Waitby School

The Waitby School kids of yesteryear were a lucky lot. If lessons failed to entertain them, they could simply gaze out the window at views of the Yorkshire Dales. Those days have long since passed but the view remains the same, and thanks to a careful conversion, Waitby School is now a rather lovely place to stay. Rows of school desks have been replaced by a comfy sofa, a Smart TV and a wood-burning stove. Bedrooms and bathrooms have been added in the eaves and underfloor heating makes sure it’s warm and cosy. This is a self-catering holiday home with character, comfort, and of course, stunning views.

It stands in isolation between two tiny settlements that are technically in Cumbria, but also within the bounds of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It’s a peaceful spot, even in summer when the Dales and the nearby Lake District are at their busiest. As such, it makes an excellent place to base yourself if you want to see the sights but still get away from it all. You approach through the fells to find this Grade II-listed schoolhouse much as it’s always looked, with a dry-stone wall surrounding the garden and a school bell on the roof. Inside, you hang your coat on the original hooks, but after that things start to get more homely.

The house sleeps up to seven in three bedrooms, making it a good space for large families or small groups. Grandparents might bagsy the ground-floor master with its en-suite and soothing whirlpool bath. Parents can tuck themselves away in the second double up one set of stairs, and kids will love the third, with its three singles, up another. All are bright and light with a little luxury and colour thrown in by way of silk curtains, velour throws and quality bedding. Downstairs it’s a similar story, with the double-height living room the heart of the house and the well-equipped kitchen-diner another sociable space.

Seasoned walkers will think nothing of strolling the two miles to Kirkby Stephen, while others will prefer the five-minute trip in the car. It’s an ancient market town in the upper Eden Valley and plenty of hiking trails start from there. Alfred Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route passes through. But it’s also a good stop to refuel – try The La’l Nook for a proper local ale or The Taggy Man for fireside pub grub. Further afield, you have all the highlights of two national parks to explore: you’re at the top end of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and only 11 miles from the edge of the Lake District.