Spital Hill

Standing in over an acre of carefully tended gardens and surrounded by parkland, Spital Hill provides a tranquil retreat just a ten-minute drive from the busy A1. The house is of Georgian origin, with Victorian additions. Hosts Ann and Robin Clough have named the three large and comfortably furnished bedrooms after family relatives and friends. Emmie has a queen-size double bed, Muriel has two full-size twins, and Anthony is equipped with not only a large double bed but also its own piano, which guests are actively encouraged to play. The house is furnished throughout with family heirlooms and antiques. Robin entertains guests with pre-dinner drinks in the sitting room while Ann applies the meal’s finishing touches in the kitchen, often using fresh produce from the garden. Just up the road, shops overlook Thirsk’s cobbled market square. Here you can visit the Herriot Centre, the former veterinary surgery of James Herriot, quiet local vet-turned-author. Nearby villages include Kilburn and Coxwold, the former associated with the “mouse man” and his oak furniture and the latter famous for Shandy Hall, the home of Laurence Sterne. York, Castle Howard, and the Yorkshire Moors all make excellent day trips.