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- 29th Oct 2026
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The Sandsend Retreats you’ll want to book for a Yorkshire Coast escape
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North Yorkshire cottages don’t come much more stylish than Sandsend Retreats, a trio of design-led boutique stays tucked into the woodland of the Saltmoore, just outside Whitby.
Each one sleeps six in a soft New England palette, the beach is under 10 minutes away on foot, and if you book all three together, there’s room for 18.
It’s a short drive down the coast from the North East, but once you’ve parked up under the trees, it feels a whole lot further from home.
Better still, High Life North readers can get 20% off their stay with the code HLN20.
Here’s why it’s earned a spot on our weekend wish list.
THEY WERE HOUSE HUNTING BEFORE THEY’D EVEN GOT HOME
Sandsend Retreats started with a detour. Oxana and Peter Maude were driving home to Leeds from Staithes when they passed through Sandsend and fell for its pitched-roof cottages and wide, open shoreline. For Oxana, who’s worked in B2B marketing and brand development and has always loved New England interiors, the village had the same easy feel as the Hamptons.
By the time they pulled onto their drive, they were already searching for properties. Three cottages on the Saltmoore Estate had come up, and although viewings had closed, the couple secured an appointment, made an offer and got the keys in January 2024.
Oxana designed the interiors herself during a three-month renovation, and the first guests arrived in April 2024. Each cottage takes its name from a corner of the Hamptons: East Hampton, Montauk and Sag Harbor.
To find them, follow the road through the Saltmoore grounds up towards the hotel. As it curves right, you’ll spot the cottages at the far end, tucked away and blissfully private.
EAST HAMPTON’S BUILT FOR BIG GET-TOGETHERS
East Hampton is the largest of the three and a natural fit for multi-generational stays. It has two super-king bedrooms and a double, all en-suite, plus an extra house bathroom so nobody’s queuing in the morning. One bedroom sits on the ground floor and is accessible, and it can switch to twin beds.
French windows open onto a private terrace with an outdoor dining table, while a heated pergola means you can eat outside well beyond summer. Picture a slow supper out there on a crisp autumn evening, blankets on and a glass of something in hand.
It’s the cottage for celebrations and anyone who likes to linger at the table.
MONTAUK AND SAG HARBOR TURN THINGS UPSIDE DOWN
Montauk and Sag Harbor both use a reverse-level layout. Three double bedrooms, one of them en-suite, sit on the ground floor alongside a house bathroom, while the open-plan living space takes the top floor, where the light’s at its best.
Montauk’s private patio is made for informal suppers and post-beach drinks, sandy toes and all. Sag Harbor’s front patio comes with a dining table and planters, and as the light fades, soft outdoor lighting gives it a glow that makes you want one more round before bed.
THE LITTLE DETAILS YOU’LL NOTICE
Each cottage is styled individually, but they all share the same calm look of natural textures, soft neutrals and shaker-inspired kitchens. There’s a bean-to-cup coffee machine for slow mornings, smart TVs throughout, fast Wi-Fi and high-thread-count cotton bed linen.
Bathrooms are stocked with Chapter Organics body wash, hand wash, moisturiser, shampoo and conditioner. Add a washer-dryer, bespoke wardrobes, on-site parking and flexible self-check-in, with a local team on hand if you need anything, and the stay pretty much runs itself.
BRING THE WHOLE GANG
Because the three cottages sit side by side, you can book the lot. That gives you space for 18 guests across three separate homes, so everyone gets their own bit of calm and still comes together for the big meals.
It’s a brilliant setup for landmark birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties and family reunions. If anyone fancies a break from the group, Saltmoore’s spa and wellness treatments are just up the road.
YOUR DOG’S INVITED TOO
Four-legged guests get a genuinely warm welcome, and the cottages have dog- and child-friendly touches built in. Sandsend’s long beach, woodland paths and dog-welcoming pubs make it an easy place to holiday with a pup.
Make a stop at The Fuzzy Dog Bakery for a treat, then take them along on day trips to Whitby or out onto the North York Moors.
LET SOMEONE ELSE DO THE COOKING
Sandsend Retreats has teamed up with yhangry to bring a private chef straight to your kitchen. Share the occasion, cuisine, numbers and any dietary needs, and local chefs come back with tailored menus, clear pricing and reviews. Your chef arrives with everything needed to cook, serve and clean up.
A relaxed three-course dinner starts from £35pp, family-friendly feasts from £25pp and interactive cooking classes from £30pp. Celebrating something big? Fine dining and celebrity chef menus start from £80pp, or you can book chef-prepared breakfasts and lunches delivered from £150. It’s restaurant food without the taxi home.
PAMPERING WITHOUT PUTTING YOUR SHOES ON
Glo Pamper brings beauty treatments directly to your cottage, so you can stay in your comfies and let someone else take care of you. Browse the treatments and enquire with Glo Pamper to book a session during your stay.
A VILLAGE THAT’S MADE FOR WANDERING
Sandsend’s often called the Cotswolds of the North, with honey-toned cottages, a sweeping beach and none of the fuss. Its food scene is small but full of character. Grab freshly caught seafood at The Fish Cottage, a sea-view breakfast at Sandside Café or a pint and a proper pub dinner at The Hart Inn on the seafront.
Tides Beach Shop serves coffee with a front-row view of the surfers, and Mary’s Sandwich Shop sorts your beach lunch. Got little ones? Tree Tots Play Café has woodland-themed play zones for them and coffee and cake for you.
Save time for a browse, too. Wild Hart Shop stocks natural homeware, Berties of Bay sells British-made heritage clothing, East Row Deli has everything for a picnic and Sandsend Ceramics makes hand-crafted coastal pieces you’ll want to take home.
SURF, SADDLE UP OR SLOW RIGHT DOWN
The Sandsend Retreats team can connect you with trusted local partners for just about anything. Book a lesson with the local surf school, trek across the North York Moors on horseback or hire a bike for the Cinder Track to Whitby or Ravenscar. Golfers can tee off with sea views, and the Cleveland Way runs right past for cliff-top walks.
For slower days, there’s yoga by the sea, reformer Pilates and a wood-fired Wild Horse Box Sauna. You can also head out on a wildlife boat trip to the Ravenscar seal colony, go fossil hunting, spend two hours walking with alpacas and pygmy goats, join a Whitby ghost or Dracula tour or finish with a tasting on a 90-minute vineyard tour.
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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