Barker Stakes Farm Review: Is This Pickering Lodge Worth Booking for Families?

We booked Barker Stakes Farm rather impulsively for our half-term family holiday and, honestly, it turned out to be the happiest accident! If you're looking for family friendly accommodation in North Yorkshire, or you're wondering whether Barker Stakes Farm in Pickering is worth booking, I hope this honest Barker Stakes Farm review helps.

We spent a week staying here as a family and quickly realised why so many people recommend it. From the peaceful countryside setting and cosy lodges to the perfect location for exploring Pickering, the North York Moors and nearby family attractions, it had everything we needed for a relaxing break.

In this review, I'll share exactly what our stay was like, what we loved, anything we'd do differently, and whether we'd book Barker Stakes Farm again. If you're trying to decide whether it's the right place for your next North Yorkshire getaway, here's everything you need to know.

Where Is Barker Stakes Farm?

Barker Stakes Farm is located in the North Yorkshire picturesque town of Pickering. It's right on the outskirts of the town so you get the best of both worlds. Stunning countryside views with amenities only a short distance away.

Pickering sits pretty central to a a number of classic North Yorkshire villages. You'll find Goathland, Malton, Helmsley and Ripon all a short drive away. These picture postcard villages all have their own qualities and attractions and are worth visiting when staying at Barker Stakes Farm.

Things To Do Near Barker Stakes Farm

1. Alphamare water park - Scarborough
2. Castle Howard - York
3. Dalby Forest - Pickering
4. Eden camp - Malton
5. Sea life centre - Scarborough
6. Flamingo Land - Kirby Misperton (which can be seen from Barker Stakes Farm)
7. Riveaulx Abbey - Helmsley
8. North Yorkshire Moors railway - Pickering

1. Alpamare Waterpark - Scarborough

If you're looking for a fun family day out whatever the weather, Alpamare Waterpark in Scarborough is a brilliant option. With heated indoor and outdoor pools, water slides and a splash area, it's a great choice if you're visiting North Yorkshire with children and need something a little different from exploring the countryside.

2. Castle Howard - York

Castle Howard is one of North Yorkshire's most impressive stately homes and makes for a lovely family day out. The beautiful grounds are perfect for exploring, with plenty of open space for children to run around, woodland walks and stunning views wherever you look.

3. Dalby Forest - Pickering

For families who love getting outdoors, Dalby Forest is a must-visit when staying at Barker Stakes Farm. Just a short drive away, it's packed with walking trails, cycling routes, play areas and adventure activities for children of all ages. We found it the perfect place to burn off some energy, and it's one of those destinations where you can easily spend a few hours exploring without needing a strict itinerary.

4. Eden Camp - Malton

Eden Camp Modern History Museum is a fantastic rainy day activity. Set inside an old prisoner of war camp, the museum brings history to life with immersive displays, sounds and smells that make it much more engaging for children than a traditional museum.

5. Sea Life Centre - Scarborough

A visit to the SEA LIFE Scarborough is another great coastal day out from Barker Stakes Farm. Children can get up close to a variety of marine life, including penguins, seals and tropical species, making it a fun option for younger children especially. Combine it with a trip to Scarborough beach and you've got an easy full day out from your North Yorkshire family accommodation.

6. Flamingo Land - Kirby Misperton

Flamingo Land is one of the biggest reasons many families choose to stay at Barker Stakes Farm. Located just around a 10-minute drive away, it's incredibly convenient and means you can enjoy a full day at the theme park without a long journey back afterwards. One of the fun things about staying at Barker Stakes Farm is that you can actually see Flamingo Land from parts of the site. With rides, attractions and a zoo area, it's a brilliant family day out and a must-visit if you're travelling with children.

7. Rievaulx Abbey - Helmsley

For something a little different, Rievaulx Abbey near Helmsley is a beautiful place to explore. The dramatic ruins are surrounded by stunning North Yorkshire countryside, and the setting alone makes it worth visiting. While younger children might not appreciate the history quite as much as adults, the open space and opportunity to explore make it a lovely stop as part of a wider day out around Helmsley.

8, North Yorkshire Moors Railway - Pickering

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is one of the most iconic attractions near Barker Stakes Farm and a fantastic experience for families. Running between Pickering and Whitby, the heritage railway takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery in the North York Moors. It's particularly magical for children who love trains, but honestly, the views make it enjoyable for adults too. Being so close to Pickering makes this one of the easiest and most memorable days out during a stay at Barker Stakes Farm.

Attraction	Approx drive time from Barker Stakes Farm
Pickering town centre	5 minutes
Flamingo Land	10 minutes
North Yorkshire Moors Railway	5 minutes
Dalby Forest	20 minutes
Scarborough	40 minutes

Accommodation at Barker Stakes Farm

There are a variety of accommodation types at Barker Stakes Farm, all with their own qualities and price bands. You'll find cottages, lodges and glamping pods on site.

Five cottages sit towards the entrance of the site, all of which look light, airy and incredibly inviting. Most are one bedroom, however The Old Pig Sty has two bedrooms (and a hot tub).

Lodges are spilt across two areas, some in the main site, some more secluded towards the large pond at the top of the site. There are a variety of sizes, some with hot tubs and some without. All look fantastic, however the waterside sites are definitely more premium.

Barker Stakes Farm Lodges: Which One We Stayed In

For our stay at Barker Stakes Farm in Pickering, we booked the Studio Lodge, which is designed for two adults and two children. We actually found a fantastic half-term deal (which, as most parents know, is almost impossible to come by), so it felt like the perfect opportunity to give Barker Stakes Farm a try.

Although it's one of the smaller Barker Stakes Farm lodges, we found it worked really well for our family of four. Everything is thoughtfully laid out, making the most of the space without it ever feeling cramped. The main open plan room combines the living, dining and sleeping area for the adults, while the children have their own separate twin bedroom at the opposite end of the lodge. Having that separate bedroom made bedtime so much easier, as we could follow the same bed time routine from home.

The kitchen is compact rather than full-sized, but it had everything we needed to prepare breakfasts, quick lunches and simple evening meals during our stay. If you're planning on cooking elaborate family dinners every night, you might find it a little limiting, but for a week's family holiday it suited us perfectly.

One thing we really appreciated was having our own private outdoor seating area. It was lovely being able to enjoy a morning coffee while the children explored the grounds, and it made the lodge feel much bigger than the indoor space alone.

If you're wondering whether the Studio Lodge at Barker Stakes Farm is big enough for a family, I'd say it depends on what you want from your holiday. We weren't planning on spending all day indoors... We were out exploring Pickering, the North York Moors and the Yorkshire coast for most of the week. For us, it was the perfect base to come back to each evening: clean, comfortable, peaceful and somewhere we genuinely looked forward to returning to after a busy day out.

Would I book the Studio Lodge again? Absolutely. If I was travelling with just the four of us and found another great deal, I wouldn't hesitate. However, if your budget stretches a little further and you're planning to spend more time relaxing at the accommodation, I'd probably consider one of the larger Barker Stakes Farm lodges with a separate lounge and full kitchen simply for the extra space.

Studio Lodge Facilities

The kitchen is limited with only a microwave, kettle and toaster to cook with. We managed our weeks stay by mostly eating out, making sandwiches for lunches and microwave evening meals. Understandably this isn't for everyone (don't forget there are other accommodations available) however we didn't feel like it was a struggle arranging family meals. Aside from this the kitchen was well stocked with everything you could imagine needing: Crockery, cutlery, bottle opener, scissors etc.

The beds were comfy (actually comfier than ours at home) and a good nights sleep was had by all... Even though my eldest did say she woke during one night to the sound of goats!

The bathroom is small but functional. There is a corner opening shower and then a usual toilet and sink set up. The shower was lovely and had great pressure, although my youngest wasn't at all keen. But don't let that put you off - She's definitely more of a bath person.

The main pull for us booking however was the four person hot tub. Sinking into 40 degrees water at the end of a long day exploring was bliss! The outdoor tub was privatised as much as possible, however there were still times I'd clock glances with other people staying on site. Slightly awkward, but nothing to put u off. The kids had a blast and it's even got us thinking about potentially buying our own lay-z-spa for the garden.

Barker Stakes Farm Facilities

Our studio lodge at Barker Stakes Farm was fantastic, however what I have to commend this North Yorkshire accommodation on is its outdoor site facilities. The site facilities are perfect for families as there's so much to keep the kids entertained.

You'll find two parks, one in the main site area, the other just past the farm. Both have a large scale climbing frame with slides and swings. The main play area also has a see-saw and barn area containing a ping pong table, large scale noughts and crosses and a football table. It's a cracking little area for kids and we easily spent over an hour here each day.

The site itself sits on a farm, so as you'd expect there are lots of animals for you to see. Right next to our lodge there were goats, but further down site you'll find pigs, rabbits, alpacas, horses and chickens.

Is Barker Stakes Farm Worth Booking for Families?

After spending a week at Barker Stakes Farm in Pickering, I can honestly say it was a fantastic choice for our family holiday. What started as a fairly impulsive half-term booking turned into one of those trips where everything just seemed to work perfectly.

I think what makes Barker Stakes Farm such a great family accommodation option in North Yorkshire is the balance it offers. You get the peace and space of a countryside escape, with beautiful views, farm animals and outdoor areas for children to enjoy, but you're still only a short drive away from some of the best family attractions Yorkshire has to offer.

The biggest highlight for us was how child-friendly the site felt. The play areas, animals and freedom to explore meant the kids were entertained without us constantly having to plan activities. After busy days visiting places like Flamingo Land, Dalby Forest and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, it was lovely coming back to somewhere that felt calm and relaxing.

That said, I think it's worth choosing your accommodation carefully. The different Barker Stakes Farm lodges and cottages offer very different experiences. Our Studio Lodge was perfect as a base for a family of four who planned to spend most days exploring, but if you prefer spending lots of time relaxing at your accommodation, you may want to consider one of the larger lodges with more living space.

The location is another huge plus. Being close to Pickering means you have easy access to shops, cafés and attractions, while the surrounding North Yorkshire countryside makes it feel like a proper getaway from everyday life. It's also ideally placed for family days out, with Flamingo Land only a short drive away.

So, is Barker Stakes Farm worth booking for families? For us, absolutely. It's not a luxury resort with endless entertainment on site, but that's not what makes it special. It's a comfortable, welcoming and family-focused place that gives you the perfect base for exploring North Yorkshire while still offering plenty to enjoy when you're back at your lodge.

Would we stay at Barker Stakes Farm again? Without a doubt. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we'd happily return and try one of the larger lodges next time.

To Conclude

We had an incredible stay at Barker Stakes farm. The location, the site, the facilities were all incredible! We booked rather impulsively after finding a great deal (booking direct through their website works out cheapest) and it worked out wonderfully.

Overall, our Barker Stakes Farm review is overwhelmingly positive. For families looking for accommodation in North Yorkshire, we think it's a fantastic option. The combination of countryside views, family-friendly facilities and its location near Pickering and Flamingo Land makes it a brilliant base for exploring this part of Yorkshire.

I'd recommend Barker Stakes Farm as a North Yorkshire family staycation site until the cows come home. We had a blast!

Barker Stakes Farm FAQs

1. Is Barker Stakes Farm worth it?

For us, absolutely. Barker Stakes Farm was one of those places that exceeded our expectations, especially as we booked it quite impulsively. If you're looking for family-friendly accommodation in North Yorkshire, it's a fantastic base for exploring the area while still having plenty to enjoy without leaving the site.

2. Is Barker Stakes Farm close to Flamingo Land?

Yes. One of the reasons Barker Stakes Farm in Pickering is such a popular choice for families is its location. Flamingo Land is only around a 10-minute drive away, making it a really convenient place to stay if you're planning a family day out there. We found the location ideal because there are lots of family attractions nearby, including Flamingo Land, the North York Moors Railway and Dalby Forest, meaning you can easily fill a week without spending hours travelling in the car.

3. Are the hot tubs at Barker Stakes Farm private?

Yes, most of the lodges at Barker Stakes Farm have their own private hot tubs, which is one of the things that makes them such a popular choice for a family getaway. If you're booking specifically because you want a hot tub, it's worth checking the individual lodge details before reserving, as not every accommodation option includes one.

4. Is there Wi-Fi at Barker Stakes Farm?

Yes, free Wi-Fi is available across the site. During our stay, we found it useful for planning days out, checking opening times and keeping everyone entertained when we were back at the lodge.

5. Is Barker Stakes Farm dog friendly?

Yes, Barker Stakes Farm is dog friendly, although it does depend on which accommodation you choose. Dogs are accepted in all but one of the lodges. Dogs are not permitted to stay in any of the cottages. If you're planning a dog-friendly North Yorkshire holiday, I'd recommend checking the specific lodge before booking to make sure it is suitable for your needs.

6. Is Barker Stakes Farm suitable for toddlers?

I would say yes, and this is one of the reasons I think it's such a good option for young families. The site itself is very family focused, with outdoor space, play areas and animals to see, which gives little ones plenty to explore. Travel cots and high chairs are also available if required, making it easier when travelling with younger children. The only thing I'd consider is choosing your lodge carefully. Some lodges will offer more space than others, so if you have a toddler who needs room for toys, naps and downtime, a larger lodge may be worth considering.

7. How far is Pickering from Barker Stakes Farm?

Barker Stakes Farm is approximately 1.5 miles from Pickering, making it a really convenient base for exploring the town.You can easily drive into Pickering for shops, cafés, restaurants and attractions, including the famous North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The location was one of our favourite things about staying here because you get the peaceful countryside setting while still being close to everything you need.