The Den at Husthwaite Gate

Tucked away to the side of a former railway station nestles The Den. The private and sheltered retreat, which used to be the railway sidings, has panoramic views across open countryside to the nearby village of Husthwaite and to the iconic White Horse at Kilburn on the Hambleton Hills above Thirsk. The unique self-catering accommodation can sleep six, but also has the added bonus of a grassy space outside for a couple of tent pitches and an electric hook-up for a small camper-van. It is well suited for friends' get-togethers or families, who can have the whole site to themselves.

The Den is thoughtful, quirky and green in equal measure. Electricity is courtesy of the on-site wind turbine, while the building is very well insulated – meaning warm and cosy in winter and cool in hot weather (with a comfortable atmosphere  maintained by the heat recovery ventilation throughout the building). When the village got the go-ahead for a new hall, the lovely timber floor and many other features were saved from the original building and brought to The Den. Many other items here are upcycled and reclaimed too, but there's also no lack of up-to-date technology. A high-spec kitchen – open-plan to the main living area – is comprehensively supplied with decent knifes, and matching crockery, pots, pans and glasses. Six can easily sit around the dining table, while there's a smart TV, dishwasher and good speed wifi (available on the whole site).

The front door opens onto a sheltered and fenced lawn area, with open views across the fields. There is a BBQ with picnic table, fire pit (using locally sourced, sustainable logs) and comfy benches (originally from Lords Cricket Ground). You can watch the sun go down and look at the dazzlingly star-lit skies and then retreat to the quirky ship-cabin-style sleeping pods in The Den. Three doors from the living area open into to the pods, which have their own under-bed storage, hooks and hangers, heating, mirrors and reading lights.

There is an adjacent, lavish family bathroom with gorgeous 'fishy' wallpaper, deep green panelled walls, claw-foot bath, and handy shaver socket in a 'no-moisture' mirror. If your family or group is spilling out into the camping pitches, there's also a separate outside shower and toilet cabin (fashioned from the original porch from the station master's house!), and even space for a small camper-van with electrical hook-up. A wash-house contains a washing machine and tumble-drier, while across by the main house entrance a trickle of locals and walkers find their way to the cute little honesty shop and self-service café – a bit of a boon if you've been out exploring and fancy an ice cream.

Kicking back and relaxing is the order of the day. It's an eminently tranquil spot amid the beautiful countryside of the Hambleton Hills. The village pub is a ten-minute walk away (and all downhill through the fields on the way home!), and there's another good pub half an hour's walk away along the former railway track in nearby Coxwold.