Augill Castle
With its towers and battlements, wood-panelled walls and ornate ceilings, this Victorian-folly castle set in acres of grounds still manages to be ‘very relaxed; we never felt we had to be on our best behaviour’. More
Good Hotel Guide Review
With its towers and battlements, wood-panelled walls and ornate ceilings, this Victorian-folly castle set in acres of grounds still manages to be ‘very relaxed; we never felt we had to be on our best behaviour’. ‘Like staying in a friend’s grand country estate,’ adds an inspector, ‘supremely enjoyable.’ Owners Simon and Wendy Bennett are ‘never intrusive, always attentive’. Plenty of activities are on offer: tennis, a private cinema and a games room. Bedrooms, spread between castle, stables, orangery and separate buildings, range from big to vast. Eccentrically furnished with antiques, sale-room finds and bold wallpapers, they might include a four-poster, roll-top bath or fireplace. ‘Our room had an open fire which we were encouraged to light, an enormous bath, lashings of hot water!’ New chef Justin Woods offers modern British menus of ‘gorgeously cooked local food’, such as braised beef cheek and roasted roots, and more-ish puddings, including damson Bakewell. ‘Magnificent breakfasts’, too, for which children can collect the eggs. ‘A magical home from home.’ (Heather Cole, and others)
Hotel details
Address
South Stainmore
Brough
Kirkby Stephen
Cumbria
CA17 4DE
England
Telephone
01768 341937
Bedrooms
17. 2 on ground floor, 9 in stables, orangery, coach house, 1 suitable for disabled.
Open
all year, dinner nightly (excl. Mon), children’s suppers daily.
Facilities
hall, drawing room, library, sitting room, conservatory bar, dining room, cinema, in-room TV (Freeview), civil wedding licence, 20-acre grounds (landscaped garden, tennis), public rooms wheelchair accessible, adapted toilet.
Background music
none.
Children
all ages welcomed.
Dogs
allowed in 2 bedrooms, not public rooms.
Credit cards
Amex, MC, Visa.
Prices
per room B&B £180–£280. À la carte £35. 1-night bookings often refused school holidays, Sat.
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