Situated at the end of the pretty village of Rathmell (population only 300!) on the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales lies High Wood Barn, a very special home off a little leafy lane.
With awe-inspiring 360 degree views over the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales, High Wood Barn was once just that – a majestic stone and timber barn, blending perfectly with its surroundings. Now painstakingly restored, the house now has the quite exceptional view of Pen Y Ghent from several of the rooms, including the dramatic galleried living room, and the picture-postcard gardens.
Rathmell is approximately three miles from Settle, a market town in Ribblesdale just off the main A65 road which skirts the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The picturesque, bustling market towns of Skipton and Clitheroe are within 30 minutes’ drive and the Lake District and Harrogate are less than an hour’s drive away.
The current owners are a photographer and an executive coach, both of whom work from home and wanted a spacious and tranquil home where they could both enjoy the quiet and take inspiration from their location. With only a handful of neighbours, High Wood Barn enjoys the best of both worlds – the reassurance of other properties, with the wonderful feeling of seclusion.
If you haven’t experienced the breathtaking Settle-Carlisle railway, you’re in for a real treat; as well as the area’s spectacular limestone cliffs and caves, waterfalls, picturesque market towns and villages – all infused with the welcoming warmth of the locals.
Although you are in such a beautiful and secluded area, the town of Settle has all the amenities you need including Booths supermarket which stocks fresh fruit and pastries, has an impressive deli with a range of local and other European cheeses, superb meat and fish and an impressive selection of wines and beers. You’ve also got a health shop, cafes and tea rooms, doctor and dentist.
Lifestyle
As you arrive at the property you enter a spacious, light and airy hall with high, beamed ceilings. At the top of the stairs is the wonderfully generous master bedroom suite with its ensuite bathroom and dressing room. If you have children and like to keep them close, there is a very pretty little eaves bedroom that is just perfect for a little person, right next door.
The cream-painted kitchen really looks like it’s straight off the pages of an interiors magazine, with its island, just made for your guests to sip wine at whilst you show off your culinary skills at the full sized Aga. They will be entranced by views through the stable door of the ever-changing seasons.
The current owners love to entertain and the elegant eight-seater dining room is perfectly located next to the kitchen. After dinner, it’s a small step into the living room with beautiful high beamed ceilings, roaring woodburning stove in the winter and, the best feature of the house, the stunning picture window overlooking the pretty gardens and Pen y Ghent. Watching the seasons, the skies and the weather change is one of the favourite pastimes in this stunning part of the world. It’s also a great spot for stargazing!
With five bedrooms, you’ll never be short of space, and the huge newly fitted family bathroom downstairs will keep your guests happy.
A unique feature of High Wood Barn is its studio space – this is a large room with two rooms above, accessed either through the living room, or with its own outside entrance. Whether you are bringing granny, have a grumpy teenager, a hobby or business needing space, or you’d like to generate another income, this space is flexible enough to fit every need.
Surrounded by so much breathtaking scenery and the sounds of the nature, you may never want to leave. In just one day, you can watch woodpeckers, pheasants, greenfinches, robins and wrens, all of which love to feed on any tasty morsels just outside the kitchen window.
Out and About
Do you like to walk or cycle? Turn in any direction and you’ll find every kind of walks or rides, from gentle to challenging walks, without even having to get in the car. Picnics will become a regular treat, with perfect spots on the doorstep.
A sound Investment
Only three miles away is the world-famous Giggleswick School, where famous alumni include Richard Whiteley and Russell Harty!
Fancy a pub lunch or a special meal out? There are some terrific pubs and local restaurants within an easy drive; the Craven Arms is a firm favourite with the locals – all its produce is locally sourced and the meat comes from the owner’s organic farm three miles away. The Plough is also very popular, a beautifully refurbished Inn dating back to Georgian times. Then there is the Courtyard with its wonderful Brasserie, artisan wine merchant and delicious cheese shop.
Skipton and Clitheroe with their bustling markets and specialist shops, are both only half an hour’s drive away.
