Swinton Park

To the manor born? You’ll feel like it after a night at Swinton Park, refreshed after a sound sleep in your own gorgeous castle bedroom or even turret suite. Throw open the curtains and you have sweeping park and garden views, while the two-hundred-acre grounds are yours to explore after breakfast.

This superb country house hotel is the brainchild of Mark and Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, who have turned their gracious family residence into a pretty special make-yourself-at-home-in-a-castle experience – whether it’s the family antiques and portraits in the rooms, private spa in the conservatory, afternoon tea on the terrace, the Victorian games room or food straight from the walled kitchen gardens. It’s fancy and grand for sure, but absolutely not snooty – perfect for a special weekend away or a celebration – and children are welcome (the playroom has Xbox, plus kites, bikes and games available, while most of the rooms are massive in any case). The rather extraordinary bar was once a family museum, then a chapel, and is one of the more unusual places to sample a local Masham beer, from the breweries just a mile or so down the road. Dining is a big deal – the in-house restaurant, Samuel’s, uses produce and ingredients from the estate, and there’s a renowned cookery school based at Swinton Park too. They also offer more relaxed dining at the Terrace Restaurant & Bar and Bivouac café.

Finally, the location couldn't be better, set within the 20,000 glorious acres of the Cunliffe-Lister estate on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and the estate doesn't end with the hotel and restaurant. You can experience a little bit of off-grid luxury in the tree lodges of the Swinton Bivouac, and the estate is also home to a very contemporary county club, whose spa, pools, treatments, gym and wild swimming lake are as close to spa and wellness heaven as you can get. If you can prise yourself away, bear in mind that there is the gorgeous countryside of the Yorkshire Dales and the rest of North Yorkshire to enjoy, but we would understand if you didn't bother. With so much on offer, leaving Swinton Park can be tough to do!