We had spied this fortified retreat at the beginning of 2023 and had toyed with staying there. Overseas trips and the prospect of a different climate and culture prevailed. As Xmas drew closer, I was looking for an intimate retreat that offered something unique as a gift. This escape was available over an extended bank holiday weekend and made for a perfect present. It didn’t disappoint. Positioned next to a beck in a small hamlet, steeped in history and once acting as a stronghold to prevent incursions from the North, the building had been lovingly restored by the owners Ann and Andy, the att...more