House and garden

North Yorkshire

15 reviews • Updated 2 years ago

This historic house is set in an 8 acre garden by the River Robert (which is really a small beck !! ) The grounds offer a mixture of grassed/ lawn areas, formal gardens, organic vegetable plot, rough brambled areas, fruit trees and woodland by the beck. We also run a glamping project with 3 gypsy caravans in the grounds and a two bedroom treehouse. Jobs would include: tending to the vegetables, fruit picking, weeding, tidying/clearing, lawn cutting, logging, pruning, strimming and other help and maintenance jobs as required. Over winter we are looking at repair and maintenance jobs, especially stone work, pointing and some decorating. Accommodation is provided in the house. There is one double bedroom with ensuite and several other double bedrooms with shared bathroom. We are looking to meet enthusiastic people who are willing to muck in, so experience is not essential. We have three dogs and free range chickens. We would look at a review at the end of the first week. Also happy to extend beyond 4 weeks if all is going well.

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Fruit or nut farming

Poultry farming

Forestry

Host type

3.2 Hectares | 8 Acres

Accommodation

2 WWOOFers

Bedroom

Children not accepted

Pets not accepted

Meals

Omnivore

Vegetarian

Length of stay

1-2 weeks

Julie

Member since 2014

Languages spoken: English Response rate: 100% Response time: typically within 7 days

November 2025

Open

Planned visit

Closed

MapLibre | Protomaps | © OpenStreetMap

North Yorkshire

The nearest train station is Harrogate (8.5 miles). The nearest bus stop is at Wormald Green on the A61 (approx. 1mile). The bus is within walking distance if comfortable walking! We are happy to pick up from the station or bus stop. Travelling by car: S

Reviews

Pearl

United States • October 2025

[Host]is a stunning place that is easy to feel at home in. Julie and Hank’s decade of experience hosting WWOOFers is obvious, as they folded me into the routine of living and working with ease. I’m so grateful for the thoughtful hospitality that they provided, and the mix of traditional gardening with odd jobs around the property was very rewarding. North Yorkshire is also a beautiful area, and it was amazing to spend time in both York and Harrogate.

Mike

United Kingdom • June 2025

Julie, Hank & their family were superb hosts, interested in their volunteers, hospitable & being well travelled with interesting backgrounds. I had my own room in their fabulous historic house & some very tasty meals. Primarily i was working in the orchard, pruning & fencing the trees to prevent any further deer damage to them, & i appreciate the trust put in me to carry this out. Some work in the vegetable patch with ongoing repairs to its structure, looking after the chickens in the mornings & also some planting - which is always welcome. The location is very handy being so close to Harrogate, York & Leeds by bus or train. Also nearby are Fountains Abbey, Brimham Rocks & Harlow Carr - a wonderful RHS garden. I had a very enjoyable stay in North Yorkshire & am grateful for being hosted, if ever I'm passing by again will be sure to drop by.

Marika

Austria • June 2025

Staying at Markington Hall was a wonderful experience. Julie and Hank were incredibly friendly and open, and I felt welcome from the start. The work was varied and fun - from weeding, feeding chickens and cutting corners to mowing the lawn and planting seedlings. It was really nice to be part of their everyday life and to be included. I also really took the three dogs to my heart - especially Ari! The dinners together were always delicious and the estate itself is simply beautiful. I am very grateful that I was able to spend 2 wonderful weeks there. Thank you so much, Julie and Hank, for the great time<3

Serafina

United States • September 2024

Words cannot express how much I love and would recommend Markington Hall. Hank and Julie are wonderful people, and their home is a very welcoming place, no matter who you are. I worked five hours a day, five days a week, and I found everything that I was asked to do was very rewarding. North Yorkshire is a beautiful corner of the world. Markington Village is a twenty minute drive from both Ripon and Harrogate, which are wonderful towns. It's a twenty minute walk to the bus stop, but it's an easy and the public transportation is pretty straight forward. Try to explore as much as you can, it's worth it! I'm so grateful for the time that I was able to spend there, for the relationships that I built, and the amazing places I was able to see. It's a time that I will always cherish.

Gabin

France • August 2024

Mon séjour chez Julie et William a été formidable. J'ai pu découvrir une famille très accueillante et effectuer des tâches variées la journée. Julie et William ont été d'excellents hôtes pour cette première expérience. Je les recommande vivement.

Lena Marie

Germany • November 2023

Julie, Hank, and the rest of the family were not only welcoming and delightful to be around but also exceptional hosts. The work was diverse, encompassing tasks like weeding, mowing, and edging in the garden. And the working hours were flexible, allowing you to take a long weekend off to explore the Yorkshire countryside. We’re grateful for these three memorable weeks, all the people we got to meet and places we got to see. Thank you! :)