Some help needed for hotel and driving roads

[paulqv]

Hello

I am trying to organise a car meeting in Yorkshire for the beginning of June, for old Italian bangers. Possibly 15-20 cars max.

Could locals please give me some help in identifying a nice country house hotel with easy access and not crazy prices for accommodation or food?

Also I was hoping to direct the old bangers on a country drive and a lunch stop on the saturday. Any suggestions for nice not too narrow roads? A good lunch stop? Hopefully reasonably police and camera free.

Any help and advice would be appreciated.

I have checked with the Royal York in York, but not sure the city is convenient for good roads?

Paul
[e-mail]
07831467360

[moribund]

How long a drive do you want to do? There are certainly some decent roads near York!

Some good ones in the Dales too, more dramatic scenery but with narrower sections which might not suit a convoy of wide old cars I guess.

[paulqv]

Hi
I was thinking about 50-60 miles one way, as from experience it can take a long time with photo and coffee stops etc.

The cars are all low and very wide so single track roads won't work.

Paul

[Planet Claire]

A great country house in Wensleydale is Simonstone Hall, just outside of Hawes and at the end of the Buttertubs - what could be better? I'm not sure of prices these days but a few years ago you used to be able to get a 2 course Sunday lunch for £10. There are plenty of fantastic roads and eateries in the area. Give me a shout if you want any further information if this part of Yorkshire is a contender.
http://simonstonehall.com/

[benjj]

Paul,

I'd suggest Harrogate as a base rather than York. There are a good 3/4 hotels where you can get private parking and you'll get some good food on the evening.

As for the roads - you then have the choice to go east or north-east to the Moors or west/north-west to the Dales (which would be my choice )

If you're going to be in a group of CTs you should also drop orangeLP400 (Stephen) a line. He's a PHer who lives over York way and has one of the earliest CTs in the country which I know he enjoys the odd run in

His profile here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...

I'm happy to suggest some fast, wide, open roads for you to have a crack at too if you like.

[paulqv]

Hi guys

I think the small hotel is too small, only 18 rooms. I don't know Harrogate as I have only been there twice about 30 years ago!

I will look at Hotels there. If anyone could recommend some that would be useful. Also for the roads, some fast open roads which would allow photographs or video would be excellent.

Appreciate the input

Paul

[benjj]

Hotels in Harrogate:

Rudding Park - swanky, suits the cars, expensive.

Hotel du Vin - nice, central, will probably put aside all 20 parking spaces out front for you (let me know if you need a contact for this), medium price.

The Majestic - big, often used for people at conferences, bags of parking, central

The Crown - the one that Agatha Christie lived in for a bit. Great location, parking.

Old Swan - same as The Crown really.

[Planet Claire]

Another hotel suggestion, a bit more upmarket and half way between the northern Dales and Harrogate is Swinton Park. http://www.swintonpark.com/

[Edmundo2]

The White Hart in Harrogate could be worth a look as nice secure parking at rear and plenty of rooms + has it's own pub on one end. From there drive out on A59 via blubber houses and on to Skipton. Turn right near skipton golf club and head to Grassington > Ripon> Thirsk> Helmsley> Malton > Easingwold > Harrogate. There's loads of options but that route offers a bit of everything and not too much by way of narrow stuff. Good luck whatever you do.

[paulqv]

Some one suggested

ALDWARK MANOR GOLF & SPA HOTEL, NR YORK

Anyone know it? Any views on it? Has 50 rooms so should be the right size and has facilities. Not sure how many sets of Golf Clubs people can get in these old bangers!

Paul

[Edmundo2]

Aldwarks ok but out on its own and bar area lacks atmosphere in my experience whereas Whitehart is in Harrogate itself so choice of restaurants/bars etc.

Kings arms at Masham could be good base as central between dales and moors so could do a bit of both, Hawes one way/Goathland the other. Cosy bar and a couple of other choices + Black Sheep brewery tour?

Depends what you want? Cosy or busy, real ale or real pricey! Etc?

[Edmundo2]

Ok just checked out your profile. Rudding Park just got voted second best hotel in UK and great base.

[Mattlan]

Aldwark Manor has an approach road just this side of a farm track at the moment, something those old low slung Italians might not relish!

[StuB]

paulqv said:

Hello

I am trying to organise a car meeting in Yorkshire for the beginning of June, for old Italian bangers. Possibly 15-20 cars max.

Could locals please give me some help in identifying a nice country house hotel with easy access and not crazy prices for accommodation or food?

Also I was hoping to direct the old bangers on a country drive and a lunch stop on the saturday. Any suggestions for nice not too narrow roads? A good lunch stop? Hopefully reasonably police and camera free.

Any help and advice would be appreciated.

I have checked with the Royal York in York, but not sure the city is convenient for good roads?

Paul
[e-mail]
07831467360

Hi Paul

If you're looking for lovely roads and reasonable prices, head over to East Yorkshire and look from Pocklington over to Beverley then up passed Stamford Birdge/Middleton On The Wolds/Driffield/ up to Helmseley/Pickering/Scarborough. As you get towards Scarborough & the A64 it gets much busier.

Have a look on Tripadvisor for your accommodation options. I can recommend some lovely roads and plenty of eateries in this neck of the woods. North Yorks over towards the dales get very busy & crowded IMO. You can always head over to the coast too.

Be aware of the new Scamera vans that North Yorks Policy have too! Though they very kindly publish their chosen locations. There's also a few unmarked video bikes around too.

HTH

Stu

[paulqv]

Hi Guys

I got some costings from the Ardwark and Rudding and Think they are too much for the budget of most of those who may come being about £250 per couple per night. They loo nice places, but being major wedding venues are very busy in peak season i.e. June

Ideally I would like to budget for about £150 per couple per night. Any views and ideas?

Paul

[chevronb37]

This is a nice place. My folks stayed up there a couple of years ago. There are some great driving roads on the doorstep - most of them big enough for V12 Italian monsters too. There are also a few excursions available for folk (or partners of folk) who don't just wish to drive all day.

http://www.sportsmans-arms.co.uk/

[soxboy]

chevronb37 said:

This is a nice place. My folks stayed up there a couple of years ago. There are some great driving roads on the doorstep - most of them big enough for V12 Italian monsters too. There are also a few excursions available for folk (or partners of folk) who don't just wish to drive all day.

http://www.sportsmans-arms.co.uk/

Sportsmans is a good shout but I doubt any of the low slung monsters would make it over the narrow pack horse bridge access to it!

Most of the Harrogate hotels mentioned so far are a good idea for a base.

[chevronb37]

soxboy said:

chevronb37 said:

This is a nice place. My folks stayed up there a couple of years ago. There are some great driving roads on the doorstep - most of them big enough for V12 Italian monsters too. There are also a few excursions available for folk (or partners of folk) who don't just wish to drive all day.

http://www.sportsmans-arms.co.uk/

Sportsmans is a good shout but I doubt any of the low slung monsters would make it over the narrow pack horse bridge access to it!

Most of the Harrogate hotels mentioned so far are a good idea for a base.

Hadn't thought of that. I managed to get the Exige over the bridge and the old man got his V8V over there but I've never tried manoeuvring an Aventador or anything of that kind around. Would be torture knowing you were 50m from the hotel but unable to get there

[burriana]

I got the Testarossa over the bridge by the Sportsmans with no bother whatsoever

[ellroy]

As far as a run out goes you should try a run over to Whitby, possibly taking in the Lion at Blakey ridge for a cheeky half en route, plenty of parking there and fish & chips......