Stow House

A boutique bed and breakfast in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, Stow House occupies an artily (and artfully) renovated Victorian vicarage with magnificent views from every room. The excellent breakfast is freshly cooked to order, with home-made bread and granola alongside sausages and bacon supplied by the local butcher, and they can also make packed lunches or an evening meal for larger groups. Should you fancy a drink there’s an honesty bar, or the powerful cocktails mixed by your hosts, Sarah and Phil, between 6pm and 7pm each evening come highly recommended . Sarah, meanwhile, cannot help enough when you’re settling in, or need advice on the local area: Aysgarth Falls are just a short stroll away, and there are plenty of more challenging local walks as well as country pubs and National Trust sites to visit. Wensleydale cheese is made nearby, and the surrounding countryside will be familiar to fans of All Creatures Great and Small.

The seven exceptionally comfortable and playfully named rooms are all different, but each is light and airy, with unique modern artwork and a well-specified bathroom, most with large baths. Our own favourites are the two bright modern spaces on the top floor – Shotgun Clare and Cowboy Balance – with wood beams and big velux windows cut into the eaves. The living room, snug/library and dining room downstairs all have woodburners. Dogs are welcome in most rooms, and on fine days can join the owners’ pets in the extensive gardens.

Nearby places to eat include the Aygsarth Falls Hotel, which is a short walk away, and the Wensleydale Heifer, on the way to Leyburn, where there are also a number of good pubs and restaurants.