Review: Stank House Farm, Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire Dales, UK

Stank House Farm is certainly one of three luxurious vacation properties that make up Yorkshire Boltholes, a distinguished assortment of luxurious vacation cottages inside the breathtaking Bolton Abbey Estate on the southern fringe of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Dating again to 1744, this conventional stone farmhouse was meticulously renovated to the best requirements in 2015, and right this moment seamlessly blends its wealthy heritage with a wide range of cosy luxuries.

Yorkshire Boltholes is a part of the Devonshire Hotels & Restaurants Group Ltd. (owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire) which additionally encompasses the previously-reviewed Cavendish Hotel at Baslow within the Peak District.

The welcome

Our arrival on the property was very straight ahead. Upon affirmation of our reserving, we had been supplied with Google instructions and a what3words location. The farmhouse lies simply off the B6160 on what was as soon as the primary highway to Barden and the moor – well-liked for grouse capturing. All we needed to do was navigate previous a number of sheep and a few cattle grids, and decide up the keys from a safe lockbox to achieve entry. Self check-in is from 4pm on the day of arrival and check-out is by 10am on the day of your departure, as is customary for self-catering lodging within the UK.

The property

Stepping into the property, we had been greeted by a big entrance corridor with a conventional flagstone ground, setting the tone for your complete residence, and an excellent house for coats and boots after a day of strolling. The spectacular eating room got here subsequent – an ideal setting for household gatherings with seating for as much as 8 individuals round a big farmhouse eating desk, while a grand hearth with a wood-burning range, uncovered picket beams, a powerful antler-clad gentle becoming and interval furnishings full the décor. What’s very nice is that The Duke and the Duchess of Devonshire have a primary hand curiosity within the planning and ornament of their boltholes, utilizing a combination of vintage and classical furnishings, mushy furnishings and fascinating paintings to create home-from-home abodes with a conventional nation life-style really feel.

Beyond the eating room is a well-equipped kitchen, boasting granite work floor and all of the facilities you’d must whip up something from a lightweight breakfast to a luxurious household banquet. There’s a powerful Rangemaster Professional+ induction hob and oven, to not point out a dishwaster, microwave, fridge, separate freezer, espresso machine, toaster, kettle and all of the utensils you’d want (to not point out a quantity you in all probability gained’t!).

The elegant and spacious lounge on the bottom ground – the place there’s a TV, a second wood-burning range, a plentiful provide of firewood and a choice of board video games – is a sociable place to calm down with pals or household. Pictures on the partitions depict native, historic scenes while the south-facing home windows imply you may marvel at current day views throughout the valley.

French doorways open out onto a terrace and gardens that wrap round the home, inviting visitors to immerse themselves within the surrounding pure magnificence. There’s an out of doors barbecue however the spotlight for us was the new tub the place you may take pleasure in a soothing soak with unspoiled views.

Finally, on the bottom ground is an en suite bed room with a ravishing picket cover mattress, a chaise longue and a writing desk, and the identical panoramic views in the direction of Bolton Abbey. The accompanying toilet comes full with an expensive bathe over a roll-top tub.

Two additional tastefully furnished en suite bedrooms are to be discovered upstairs, that means the property can accommodate as much as 6 visitors. The main bedroom boasts a surprising four-poster mattress

The third and ultimate bed room has twin beds in addition to its personal en suite.

We discovered that the property had dependable WiFi all through, in addition to there being a superb cell sign (not less than on the O2 community). Stank House Farm can be canine pleasant and supplied an inviting environment for our Springer spaniel, George. Responsible canine homeowners are welcome to benefit from the many walks from the property, as long as they’re conscious of livestock and wildlife.

The amenities

Guests of Stank House Farm can even make use of the spa amenities at The Devonshire Arms, situated in an historic barn only a mile down the highway., by reserving a timed slot upfront. Equipped with a state–of-the-art vitality pool, sauna, steam room, rasul chamber and lounge, it’s the proper place to unwind or to easily escape a moist day within the Yorkshire Dales.

A ‘phase two’ of the spa is deliberate which is able to see extra eco-conscious and nature-focused experiences, corresponding to wild bathing, designed to boost the wellbeing advantages of visitors.

Nearby The Brasserie & Bar, additionally a part of The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa, holds an AA Rosette and is a vibrant but relaxed location to dine.

To begin, I had the delectable wild mushrooms served on crispy bruschetta and adorned with a delightfully creamy burrata, earlier than being drizzled with a cavolo nero (black kale) pesto dressing.

My son loved a prawn cocktail with a distinction, consisting of king prawns and crab, smashed avocado and chilli flakes.

For my fundamental, I loved an fragrant and flavourful lamb tagine with a deliciously wealthy mix of cinnamon, dates, and honey, served alongside pomegranate pearl couscous.

Meanwhile, my spouse cherished her corn-fed rooster paired with crispy truffled gnocchi, garlic-infused spinach and king oyster mushrooms.

Despite the standard of meals on provide, the brasserie is a really relaxed and casual place to dine, the place canines are additionally welcome.

For a extra formal, 2 AA Rosette effective eating expertise, there may be additionally The Burlington restaurant.

The location

Set inside the 30,000-acre Bolton Abbey Estate, Stank House Farm is only a mile from Bolton Priory, a Twelfth-century Augustinian monastery steeped in historical past, that lies at its coronary heart, near the meandering River Wharfe and its slim, highly effective phase often called the Strid. This picturesque Yorkshire Dales property is related by the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway and consists of various landscapes, from historic woodlands and rolling meadows to heather-clad moors, a lot of which is accessible by miles of all-weather strolling routes.

Set inside the 30,000-acre Bolton Abbey Estate, Stank House Farm is only a mile from Bolton Priory, a Twelfth-century Augustinian monastery steeped in historical past, that lies at its coronary heart, near the meandering River Wharfe and its slim, highly effective phase often called the Strid. This picturesque Yorkshire Dales property is related by the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway and consists of various landscapes, from historic woodlands and rolling meadows to heather-clad moors, a lot of which is accessible by miles of all-weather strolling routes.

To make clear (as a result of it took me some time to get my head round it!), the time period ‘Bolton Abbey’ is often used to confer with the property, but in addition typically to the village. ‘Bolton Priory’, in the meantime, particularly refers back to the Twelfth-century Augustinian monastery – now in ruins – which adjoins ‘Bolton Priory Church’ (formally often called ‘The Priory Church of Bolton Abbey’), an Anglican church inside the diocese of Leeds, which is commonly open to guests and has providers on Wednesday and Sunday mornings.

The village of Bolton Abbey is residence to a number of cafés, a second-hand guide store and a village store the place the Barlick Yarn Fairies commonly work their magic upon a purple postbox.

The market cities of Skipton and Ilkley are inside straightforward driving distance – we visited the previous to participate of their weekly parkrun – while the likes of Harrogate, Bradford, Leeds and York are a little bit additional afield.

Other good touches

A bunch of very considerate extras had been left for us within the kitchen, together with a bottle of the Chatsworth’s Earl of Burlington rouge 2021, completely complemented with a choice of Yorkshire crisps, in addition to a loaf of bread and jars of Chatsworth jam and marmalade, to not point out some scrumptious cookies. Tea, espresso and milk had been additionally equipped.

The value

3-night breaks out of season sometimes begin from round £1,400 while a full week in peak season is roughly £4,000.

The greatest bit

While the new tub provides a pleasant contact, what I’d say actually units Stank House Farm aside is the fragile steadiness of historic attraction and stylish interiors, with all of the up-to-date facilities that you simply would possibly count on from a luxurious property. Successfully offering fashionable conveniences while additionally retaining the distinctive character and historical past of an previous farmhouse isn’t any imply feat. A Netflix-enabled flat display TV sitting on high of an previous Singer stitching machine desk within the lounge is a basic instance of this seamless integration of up to date amenities and vintage attraction.

The ultimate verdict

Stank House Farm stands as a effective instance of luxurious self-catering lodging within the UK, setting the bar excessive and serving as a beacon for others to emulate. What units this bolthole aside although – in addition to the standard of the lodging – is that, while it’s self-catering, the facilities of the the Devonshire Arms Hotel are lower than a mile away, be it for using the spa or eating on the brasserie. The upshot of that is that visitors can take pleasure in the very best of each worlds – all of the privateness and independence that comes with a luxurious rental property, but in addition all of the amenities which might be sometimes related to a luxurious resort.

Dislcosure: Our keep was sponsored by Yorkshire Boltholes of the Devonshire Hotels & Restaurants Group Ltd.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has labored within the journey trade for greater than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED journal. In addition to different awards, the weblog has additionally been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.