Oughtershaw Hall, Yorkshire Dales

Settled within an idyllic Yorkshire setting of Roman roads, dry stone walls, boundless countryside and a magical ravine – is where you’ll find Oughtershaw Hall. This grand Yorkshire abode has a storied past and now welcomes guests as a family-friendly holiday home boasting excellent facilities including a private heated indoor swimming pool, sauna, expansive modern kitchen, ample social spaces and beautifully maintained grounds.

The Luxury Editor’s Chrystal, and family, were kindly invited to stay and experience Oughtershaw Hall – read on for the full review (and a little history lesson too!)

History

Derived from an old English word, ‘shaw’ which means wooded area, the quiet hamlet of Oughtershaw, is aptly named, and it is also home to the Hall that shares its name. Built upon bedrock, the Hall was originally a medieval farmhouse, where Charles I was once rumoured to stay on his travels to Scotland. In 1850 the Hall was transformed into a shooting lodge by the Woodd family, who were wine merchants from London and to whom many of the architecture, design and distinguishing original features can be credited.

Ownership then moved to the Miner family, where eventually Mrs Miner, the last ‘lady of the manor’ – who we were informed was an eccentric character – lived in the grand reception room with her clowder of cats. Sadly, the upkeep of the Hall deteriorated and was almost left to rack and ruin before being acquired by Clive Sykes who, with his artisan team, have considerately and patiently renovated the house encapsulating many of the original features making it the indulgent ‘home from home’ it is today, and the piece de resistance within the Catch the Breeze Retreats property portfolio.

Arrival

After meandering along the narrow country roads for quite some time, I do question the credibility of the sat nav (and our driver), however the impressive timber gates that guard the hall and its stunning grounds along with the Oughtershaw Hall stone signage mark our arrival. 

There is a key safe box, so Ben, the house manager, could have easily left us to let ourselves in however, I am so pleased he greeted us and gave us the guided tour. Ben is an overflowing fountain of local knowledge who is so passionate about the Hall, its history and its upkeep that every question I ask him is interwoven with a mini (and fascinating) local history lesson. This welcome tour is all part of the experience and without it I may not have felt the genuine affection for the property and the experience that awaited us.

A welcome basket, with local ‘essential’ produce and very much ‘non-essentials’ (i.e. lemon-drizzle cake, choccies and Granny Wild biscuits!) sits proudly next to a beautiful bunch of welcome flowers on the contemporary kitchen island.

Side note: as part of the arrival information, we’d been given Ben, the house manager, mobile number who contacted me in a timely manner to check our ETA – his comms were friendly and professional and his local recommendations and knowledge really enhanced our stay.

Ground Floor

Kitchen and Dining Area

There are multiple entry points to the house, each fit for different purposes. The ‘front’ door leads into a vast and modern open-plan space, comprising a 14-seater dining table, a spacious window seat and a sizeable contemporary kitchen. The kitchen is complete with excellent and ample utensils and appliances (two kettles, two toasters, two dishwashers, a big (and sparkling clean range style cooker, tall fridge and freezer). This was once part of the servants’ quarters but is now the ultimate entertaining space. And if you don’t want to cook yourself, John Rudden of Grassington House is a firm favourite with guests and the Catch The Breeze Retreats team if you’d like the local Chef to cook for you within Oughtershaw Hall.

Within this space there is also a cosy snug with TV, music system and wood burner fire.

The original servants’ bells adorn the walls, (all marked as read of course!) and the first guest book which dates to 1849 is a testament to the Hall’s provenance – and is the first of the many original features that capture both our hearts and minds.

There is a picture of the original floor plan located near the ‘front’ door which I urge guests to study, it’s so interesting to see the ‘then and now’. It also helps, with bearings – the Hall is so spacious it’s easy to forget which room is which!

The Grand Reception Room

We make our way to Grand Reception and en route discover the first original stained-glass window which showcases the four coats of arms of the family’s associated with the Hall. They are beautifully intricate and framed by original stonework. 

Upon entering this room, it is obvious why it’s named “Grand”, however, it is actually the less obvious details that further enhance its grandeur. The dining room table is an original piece of furniture dating back to 1876 and inscribed with Charles Woodd’s initials and date.

Next, we’re shown, perhaps the quirkiest of the original features, the solid wood peep hole……if your name’s not down you’re not coming in!! The date carved into this playful (but practical!) piece was 1671 – the craftsmen back in those days were so talented. Again, the coats of arms-stained glass windows in this room are a real eye-catcher and the combination of modern and historic furniture complement each other very well. This modern-meets-historic style runs throughout the entire Hall.

The curtains were huge and meticulously and stylishly, arranged and this is the case in every room.

We move on to what is the official entrance hall which again is adorned with original furniture, a ceiling rose and leads out to the front lawn. The main staircase here takes guests to the bedrooms on the first floor, whilst another door presents the next public lounge which is home to one of the original fireplaces.

The ground floor is also home to a study, and a large utility room (with washing machine, drier and another sink), ideal for guests who plan to stay a while. From here we loop back to the kitchen area where we can access what once was meat room/pantry complete with original stone flooring.

Another main entrance door which would have been direct access to the servant’s area houses the boot room and the second staircase provides additional access to the first-floor bedrooms.

Next is the most exciting part of the Hall (in the children’s opinion). This is the extension and is home to the eight-person sauna which is a welcome treat and the connecting ‘glass room’ is a pleasant place to enjoy a coffee (or G&T!) but best of all it leads to the heated indoor 10m swimming pool.

Complete with a dedicated changing room, shower, WC, large towels, poolside chairs and loungers – the pool house is awesome!! The pool and its lofty wooden beamed ceiling is atmospherically lit, extremely clean and presents hours of playful splash-time. Guests will be forgiven for not believing this used to the old stables.

Local stone was used for both the restoration of the building and extension and is beautifully in-keeping with the original part of the Hall. We spent most of our time in this part of the house – we loved it!

The Games Room is accessed from the ground floor – it is in the basement and presents an air hockey table, table football and dart board. Compared to the rest of the house this room, although perfectly functional, was a little underwhelming. 

First Floor

Bedrooms

The eight bedrooms are all decorated with individual style, which again blends tradition with a twist of contemporary, and although each are different one thing they all have in common are the breathtaking views across the beautifully manicured grounds and the local woodland countryside. 

Many of the bedrooms have an ensuite bathroom and those that don’t have a nearby bathroom complete with walk-in shower and/or free-standing baths.

We slept in the Master Suite, with a private dressing room, ensuite, TV, chaise long and floor to ceiling windows.

The view from this room was so picture-perfect we even slept with the immense curtains open so we could appreciate the view at every waking hour.

Three of the rooms, including the Antler Room are located in the part of the Hall above the servants’ quarters, so they are close to a second smaller staircase and are closer to the pool side of the house.

There is an accessible double ensuite bedroom located on the ground floor which is beautifully appointed and looks out to wild woodland and river.

Bathrooms

Stand alone or ensuite, each bathroom has either a walk-in shower, free-standing bath or both. They are all extremely clean and nicely finished, with plenty of fluffy white towels for every guest. Hand soap is provided but shower gel, shampoo and other bathroom amenities are not. This is clearly stated in the pre-arrival guest information, so it wasn’t a surprise.

Sustainable heating is provided by ground source heat pumps, and it works a treat as despite its size, the entire Hall was lovely and warm.

The Grounds

Set on 40 acres of land, the grounds belonging to Oughtershaw Hall are expansive, diverse and in my opinion (I love being outdoors) one of the most appealing attributes of the estate.

What would have been the ‘main entrance’ to the house is the most ‘Insta’ worthy. Grand and elegant in equal measure, the architecture is that of the Jacobean Revival era with stone columns, arches, and mullioned windows all of which add character and charm. Look closely to see marks of ownership, with the dates, coats of arms, initials and a Latin Psalm inscribed on the Hall’s stone lintel. The saying ‘As welcome as a flower in Spring’ can also be read in the stone façade. Although carved back in the 1800’s, this ethos still rings true today – perhaps one could say the Woodd’s family motto has been ‘set in stone!’

The veranda perches alongside and above a lawn that runs around the perimeter of the house, and down to the river walk. A further slightly larger lawn sits beyond this and yet another on the pool-side of the Hall.

A river walk, which has over the course of 12-months, and no mean feat, been made easily accessible by house manager Ben and team, to any type of walker – those with intent and those seeking unexpected adventure. Had the weather been better, or rather we’d been better prepared for the weather, we could have whiled away the hours listening to and sploshing in the babbling beck.

There are many nooks and seating spots within the grounds and alongside the river, perfect for taking in the stillness and the luxury of just ‘being’.

Across the road from the Hall, there are more woodlands and countryside to explore – which if you venture further enough will take you to a tarn, where wild swimming can be enjoyed.  

There are many other nearby walks to enjoy and approx. 15-minute’ drive is Hawes a quaint little village with lots of independent shops, tea houses, bakeries, pubs, ice-cream parlour, creamery and museum should you wish to discover local life.

Final Thoughts

We stayed for only two days which was not long enough. I would certainly revisit for a longer-period with a bigger group to make the most of all the Hall has to offer.

The warm welcome, the Hall’s history, remote and picturesque location, and character along with the pool and sauna facilities are first-class attributes that are the foundation for my whole-hearted recommendation to visit Oughtershaw Hall.