The Country House

You enter through the portico into a small lobby, which leads to the main hallway with its original tiled floor. This was hidden under the carpet and discovering it was one of the best days of the restoration! Leading up to the first floor is a stone cantilever staircase. 

On one side of the main hallway is the drawing room where people have pre-dinner drinks, off that is the bar (within the old orangery). It has been created from a lot of reclaimed materials, such as repurposed tiles, panels from the front door and an old brass jam pan as a sink. It’s an amazing space. Next to the bar is the games room with a pool table and a gaming console. It’s dark and moody with an open fire. 

On the other side of the hallway is the TV room with a big orange sofa and an open fire. It’s really bright, with a huge bay window and enough seating for everyone to snuggle in and watch movies. 

At the end of the house is the big kitchen/dining space, which is our favourite room in the house. It has a huge, glazed roof and windows overlooking the garden, plus a four-metre, marble-topped island bench and a large range cooker. Chefs love it, which is always a big compliment. There’s also a massive, pine dining table reclaimed from a French chateau that seats 16.

Down the back corridor is a laundry room and the only bedroom on the ground floor, The Lawns. It has a king-size bed, a walk-in shower and a separate toilet. 

Upstairs are five additional bedrooms, all of which are ensuite and three with baths. The Watson is the master bedroom and is named after the guy who built the house, John Watson. It’s painted a mushroom-pink colour and is really grand with a super king-size bed. It also has a copper bath that feels quite romantic. 

In The Dorm, we have three sets of adult-size bunks (sleeps 6) that kids love as it’s the funnest room they’ve ever seen. There are also two more king-size bedrooms and a twin room that feels a bit like a suite as it has a separate toilet and a separate shower. At the top of the stairs is The Fellview, which has lovely views of the surrounding hills. Aside from its interior bath, it also has an outside bath on its balcony.

Outside the house is loads of parking and we have electric gates so the property is quite secure. There’s also a lovely firepit area for toasting marshmallows and a copper jacuzzi bath, plus a garden bar with little tables. It’s south-facing and very nice in the summertime. There are outdoor sofas to relax on and a long oak dining table, as well as a pizza oven and a barbecue.

In total, we have four acres, so there is plenty of space for kids to run around and explore. We also have five resident chickens that roam the property and provide fresh eggs for guests to collect.

BEDROOMS

The beautifully designed 6 ensuite bedrooms have mattresses and luxury wool toppers made by the Royal warranted brand Hypnos

Bedroom 1

The super king-size bed, with a mattress and luxury wool topper by renowned brand Hypnos, high-quality bed linen, pillows, duvet and complimentary use of our fluffy white robes, will ensure you leave fully rested. The ensuite features a rainfall shower, a large vanity sink, walnut-trimmed taps and Victorian-style handmade tiles by Minton Hollins.

Bedroom 2

A calm and peaceful space, with a romantic French feel, touched with tones of cinnamon and Egyptian greys, this suite offers the utmost luxury, with a rainfall shower and gorgeous roll-top bath but also boasts its private balcony, where you can relax with a coffee or soak under the stars, with a glass of wine, in a hot bubble bath come rain or shine, in the outdoor nickel bath tub. The king-size bed, with a mattress and luxury wool topper by renowned brand Hypnos, high-quality bed linen, pillows, duvet and complimentary use of our fluffy white robes, will ensure you leave fully rested. The ensuite features a rainfall shower and a roll-top bath to while away the time listening to your favourite tunes on the Roberts Radio.

Bedroom 3

Relax in this sultry space, cosied up in a fluffy white robe whiling away the hours listening to your favourite music on the Roberts radio. Choose to soak away your evening in the luxury roll-top bath or dive into the depths of comfort in the king-size bed with a mattress and luxury wool topper by renowned brand Hypnos and high-quality bed linen, pillows and duvet. The ensuite is a nod to the retro era with burnt orange shell shape tiles and brass bathroom fittings, a rainfall shower, and luxury sanitary ware by Burlington, warmed by the antique wood tones of a mid-century mirror.

Bedroom 4

A room with a view, take in the garden views watching the sun set over the west-facing lawns and trees beyond. The peaks of the Scottish Borders can be seen on a clear day. This suite is inspired by the sulky green tones of Soho House, London. This twin suite offers privacy, quiet and calm at the end of the house, away from the hustle and bustle. Separate ensuite and lavatory facilities make it a perfect room for sharing. The single beds with mattresses by Hypnos and with luxury wool mattress toppers, high-quality bed linen, pillows and duvet will ensure a restful night's sleep.

Bedroom 5

Three bunk beds provide 6 sleeping spaces, separated by the luxury of cascading soft linen draping dividers, each bed feels remarkably private. Our heavy-duty bunk beds are equally suitable for adults willing to share. Don’t worry, it might look like a dormitory, but this is luxury, all mattresses are by Royal Warranted brand Hypnos, with quality bed linen and perfect pillows, to ensure a perfect sleep. An ensuite bathroom is equally impressive, tiled in Minton and Hollins Victorian style tiles, with a rainfall shower and twin sinks by Burlington.

Bedroom 6

This soft pink and mahogany red bedroom looks directly onto the laurels and deep greens of the lawn, this ground floor boudoir is fit for any lords or ladies.

A king-size bed with mattress and luxury wool topper by Hypnos will tempt you to bed at the end of a long day exploring. With high-quality bed linen and perfect pillows, you will be sure to get a restful night's sleep. The ensuite features a walk-in wet room shower and is tastefully tiled in a fabulous contemporary pink, with a wide vanity sink and a separate WC.

OTHER ROOMS

• Hand-made kitchen
• TV lounge for movies nights
• Drawing room with its impressive 4-metre high fireplace
• Orangery with a bar for fun, frolics and Gin and Tonics, after a hard day out walking the fells
• Games room with a pool table, shelves stacked with board games and puzzles, a TV and games console

Included in the price is daily housekeeping. Our cleaner, Agnes, comes early in the morning (usually before everyone is up) and does a general tidying of the living spaces downstairs. She comes back around midday and does a full bedroom service on the rooms, changes the towels and cleans the bathrooms. In the evening, she does a turndown service, removing cushions from the beds, pulling the curtains shut, setting the lighting and preparing the bedrooms for sleep. 

We also have a house manager who lives onsite in a separate property and is on hand for taxi bookings and recommendations of restaurants or things to see and do in the area. Our motto is that whatever guests want (within reason) we will try and make it happen.

Most of our guests hire private chefs for at least one night of their stay and we can recommend some amazing chefs who prepare the most phenomenal food. Additionally, we can create a professional dinner party atmosphere, complete with table linen and printed menus. In the dining area is an automated baby grand piano that can play any music you want.

On arrival, guests receive a large welcome hamper with sourdough bread, local produce and alcoholic drinks, plus a big cake. Coal and wood for the fireplaces are also provided.

COOKING & DINING

• Luxury handmade shaker kitchen
• Dining table seats 16 guests comfortably
• Two Electric ovens
• Nine burner gas hob by internationally renowned Italian brand Ilve
• Fridge and freezer in the kitchen
• 2 Dishwashers
• Microwave & toaster
• Nespresso machine – pods provided
• Gas BBQ – gas provided

INSIDE

• Two 65” TVs, one in the living room, one in the games room
• Full Sky package, Amazon Prime and Netflix
• Games room with pool table and games console
• Orangery Bar with ice machine and drinks fridges
• Sky Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth speaker
• Board games
• Electric baby grand piano
• Open fireplace and Log burner – logs provided
• All bedrooms with Roberts radios

OUTSIDE

• 3 acres of fenced gardens
• Outside tables and chairs on terrace seating 16
• Ample parking
• Private drive
• Fire pit
• Gas Ooni Pizza Oven
• Meadow walk
• Flat lawn perfect for games
• Patio with large dining table and garden sofas
• Extra large garden roll top copper bath jacuzzi for four people
• Own free-ranging chickens and all their eggs!

I’d definitely recommend visiting the Lake District — it’s a lovely day out and you can see a lot on a circuit tour. It’s easy to visit two or three different lakes (including a boat trip) with a few stops for food, beers or afternoon tea. It’s always nice to visit one of the Scottish distilleries and Hadrian’s Wall is a must-see. There are also some really amazing forts and Roman settlements that are open to the public. 

I also just like walking through the hills surrounding the house and village. It’s so open and the views are amazing, plus there’s lots of wildlife.