Summer has finally arrived, and while some are tempted by sunny foreign shores, many prefer the peaceful and picturesque English countryside. Staycationers can now save on last-minute holidays to a forest just two hours from Newcastle.
Cropton Forest: A Luxurious Woodland Retreat
Cropton Forest in North Yorkshire is renowned for its wildlife and scenic walking trails. It is also home to 59 luxurious woodland cabins, available through Forest Holidays. This provider offers 'ultimate forest getaway' breaks across 13 UK locations, with Cropton Forest being the closest to Newcastle by car.
Described as 'the perfect choice for adventurers, nature-lovers and stargazers', this rural escape earns an average rating of 4.3 out of five stars on Tripadvisor. Nestled in a woodland meadow, all lodges come with a hot tub and can sleep up to six guests, with one to three-bedroom options available.
Forestry England writes: 'Nestled at the base of the North York Moors National Park, Cropton Forest is an idyllic coniferous forest brimming with an abundance of wildlife.' A stay here also places holidaymakers within driving distance of several best beaches and vibrant seaside towns in North Yorkshire, including Scarborough, Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay, all less than an hour away.
Last-Minute Savings and Lodge Options
Forest Holidays is currently offering £60 off last-minute June getaways to Cropton Forest. Guests can use the code SUMMER26 at checkout to save on an early getaway before peak season when schools break up for summer.
The lodges at Cropton Forest are split into five categories. The smallest is the Golden Oak Hideaway, featuring forest views from its outdoor hot tub, ideal as a romantic retreat for couples with one open-plan bedroom. The largest options for families are the Golden Oak and Silver Birch cabins, both sleeping up to six.
Stays at Cropton Forest are currently priced from £570 for three nights in June before the discount code saving, with prices already reduced due to scarcity. However, only a small handful of stays remain for this month, so holidaymakers should act quickly to book a last-minute woodland retreat.
Other North Yorkshire Gems
Elsewhere in North Yorkshire, three places made the top 10 in Sykes Holiday Cottages' ranking of best budget-friendly cities, towns and villages to visit this year. The seaside spots of Saltburn and Staithes came in at numbers two and five respectively, while the picturesque market town of Thirsk was sixth.
In wider Yorkshire, one place to stay a two-and-a-half hour drive from Newcastle was recently named the most remarkable in the country for a one-of-a-kind holiday. Station 52 and Three Quarters in Holmfirth, along with its sister property Cellar at 52, scooped the number one place in the Remarkable Stays category of the holidaycottages.co.uk 2026 Showcase Awards.
The judges, including Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, said: 'Both Station 52 and Cellar at 52 were found to be highly engaging and broadly appealing. Guests actively participated in the interactive, narrative-led puzzle experience, which has a clear journey and a powerful reveal moment. To find this within a luxury setting is genuinely rare.'
