! It was so nice to disconnect from the world for a couple of days and just enjoy the moment. Also Monty the dog loved spending 4days surrounded by the woods, he now decided he only eats his breakfast outside!! Thank you for the most wonderful stay.
Andrew
Absolutely perfect, thank you
Bracken Fern was just amazing. For the first time in a long time, we were able to switch off from reality. Everything was just perfect. It was more than we expected. Every little detail had been taken care off. The cabin was immaculate and the bed was so comfy. Bella our little dog loved her treats and she loved exploring outside. Waking up in the morning and sitting outside with a cup of tea, listening to the birds and wildlife was just wow! We will definitely be coming back. Thank you for such a wonderful experience, it was out of this world x
Very tranquil, clean & everything we needed for our 3 nights stay.
Absolutely stunning. Perfect get away.
Oliver
Lovely little cabin in the woods with everything you need for a relaxing weekend. Only met the owner once and they were very friendly and helpful.
Andrew
Perfect woodland area very rural, I just sat around the fire pit every night with Vinnie, Paul and Laura was very helpful with anything, already booked again.
Natasha
What a beautiful peaceful break. Laura is so Helpful and there is nothing she hasnt thought of. 5
Loved this sheperds hut in the woods so peacefull. Has every thing u need but there only a microwave and gas hob or firepit with griddle so id take a airfryer as we did or ull b limited to ready meals perfect for a weeks holiday with dog can walk for miles. dog was in her element and exhausted every day would recommend u try it 5 we will book again for next year
Michelle
Gorgeous little cabin in woods, could hear occasional car on main road but otherwise felt like was out in wilderness, sure in Summer when trees in full leaf will feel more secluded. Only issue was no other comfortable seating available inside cabin and stools at breakfast bar were a little wobbly so had to sit on bed most of time there but was cozy especially with fire on and had everything needed to cook and prepare food! Hot tub was lovely but took far too long to heat up so only used once during stay, would definitely return for another visit when weather nicer! x
Stacey
The most amazing time ever, gorgeous little cabin, beautiful location, amazing customer service, the best and most relaxing week i have ever had, I will definitely be back !
Geoffrey
This will be the second time we have been here, last time was September 23, the place is just stunning, relaxing. As we remembered it. Cannot fault ot in anyway. Amazing place if you just want to relax and switch off l.
Jessica
We had a beautiful weekend at Bracken Fern. Super clean, cosy and private! A perfect little space to relax and rejuvenate. The owner Laura was so attentive to all our needs and you can tell there is a lot of love put into this place. We was sad to be leaving and missing the hot tub already! We'll definitely be back
Beautiful stay, amazing hosts, very helpful, so clean and tidy great location Would definitely recommend
My partner and I went to Bracken Fern this weekend to celebrate her Birthday. The cottage was absolutely stunning and surrounded by beautiful scenery. It was in a lovely rural area that was so quiet and very private, so perfect for a peaceful getaway. The cottage was in immaculate condition when we arrived, it was very clean and tidy, and smelled lovely. The cottage had everything we needed, and there was a lot of storage for belongings. The hot tub was a great feature, and the cottage was so well heated even at night so we were cosy throughout our whole stay. Despite its rural location, the cottage is a short drive away from both Darlington and Barnard Castle, so there was plenty to do whilst we were away. It was great that we were able to bring our dog Pip with us also, she had a great time. Laura was such a lovely host, and made our stay as perfect as possible. She kept in regular contact and helped us with everything we needed throughout our stay. Thankyou Laura for such an amazing trip! We have been telling our family and friends all about our stay and advising them to visit. We will certainly be returning to experience it during summertime.
OUTSTANDING! !! THE perfect retreat over Xmas nestled right in the heart of wonderful secluded and peaceful countryside. We enjoyed listening to the wildlife and seeing lots of birds whilst sat comfortably on the outside decking Very cosy and clean and clearly a lot of thought, love and attention by the owners to give guests an unforgettable experience. Already looking at booking again for the Spring to see a different landscape as the woodland changes with the seasons. Thankyou for our lovely break and memories Alan and Jane xx
Charlie
Amazing place to stay for a peaceful getaway. Hosts were amazing provided everything we needed and more!
Samantha
Very nice setting in the woodland. Hot tub was lovely once it reached the desired temperature, but would be useful to have some lights rather than rely on a solar powered spotlight, which was ineffective. Otherwise, all good. Other facilities were great and a lovely powerful shower too.
Heather
Fantastic place, perfect size for 2 people, bed extremely comfy. Would definitely stay here again. Owner was very quick to bring us more wood when we requested it, even though it was a Sunday Would suggest a few extra lights along the path and at the archway to and from the carpark, as on a night it is pitch black and difficult to see
Howard
We really loved our stay at Bracken Fern. The property was well presented our only suggestion would be to have a mirror in the bathroom and maybe usb charging ports on the sockets. Instructions on how long the logs last on the hot tub log burner would be beneficial as we have never experienced this before. It was a bit of trial and error on our part. But overall we thoroughly enjoyed our weekend break. Thank you
Stephen
Had an amazing stay, beautiful location and property. So peaceful and relaxing just what we needed to unwind! We will be back and recommending to everyone!
We had a brilliant time at Bracken Fern. A quirky little place to stay in a beautiful, quiet location. The property was very clean, had everything we needed and the right amount of space for me, my adult daughter and our dog. Thankfully we had good weather and were able to sit outside a lot. The cabin bed was cute but small so a tall person would struggle to fit in it. The mattress was a little lumpy too. We managed fine but it wasn't easy to get out of bed through the night, trying to climb over my daughter to get to the bathroom! It did give us a laugh though. We loved how wild the plants were around the property was but thought the areas around the paths and hot tub could be cut back as there were a lot of nettles. We'd definitely go back and we loved the area.
Lauren
Wow. I have no words for how stunning this place is. Just gorgeous, everything is thought of and clearly so much love and care has gone into creating this special place. Comfy, cosy, beautiful, calm. If you're wondering whether to book on... just do it. You won't regret it. Thanks for having us x
Rachel
We had a lovely stay last week. Bracken Fern is situated in a gorgeous place, so peaceful. We have stayed in similar places before and this was equally as good. Couple of things it could do with Few more kitchen utensils, slotted spoon for lifting eggs. Salt and pepper The bed is quite narrow, but was very comfortable. Thank you for the welcome wine and Ernie enjoyed the dog treats.
Rebecca
If you're looking for a quiet, beautiful, getaway this is the place to go. It's secluded, and just breathtaking. Perfect amount of space for two and a dog. Multiple walks near by, that made us feel refreshed and recharged how can you not feel such a way when getting to relax in a woodfired hot tub.
The accommodation was well equipped with everything we needed. The woodland setting, with the hot tub was perfect for relaxing and unwinding. The owners were lovely and really helpful. The perfect short break away.
The stay at bracken fern was unbelievable, if you want a quiet holiday to wind down then this is absolutely perfect. Just the sounds of the woods, the wood fired hottub was a nice treat too. The place was lovely and clean and smelled really nice. Bracken fern has everything you might need for a relaxing stay. We have already recommended to friends and we would love to come back and try the new cabins when they're open!
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