When was the last time you stayed somewhere truly special? An escape to The Ruin, owned by the Landmark Trust is just that. Here is my experience of an unforgettable and magical escape in North Yorkshire. Plus, learn how you can discover The Ruin for yourself.
In this guide, I share everything you need to know about The Ruin, a Landmark Trust holiday home in Hackfall, North Yorkshire. Including what you need to know before you go and my experiences during my stay.
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The Ruin: A Landmark Trust Property Review
What is the Landmark Trust?
The Landmark Trust is a charity that gives you the unique opportunity to holiday in historic buildings. They seek out unusual and historically significant buildings that are at risk of being lost forever. Their goal is to transform these buildings into one-of-a-kind “landmarks”.
When The Landmark Trust restore these buildings, they do it sensitively. They hire traditional craftsmen to restore and maintain the landmarks, which is also important in keeping these skills alive. The income they receive from the 200 properties in their collection enables them to save more at-risk buildings.
The beauty of a stay at a Landmark Trust property is that no two are the same. Each new landmark you visit is a brand-new experience. A Landmark Trust escape is a self-catering holiday like no other!
What is The Ruin?
The Ruin is a Georgian folly perched on a terrace overlooking Hackfall Woods. The structure is all that remains of a building that once had three dramatic arches and a domed roof sweeping overhead. By the time it was acquired by The Landmark Trust, it was little more than a ruin!
Where is The Ruin?
The Ruin is in Hackfall in North Yorkshire, approximately seven miles from Ripon. The Ruin is nestled away in Hackfall Woods, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) owned by the Woodland Trust.
How to get to The Ruin
Before your stay, The Landmark Trust will send you comprehensive instructions on how to get to the Ruin. Many Landmark Trust properties are in obscure locations and that is part of the fun in staying in them! When you are navigating farm tracks and padlocked gates to get there it feels like you are on a treasure hunt, and you’ll certainly strike gold at the end!
When it comes to The Ruin specifically, it can be reached by public transport. However, I’d personally recommend arriving by car if possible. Navigating to The Ruin via woodland paths could be tricky with your luggage!
Staying At The Ruin
Here’s all the information you need to know about staying at The Ruin, including my thoughts from our stay.
The Layout
The Ruin is made up of three separate rooms that are not interconnected. This means that to get from one to the other, you need to go outside and walk along the terrace. This is how the building was originally designed and The Landmark Trust chose to keep the building this way to preserve the history.
This was very pleasant during out sunny stay, as we simply left all the doors open while we were at The Ruin and walked from one to the next. It also makes for some fun middle-of-the-night toilet dashes!
The Living Room & Kitchen
The largest room is the one in the centre of the building. This is the main room that is used as a living room and kitchen. It has a dining table to seat four people, a cozy reading nook with two armchairs and a small kitchen area.
The kitchen has all the amenities you will need, including a fridge, grill, cooker, and utensils. There are also well-stocked crockery shelves and a bookshelf for your use.
This room has vibrant blue walls and pretty, arched windows that make the room bright throughout the entire day. It also has French doors that open out onto the terrace. We spent most of our stay at The Ruin relaxing in this room.
The Bedroom
The bedroom is the room to the right of the living room when you’re looking at The Ruin from the terrace. It is a cozy room that features a double bed, bedside table, chest of drawers, two chairs and an open fire. Unfortunately, we didn’t find a use for the fire since we visited in June, but it would be a lovely place to retreat to on a cold winter’s evening!
The bedroom isn’t large but had ample room for us to store our luggage/suitcase and for us to move around and get dressed. Plus, the bed was very comfortable!
The Bathroom
The bathroom is accessed from the left-hand door via the terrace. It is a spacious room with generous under floor heating. The controls for the heating are managed by the housekeeper, so you can’t adjust them. While the bathroom felt a little like a sauna when we first walked in, it was ideal for drying out soggy walking boots overnight! (And a welcome rush of heat after a late-night toilet dash across the terrace!)
The bath is enormous! It is the ideal place to unwind beneath bubbles after a long day hiking! You just need to allow a little time for it to fill.
The Terrace
Since our visit was in summer, the terrace was a real treat! We were able to enjoy the sweeping views over Hackfall Woods while eating breakfast at the outdoor table. We spent most of our time at The Ruin either on the terrace, or inside the living room with the doors flung open to admire the view.
An unexpected benefit to visiting during the pandemic was that the terrace was closed to the public. Usually, Hackfall visitors can cross the terrace and admire the views during limited hours across the middle of the day, but this has been temporarily stopped due to Covid.
I can imagine that, particularly during busy seasons, a constant stream of visitors passing through can be frustrating. However, even if the gate had been open, we spent most days out exploring, so I doubt we would have been inside the building during the open hours. It certainly isn’t something that would prevent me from visiting in the future.
Hackfall Woods
What made our stay at The Ruin extra special was the location. Tucked away in Hackfall Woods, you find yourself living in a fairytale, with a fantastic ‘back garden’ to explore!
Staying in Hackfall was a unique experience. By early evening, we had the place to ourselves so could explore to our heart’s content! It was a real treat to be able to roam the woods and, at least for a brief time, feel like they were ours!
Exploring Hackfall is something you don’t want to miss when staying at The Ruin. You can check out my guide to the top things to do at Hackfall Woods to ensure you discover everything!
How to spend your time at The Ruin
Unlike most accommodation, the Landmark Trust choose to keep the buildings free from modern comforts such as TVs and Wi-Fi. And to be honest, I think this is why I love them so much!
A Landmark Trust stay is an opportunity to escape from the rest of the world. And it would be a real shame to visit a beautiful place like The Ruin and not take the time to admire it.
To entertain you during your stay, the Landmark Trust provide a curated library of books. These books relate to the building in some way. They might be about the local area, about the type of building or the style of architecture. There is also a book specifically about the history of the landmark and the restoration process which is a fascinating read.
You will also find guest books for you to read and sign, plus a jigsaw puzzle. You may want to bring board games with you, or a radio.
The Price
As a full disclaimer, I can’t remember exactly how much we paid for this stay! Things got a little complicated as we originally booked our stay for November 2020. Thanks for the lockdown restrictions at the time, we were not able to travel. I believe this original booking cost around £320 for four nights (Mon-Fri).
When I rescheduled the stay, we chose to move it to June 2021 to celebrate our anniversary instead. Obviously, June is a peak time to be visiting, unlike our original out-of-season stay in November, so I was expecting a cost increase. However, the cost doubled to around £640.
Admittedly, I was a little begrudging to pay twice as much for the stay. However, I love to support the work that The Landmark Trust do. Given they had been closed throughout most of 2020, I was prepared to pay the extra cost to support them. And in all honesty, the experience was worth every penny!
What did we think of our stay at The Ruin?
The Ruin had two big challenges leading up to our stay. Firstly, it had to live up to my previous Landmark Trust experience of The Bath House in Warwickshire. Secondly, it had to convince me it was worth the serious hike in price.
And do you know what? It didn’t disappoint!
The Ruin was just as magical as I had hoped it would be. Stepping onto the terrace and seeing The Ruin for the first time is an unforgettable experience. The location in Hackfall made it even more impressive. I felt like I spent a week living in a fairytale!
I felt a definite tinge of sadness as we locked up on the final day. It was a real treat to be able to call it home for the week. But somehow, I don’t think it is the last we’ve seen of The Ruin!
Plus, I do have two more Landmark Trust stays already booked that I can’t wait to experience!
Things To Do Near The Ruin
To be honest, it is difficult to tear yourself away from the magic of The Ruin and Hackfall Woods! But if you can bear to part with it for a few hours during your stay, here are some of our favourite nearby attractions:
- Brimham Rocks – a collection of unique rock formations ideal for walking, hiking, and climbing.
- Pateley Bridge – a pretty town where you can browse local shops.
- Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens – a World Heritage Site including deer park, formal gardens, and Abbey ruins.
- Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture Park – an impressive 45-acre Himalayan Garden with sculptures displayed throughout.
- Marmion Tower – a pretty 15th-century gatehouse.
Would you stay at The Ruin?
Has the Landmark Trust and The Ruin stolen a piece of your heart? If you can’t wait to discover The Ruin for yourself, book your stay here.
You can also check out my review of another Landmark Trust property, The Bath House in Warwickshire. You’ll be amazed by the secret grotto and plunge pool!
Before You Go
If you’re ready to book your stay at The Ruin, be sure to bookmark this page or pin it using the pin below so you can revisit this guide!
And if you love Yorkshire as much as I do, sign up for my weekly newsletter for even more Yorkshire adventures and tips!
Until our next adventure,
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Hello, I’m Hannah! I’m a writer and photographer who loves experiencing the wonders of Yorkshire. My guides will help you escape from your daily routine by showing you that you don’t have to go far to find an adventure.
Wow this looks amazing – I’d never heard of the Landmark Trust but will definitely look into them now – such a cool idea!
The Ruin is such a pretty place to stay. I am in awe of the work that the Landmark Trust do to save these precious buildings. I love that they are able to preserve them so we can enjoy them!
What a unique place to stay! Only this year we got into finding more unique accommodations, so this is now on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I love finding unusual and memorable places to stay! Especially while we can’t travel abroad, it is a great way to make a trip really special and splurge a little on our stay! The Landmark Trust have some stunning properties, I’d love to stay in them all!
This looks like a great experience 😍
It was wonderful! The whole week I was staying at The Ruin I felt like I was dreaming, it was so magical!
Your photos are simply amazing. The stay at The Ruin looks pretty comfortable and cozy as well. Thanks for great reviews of places I can one day visit!
Aww thanks! The Ruin is such a beautiful place, I don’t think the photos truly do it justice! It is a really magical place, I hope you get an opportunity to visit!
Wow, Hannah, this looks like something from a fairytale. I would LOVE to stay in a place like this!!! What a cool thing to do. I wasn’t aware of Landmark Trust. I wonder if that is global or only in UK? Will check out their properties.
Ah it was like living in a fairytale! Staying at The Ruin was such a magical experience! Most of the Landmark Trust properties are in the UK, but they do have some in Italy and there is a branch of the Landmark Trust in the USA too. I hope you get an opportunity to try them out!
The Ruin looks like a great spot to vacation in a historic property. However I am not sure about going outside to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night. They did a great job renovating the rooms. And great to be able to explore Hackfall Woods while you are there.
The Ruin is such a beautiful building! To be honest, nipping to the bathroom during the night wasn’t too bad but I’d recommend packing a headtorch, we could definitely have done with one! The only downside was there were a LOT of frogs about at 2am on the one morning that rained and that made getting to the bathroom quite interesting! It was totally worth it though, I could have stayed at The Ruin forever!
What a magical and unforgettable experience! Love the mission of The Ruin – the Landmark Trust. So cool they are restoring historical buildings like this one.
A stay at The Ruin is definitely unforgettable! I left a little piece of my heart there! I really love the work that the Landmark Trust do. It would be so sad if these buildings were lost forever! It is amazing to have the opportunity to become a part of their history!
how have i not heard about the landmark trust till now! i’ve dreamed about this!!!🤩🤩🤩
The Landmark Trust properties are definitely a dream! Every time I visit one I never want to leave! I hope you get an opportunity to stay in one!
I absolutely would love to stay in a place like this, love how it’s simply referred to as the Ruin. I had never heard of the Landmark Trust. I’ll look into it. thanks for sharing
It is a stunning place, isn’t it? The Ruin is such a simple name for such a beautiful place! I love staying in Landmark Trust buildings as it is always a magical experience! I hope you get a chance to try one out. Thanks for reading!
Wow this place is so beautiful! I love your photos!
The Ruin is so beautiful! I don’t think the photos even do it justice!
Oh wow I had no idea that you could do something like this! I love history so I will definitely check this trust out, and I love where you chose to stay – so unique!
It is such a novel idea, isn’t it? I love the work The Landmark Trust do to save these incredible buildings! And the book they include at the property about the history of the building is a fascinating read during your stay! I always enjoy finding unique places to stay to make a trip extra special!
Wow, that is an absolutely fascinating place to stay. I’ve never even seen anything like that before. 100%, if I could afford it, I would love to spend a few nights at The Ruin!
The Ruin is a wonderful place to escape to! In my opinion, it was worth every penny as our escape was simply magical! Plus, since we’re not travelling abroad this year we were happy to splurge! I hope you get an opportunity to stay there!
It looks like such a unique place to stay, and really quiet all around. I love the look of the surrounding area. That bath tub though! What a great place to relax
The Ruin is such a beautiful place to stay! It is the perfect retreat and well placed to explore the Nidderdale area! The bathtub is rather epic! It felt like it took a lifetime to fill but was absolutely worth it…I could practically swim in it! I was so ready for a hot bath after a long day hiking!
This sounds like such an interesting place to stay. The gardens look so beautiful
The Ruin is such a fascinating building. I love reading the book The Landmark Trust leave in the property about the history of the place! and the setting in Hackfall Woods is idyllic!
Such a simple name for a beautiful place! I love that you can actually stay there. Fits in wonderfully with your other places/posts too 😀
It is such a beautiful place, isn’t it? I don’t think the name quite does it justice! It fits so perfectly in the surrounding countryside, it is the ideal place for a Yorkshire Dales escape! I was happy to leave the world behind and get lost here for a week!
This really does look magical! What a unique place to stay
Staying at The Ruin, I felt like I was living in a fairytale for the week! It was a trip we’ll never forget! I loved every minute of it!
This looks like such a cozy spot that gives me such magical, fairytale vibes! I would love to stay here for a night – or more! Thanks for sharing your experience!
The Ruin is such a cozy getaway! It was a truly magical escape! I hope you get an opportunity to stay and experience it for yourself!
Love the name! “the Ruin”. It looks lovely and what a pretty area. It sounds like the kind of place I’d like to stay.
It’s such an understated name, isn’t it? But The Ruin is so beautiful and the surrounding area is breathtaking! It is a beautiful place to escape to, I hope you get an opportunity to stay there!
Absolutely love this! It gives off such romantic vibes. Also, love your outfit too! Thanks for sharing this treasure of a location.
The Ruin is such a charming place! It was ideal for a romantic escape! Thanks so much and thanks for reading!
What a unique place to stay! The bathroom looks huge and what a terrace! love your pictures from the Hackfall Woods so much. Everything looks like living in a fairytale!
The Ruin was a magical place to stay! I was so sad to leave! The bathroom was enormous! I could practically swim in the bath! And evening strolls around Hackfall Woods were my favorite park of the stay! I hope you get an opportunity to experience it yourself one day!
How enchanting! Hackfall Woods and the Ruin are now on my bucket list! I even love the fact that you have to go outside to get from room to room!
A stay at The Ruin in Hackfall Woods is a truly once in a lifetime experience! It is so unlike anywhere else we’ve ever stayed! It was lovely to have all of the doors open and just hop from one room to the next along the patio in the summer sun. It’s certainly a holiday I’ll never forget! I hope you get an opportunity to stay there!
What a unique place to stay! I love the idea of relaxing in the ruin during the pandemic when it was quiet, but to fair it is so cool I wouldn’t mind even if there were visitors during the day.
Having said that, I think I could only afford to stay in the off season – the peak price is a little beyond my normal range!
The Ruin is a beautiful place to stay! I don’t think people strolling across the terrace would detract from that at all but it was special to feel like it was our own slice of paradise! A stay at a Landmark Trust house is a bit of a splurge, but since we’re not travelling abroad I don’t mind so much. I also love to support the work that the Landmark Trust do to save these beautiful buildings. It may be above my usual budget, but a Landmark Trust stay is worth every penny!
Looks like a real gem that you found there! Would love to stay in the Ruin myself one day!
Thanks for sharing that!
The Ruin really is something special. I hope you get an opportunity to stay in The Ruin yourself one day!
The Ruin sounds like a magical place and your photos are great. What an amazing experience. I would love to try one day.
The Ruin is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever stayed! I was so sad when we had to leave! I hope you get an opportunity to stay in a Landmark Trust property!
I now have a new dream to stay at a Trust home when I get back across the pond to visit the UK in 2022. This is my kind of dream accommodation. I would definitely Forest Bathe!
The Landmark Trust buildings are absolutely stunning! All of them are so unique, I’m so excited to experience more of them! I hope you get a chance to try one out when you’re next in the UK!
Staying at The Ruin does sound like a magical experience & you’ll probably forget what it cost & just have special memories! I enjoyed this! Thanks for sharing!
The Ruin was such a magical experience! In my opinion, it was worth every penny and I’m happy to support the work that the Landmark Trust are doing to save these incredible buildings! I’d go back to The Ruin in a heartbeat! Thanks for reading!
What a beautiful and unique place. I think I could live without TV and wifi having access to the magical gardens.
The Ruin is simply stunning! I love staying with the Landmark Trust as an excuse to disconnect…it was exactly what we needed to fully unwind. I strongly recommend it!