A warm evening, a walled garden, and carefully chosen wines guided by a Yorkshire Vintners specialist. For around £200, your group of up to 14 enjoys a mixed case and a private guided tasting — an evening worth talking about long after the last glass is poured.

Call Steve on 07792585330 to check for availability. Only one of these evenings per month can be arranged - so get in early.

Clay pigeon shooting, target shooting with rifles, and fly fishing for trout — all on a working North Yorkshire estate just 10 minutes from the farmhouse. Suitable for all experience levels, with no equipment required. Available midweek from May through July for groups of up to 14. Pheasant season from November. Contact Steve on 07792585330 for availability and prices.

Thrills on Your Doorstep

North Yorkshire is adventure country. Within 30 minutes of Hutton Mount Retreats you'll find white-knuckle off-road driving experiences, high ropes courses, axe throwing and indoor karting. Whether you're planning a group activity day or just want to inject some adrenaline into your break, the options are on your doorstep. Ask us when you book and we'll point you in the right direction.

There are views of the Yorkshire countryside — and then there are views from 2,000 feet with your hands on the controls.

Bagby Airfield near Thirsk is just 20 minutes from Hutton Mount Retreats. Take a trial flight and actually fly the aircraft yourself, guided by an experienced CAA-qualified instructor over the most breathtaking landscape in the north of England.

No experience needed. No long-term commitment. Just you, a light aircraft, and the open skies above North Yorkshire.

Whether it's a lifelong ambition or the ultimate birthday treat, this is one afternoon that will stay with you forever.

Bagby Airfield, Thirsk — 20 mins from Hutton Mount Retreats, Ripon

Fine Dining At Home

Why go out when you can bring the restaurant to you? We can arrange a private chef to cook for your group at Hutton Mount — whether it's a celebratory dinner, a relaxed family feast or a special occasion meal. Fresh local ingredients, professional service, and the comfort of your own space. Contact Steve on 07792585330 to discuss availability and menus.

From late August through October, our historic apple and pear orchards — home to trees that have stood here for generations — are ready to pick. Spend a morning gathering fruit, then head to a local press and turn your harvest into beautifully bottled juice to take home or give as gifts.

Unhurried, hands-on, and genuinely memorable. It's one of the finest ways to spend an autumn day in North Yorkshire.

Ask us about orchard experiences when you book your stay.

Snooker and Pool Coaching

Fancy improving your game during your stay? Our 8ft table means professional coaching is available locally for groups or individuals — from complete beginners to those looking to sharpen their technique. A great option for a rainy afternoon or a fun group activity. Ask us when you book your stay and we'll help arrange a session to suit your group.

Hutton Mount Retreats is proud to partner with Nicola Mills — one of the north of England's most captivating performers — for an intimate evening of opera and crossover music unlike anything you have experienced before.

Nicola trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and performed for some of Europe's finest opera companies — Glyndebourne, Dutch National Opera, the Flemish Opera, and Opera Monte Carlo. She has sung in prestigious venues across Europe, appeared on television in multiple countries, and last year stepped in for Lesley Garrett for the BBC.

After a decade in European opera houses she brought the music directly to the people — combining a world-class voice with warmth, humour and a complete absence of pretension.

What to expect

Her Song Menu spans operatic classics, classical favourites, musicals and popular crossover — and the audience chooses what she sings. Mozart to Puccini, Lennon to Ed Sheeran. In the walled gardens or in the intimate surroundings of the house itself, it feels less like a concert and more like a shared experience.

Book an Evening with Nicola

Private performances at Hutton Mount Retreats are available by arrangement. Get in touch to discuss availability and pricing.

Swinton Estate Cookery School is just 20 minutes from Hutton Mount Retreats, set within the magnificent grounds of Swinton Park Hotel near Masham — and it's one of the finest culinary experiences in the north of England.

The school is housed in a beautifully restored Georgian stable wing, with ingredients sourced directly from the estate's own four-acre walled kitchen garden. What ends up on your plate started its day a few hundred metres away.

Courses run half-day and full-day, covering everything from classic baking and Sunday roasts to seasonal game, sushi, Thai and Indian cuisine. All abilities welcome — from complete beginners to seasoned cooks looking to sharpen their skills. You cook alongside expert tutors, eat what you make, and go home with all the recipes.

It's the kind of experience that turns a good break into an unforgettable one.

Book your mid-week stay around the huge range of courses they have on offer.

One of the finest outdoor experiences in North Yorkshire starts right here in Ripon — and it's on your doorstep when you stay at Hutton Mount Retreats.

Alfresco Adventures will put you on the water for a 7-mile journey by kayak or Canadian canoe, beginning on the Ripon Canal before joining the River Ure and winding south through some of the most beautiful countryside in the region. The route passes the gardens of Newby Hall, through a series of locks, with kingfishers, herons and open riverbank all the way to Boroughbridge.

Private group bookings are available for families and parties who want the experience exclusively to themselves. Stand-up paddleboarding along the same route is also on offer for those who want an extra challenge.

It's the kind of day that stays with you — fresh air, moving water, good company, and North Yorkshire at its very best.

Ask us when you book your stay and we'll help point you in the right direction.

Ripon Racecourse is three minutes from Hutton Mount Retreats — and Yorkshire's Garden Racecourse is one of the finest places in the north of England to spend a race day.

With 16 fixtures running from May to September, there's a day for everyone. Ladies' Day for those who want to dress up and make an occasion of it. Family Days with free children's entertainment. Long summer Evening fixtures as the sun sets over the course. The prestigious William Hill Great St Wilfrid in August. And the Season Finale with a Theakston Beer Festival in September. Under-18s get in free.

Raceday packages are available to suit every group — from a relaxed afternoon in the Course Enclosure to hospitality dining and everything in between.

Check the full 2026 fixture calendar on the Events page on this site...and plan your stay around a race day.

Just 20 minutes from Hutton Mount Retreats, Dunesforde Vineyard in Upper Dunsforth is one of the most northerly commercial vineyards in England — and it's producing wines that are turning heads nationally.

The Townsend family planted 6,000 vines in 2016, inspired by the vineyards of Tuscany. Their Pinot Gris took Gold at the WineGB Awards as the best single varietal white in the country, and their Queen of the North sparkling cuvée became the first Yorkshire wine to win recognition at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Visit for a guided vineyard tour, a tutored wine tasting in the stunning Queen of the North tasting room, wine by the glass on the terrace, or a sharing platter overlooking the vines. Private hire, events and gift vouchers also available.

Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre at Sion Hill Hall is one of the finest attractions in North Yorkshire — and it's just 20 minutes from Hutton Mount Retreats.

With over 30 years of experience and one of the largest collections of flying birds in the north of England, the centre is home to around 100 birds from over 50 species — owls, eagles, vultures, hawks, kites, falcons and more. Three spectacular free-flight displays take place daily, where birds swoop and dive overhead against the backdrop of the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside, with expert commentary throughout.

But the real highlight is getting hands-on. Experience days run in small groups and give you the chance to fly a variety of birds yourself — owls, kestrels, hawks and buzzards — under the guidance of passionate, knowledgeable handlers. Options range from half-day and full-day experiences to specialist sessions focused on owls, eagles or vultures. Family experience days are also available, giving children and adults alike the chance to fly birds together in the arena.

Ask us when you book your stay and we'll point you in the right direction.

York is just 35 minutes from Hutton Mount Retreats — and drifting above it in a hot air balloon at sunrise is one of the most extraordinary things you can do in the north of England.

Launching from York Racecourse, you rise gently above one of Britain's most beautiful and historic cities. York Minster, the medieval city walls, the River Ouse, the Shambles and miles of rolling North Yorkshire countryside unfold beneath you in every direction. The whole experience lasts around three to four hours, with up to an hour in the air — long enough to feel truly unhurried and to appreciate every moment.

Flights typically take place in the early morning or evening when conditions are calmest, and the light is extraordinary. You're welcome to help the crew inflate the balloon before take-off — part of the experience, not just the flight. On landing, a champagne toast awaits, along with a personalised flight certificate to mark the occasion.

Several operators fly from York, including Yorkshire Balloon Flights — an independent, family-run business with a 4.9-star Tripadvisor rating — and Virgin Balloon Flights. Private and exclusive bookings are available for couples or special occasions, as well as shared group flights.

Ask us when you book your stay and we'll point you in the right direction.