Why Autumn Is Our Favourite Season in Yorkshire (And Why It Should Be Yours Too)
I'll be honest with you - summer gets all the credit.
Everyone plans their big get-togethers for July and August, convinced that sunshine is the only backdrop worth having. And I understand it, I really do. But those of us who've lived here our whole lives know something that visitors tend to discover around day two of an October stay: autumn in North Yorkshire is something else entirely.
The crowds thin out. The light does that low, golden thing it only manages in September and October. The beaches - and we're 35 minutes from Scarborough - open right back up to dogs. And you come home at the end of the day to a hot tub steaming into the cold air, a log fire already going, and a kitchen full of people arguing about who makes the best hot chocolate.
That's not a bad life.
The Beaches Belong to You Again
This is the thing people don't always realise. During the summer months, seasonal restrictions mean dogs have to stay off large stretches of the Yorkshire coast. From 1st October, that changes completely.
Scarborough's North Bay is dog-friendly all year round - wide open sands, cliff walks, far fewer people than you'd expect once the school holidays are done. South Bay, the more traditional stretch with the castle watching from above, opens fully to dogs from October through April. Source
Head a few miles south and you'll find Cayton Bay - no restrictions, ever, and a proper stretch of sand that stays quieter than the town beaches even on a sunny weekend. Further south still, Hunmanby Gap near Filey is one of those places locals keep to themselves. All-year dog policy, long flat sands running towards Filey, a car park at the top and a dog-friendly café when you need it. Source
We've had groups stay with us who bring three, four, five dogs between them. In summer, that can be complicated. In autumn? You walk straight onto an empty beach, let them go, and stand there with your coat pulled tight watching them lose their minds with joy. Then you drive back, shower, and get in the hot tub. Every dog owner who's done it comes back.
One group who stayed at Bogg Hall Barn - 21 of them, four generations, five dogs - described it simply: "there was something for everyone to enjoy." That's what autumn does. It creates the conditions for a group to actually exhale.
Pumpkin Picking: Not Just for the Children (But Mostly for the Children)
I want to make a small confession. I enjoy pumpkin picking more than my children do, and they're the ones who are supposed to be the target audience.
There's something about a field full of pumpkins on a crisp October morning that makes adults go slightly daft. Everyone suddenly has opinions about shape and colour. Grandparents who thought they were coming along "just to watch" end up in a wheelbarrow stand-off over a particularly dramatic specimen.
We're exceptionally well placed for it. The Whole Hogg Farm Shop near Malton is quite literally, famous for its home-grown pumpkins. Over 100 varieties, prices starting from £1, no booking needed, wellies essential. Source They also run Twilight Pumpkin Picking evenings in October - torches, wheelbarrows, pizza, soup, and a bar. Which is, I'd argue, the best possible version of a Tuesday evening.
Then there's Cedar Barn, between Pickering and Thornton le Dale - another family farm, fourth-generation, which always feels right to me. Their Pumpkin Express takes you out to the fields on a miniature railway, which is the kind of thing that sounds designed for small children and turns out to be genuinely delightful for everyone. Source The café is worth the visit on its own.
We're a farming family. Mum and I grew up watching the seasons turn on this land, and there's a part of me that wants every group who stays with us to experience at least a little bit of that - the feeling of being outside, connected to the time of year, before coming in to warmth and comfort.
Coming Home to the Hot Tub
This is where I could wax lyrical about autumn sunsets. And I will, briefly. But first: the hot tub.
Because the thing that makes autumn hot tubbing different from summer hot tubbing is the air temperature. Stepping into 38-degree water when it's 8 degrees outside, steam rising, stars just starting to appear - well. It's an experience. People who've only done hot tubs in July genuinely don't know what they're missing. At Bogg Hall Barn, we have an indoor swim spa and an outdoor hot tub. In October, the outdoor one is the one people fight over.
I notice it every time I speak to guests who've stayed in autumn for the first time. There's this slight sheepishness in their voices - like they'd expected to be compromising on something by not coming in peak summer. And instead they arrive home evangelical about it. "We didn't want to leave," one family told us. "Gutted to be going home."
That's autumn in Yorkshire. It doesn't perform. It just delivers.
The Log Fire Moment
Every property we have is well-heated - proper warmth, not the kind where you spend the whole stay layering up. All of our properties have a log burning fire, and there's a particular thing that happens when a big group settles around them after a day out.
People stop looking at their phones. Someone makes a round of hot chocolates. The teenagers, who have spent the entire day being 16 and vaguely allergic to family activities, drift in and sit down. The 80-year-old who "doesn't really stay up late anymore" is still there at 11pm.
One guest described it as the moment the holiday actually started. They'd arrived, unpacked, explored the property - and it was all brilliant. But the first evening around the fire was when everyone stopped. Just stopped.
We've hosted groups from 14 to 22 people in our properties, spanning ages from 1 to 100. Four generations in the same building, which sounds complicated and occasionally is, but in autumn particularly, the rhythm of the days does something helpful. Out in the morning - beach, pumpkin patch, walk, Scarborough - back in the afternoon, warm up, hot tub, fire. It's a structure that works for everyone.
Why Autumn Might Be Your Best Decision
Some Autumn and Winter dates are still available across our properties this year. Prices are kinder than peak summer, the beaches are quieter, the local spots are yours to actually enjoy rather than queue for, and there is - genuinely - something about the season that makes groups connect differently.
We were a farm before we were a holiday business. Mum has been on this land for longer than she'd like me to say. And one of the things I've come to understand, watching guests arrive season after season, is that the groups who book autumn often book again. Not because they had to - because they want to.
If you're organising something for a milestone birthday, a reunion, a family gathering that keeps getting postponed, or honestly just a long weekend with people you love: don't rule out Autumn. Come and find out why those of us who live here think summer gets rather more credit than it deserves.
The hot tub will be ready. The fire will be lit. The pumpkins are waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are the properties warm enough for an autumn or winter stay? A: Yes - all four properties are properly heated throughout whether this be biomass or ground source heating and there's a log burning fire at each property. You won't be wrapping up in extra layers indoors; the warmth is part of the experience, especially when you're coming in from a cold beach walk or climbing out of the hot tub.
Q: Are all the properties dog-friendly in autumn? A: All our properties are pet-friendly, yes. Autumn is genuinely one of the best times to bring dogs - seasonal beach restrictions lift on 1st October, which means Scarborough's South Bay, Cayton Bay and Hunmanby Gap all open right up. We're 30 minutes from Scarborough, so you're perfectly placed for a full day on the coast.
Q: What's nearby for a big group to do in October? A: Plenty. Pumpkin picking at The Whole Hogg near Malton or Cedar Barn near Thornton le Dale, both close to us. Scarborough for a traditional seaside day - fish and chips, the castle, the harbour. Flamingo Land is close for families with younger children. We're happy to share our local recommendations when you book.
Q: Are autumn dates cheaper than summer? A: Generally, yes. Peak summer rates are higher, and autumn offers genuinely good value - particularly for large groups looking at a longer stay. We're transparent about pricing with no hidden costs, so what you see is what you pay.
Q: Can you accommodate elderly or less mobile guests during an autumn stay? A: Absolutely. Bogg Hall has accessibility features including a wet room, and we have mobility aids available. We've successfully hosted groups spanning ages 1 to 100, including guests with dementia and wheelchair users. If you have specific needs, call us and we'll make sure the right property is matched to your group.
About Molly Sadler
Molly Sadler runs Grand Get-Togethers alongside her mother Joan - a fourth-generation farming family who've spent nearly 20 years converting their North Yorkshire farm buildings into luxury group accommodation for families celebrating something that matters. If you're planning a group stay and want honest advice about which property suits your group best, get in touch at hello@grandgettogethers.co.uk or call 07380 307465.
