Helmsley is a thriving small market town on the edge of the North York Moors. It is an attractive place with stone buildings, stream and plenty of small family run shops. If it was in the Cotswolds it would be clogged with tourists and coach tours. It does get plenty of visitors but they they are absorbed without altering its character.
There is a range of accommodation to suit everyone from the eye wateringly expensive Feathersham Arms and less expensive Black Swan, to more reasonably priced pubs and B&Bs. The tea and cakes on arrival decided our choice of No 54 on Bongate, the main Pickering road out of Helmsley.
It is an attractive stone built terrace house, dating from around 1850 and was probably an estate workers house for Duncombe Park. The bed and breakfast accommodation is through the house and in an L shaped building round a courtyard. This would be a lovely place to sit in the warm summer months.
We had a twin bedded room with two large and comfortable boat shaped beds with a small cabinet between them and a wardrobe. It was an attractive room with magnolia walls, pale green carpet and pale wood furniture. There was a kettle with a range of tea bags and coffee plus biscuits on a separate table. Lizzie soon arrived with a jug of fresh milk and fruit cake. The bathroom off the bedroom had a large walk in shower. Being at the end of the run, it was a couple of minutes before this ran hot but once it did there was a powerful jet of water, which really invigorated you. Towels were large, fluffy and dried well. There was a good range of toiletries and were even flannels provided. Just inside the door was a small sitting area with TV and some books.
Lighting was good and being set well back from the road it was very quiet.
Breakfast was in the main house and was excellent. As well as a range of cereals and fruit juice there was fresh fruit salad, stewed fruit (the rhubarb and ginger was very good) and yogurts. The full English breakfast was two sausages, two rashers of bacon, tomato, fried mushrooms and a fried egg. Very often the sausage can let down a breakfast, Not here. The sausage and bacon came from Thomas the deli in the Market Place and were excellent. We finished off with a basket of white and brown toast, muffins and crumpet.
The next morning we decided to have the home cured ham instead of the cooked breakfast. This was three thick slices of moist and very tasty ham which wasn’t at all salty. I had mine with two poached eggs. Daughter had hers with mushroom and tomato.
Parking is on the road outside the bed and breakfast. It was busy when we arrived mid afternoon on a Friday, possibly as it was market day, but by 4pm we had no problem finding a place to park close to No 54.
We really enjoyed our stay and were given a warm welcome by Lizzie. There were maps we could borrow and plenty of information about the area. We liked this place and it would be our first choice for future visits to Helmsley. Standards are high, the room was warm and comfortable. The breakfast would keep you going all day. There is nothing pretentious about it and it is good Yorkshire value.
“Website”:http://no54.co.uk/
