A modern spin on a country house, near the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District (sleeps 15)
Space & setting.
With spectacular views over the Howgill Fells, 2 sitting rooms and 8 bedrooms, this is the perfect spot for gathering family and friends together. The Victorian country house – and onetime hotel – has been lovingly restored to modern-but comfortable glory. Vintage furniture mingles with William Morris prints, contemporary art and piles of books, while the kitchen table invites you to swap wellies for slippers after a long walk, and relax with mugs of tea.
This hidden corner of the Yorkshire Dales is an outdoor playground, whether you’re walking through the Smardale Ghyll nature reserve, cycling along quiet country lanes or wild swimming in the River Eden. Kids can be entertained for hours playing hide and seek in the rambling rooms, and racing after red squirrels in the gardens. Come evening, fire up the barbeque and firepit, pour some drinks and dine together on the south-facing terrace, then grab blankets and Thermoses of hot chocolate (add Amaretto for adults) and stargaze from the hilltop behind the house. Night skies are absolutely phenomenal, strung with constellations.
Getting here: you’ll need to drive.
Special touches.
- Book directly with local chefs for private catering and special occasions
- The owners can also arrange wine tastings
- Book a guide to discover the best scrambles, wild swims and mountain-bike trails in the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District
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Sustainability.
Full recycling and EV charging points. Lots of the furniture in the property has been reclaimed/restored by local people. Electricity is from a renewable energy supplier.
Surrounds.
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Lake District -
Yorkshire Dales -
Mallerstang Valley -
Yorkshire Dales
- Walk through a nature reserve to the infamous Smardale Ghyll Viaduct, or hike to the waterfalls at Cautley Spout.
- Wander 2 miles to Ravenstonedale for a hearty pub lunch by the fire at The Black Swan.
- Take a horse-riding hack across the Howgill Fells, and stop at a hidden picnic spot with sensational views.
- Wild swim or hook some trout from the River Eden; day tickets are available from the local newsagents.
- Learn about the area’s traditional weaving and lace-making skills at Farfield Mill, now a multi-arts creative centre, where you can also browse second-hand books and admire local art.
- Drive over to the Lake District to bag a Wainwright or puff acrross Ullswater in a historic steamer.
- Drive up to the Tan Hill Inn, the highest pub in England, for lunch and sensational views.
Specifics.
- Standalone house in 2 private acres
- 8 bedrooms, all with ensuite shower rooms and Bramley toiletries
- Upstairs: 3 kingsize, 2 superking/twin, 1 double, 1 single
- Downstairs: 1 double
- Additional family bathroom with roll-top bath
- Child friendly; baby cots and 2 additional single beds on request
- Enormous kitchen with electric range oven, gas hob, fridge freezers, dishwashers, microwave, kettle, toaster, bean-to-cup coffee machine and basic supplies
- Generous welcome hamper
- Homemade sourdough pizzas on request
- Sitting room with Smart TV and Netflix, Marshall bluetooth speakers, books, board games and binoculars
- Laundry room with washing machine and dryer
- Terrace with alfresco dining table and gas BBQ
- Firepit area
- Book directly with local chefs for private catering
- Parking for 8 cars; EV chargers on request
- Walk to pubs in the next village (1 hour); for shops and restaurants drive to Kirby Stephens (10 mins)
- The owners live 5 mins away, available by phone
- Dogs warmly welcome
- House rules: credit card hold for security deposit; no music on the outside terrace
- Booking conditions: check in is either Friday for 3 nights, Monday for 4 nights, or Fri/Mon for 7+ nights
- Remember to pack: wellies/walking boots, a waterproof, and midge spray in summer
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40% deposit on booking, with the balance due 12 weeks prior to stay.
Cancellations permitted 12+ weeks prior to stay, with deposit refunded minus a £30 processing fee.
No refunds if booking cancelled within 12 weeks of stay.
FAQs.
Check in: 4pm
Check out: 10.30am
Walk to Ravenstonedale (1.8 miles) which will lead you to two of our great local pubs; the Black Swan and Kings Head.
Its superb dark skies are one of the things that make the Yorkshire Dales National Park so special. With large areas completely free from local light pollution, it’s a fantastic place to start your stargazing adventure. We have binoculars, warm blankets and Thermos flask for your hot chocolate you can rent to make a night of it.
There are a number of nearby wild swimming spots we can recommend.
A great route is to cycle from Brownber to Hawes over the Butter Tubs and then up to Tan Hill; the highest pub in England. We are just off the Lakes and Dales cycling route.
Our nearest stations are Oxenholme (journey to Brownber approx. 25 minutes by taxi, approx. £45 one way) and Kirkby Stephen (10 minutes by taxi to Brownber, but taxis from here will need to be booked in advance!)
We have a 7Kw charger available at Brownber. Just ask when you arrive and we can show you where it is!
On arrival you will find a welcome hamper containing tasty treats. We also leave all the essentials including milk, butter, salt, pepper, olive oil, some tea bags, coffee and sugar in the kitchen.
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