Augill Castle, Cumbria, Northern England, England Vacation Rental

Augill Castle in Cumbria Northern England, near the Lakes District has thirteen bedrooms, suites and cottages to choose from and call your own. Some are wildly romantic and decadent, others more contemporary. Some suit couples, others are better for families. There are turrets for wardrobes, claw-footed baths, stained glass and original leaded windows with big views. Rooms in the castle have a more traditional feel, but still with contemporary touches, while the estate rooms have a more modern feel. Your bedroom will be furnished with an eclectic mix of proper antique furniture and contemporary pieces. It's everything you'd expect of a boutique hotel with all the comfort of a real family country house.

A stay at Augill Castle is so much more than just a bedroom. You’ll enjoy the run of the castle and its twenty acres of grounds, shared with a maximum of thirty other guests. Relax in the Drawing Room, Great Hall, Sitting Room, dine in the restaurant or the Library, enjoy drinks from The Great British Bar, but most of all have a castle and grounds shared with just a few other kindred souls.

Augill Castle, in the Upper Eden Valley, stands in open country, little changed for centuries The castle's backdrop is the dramatic North Pennines with gardens opening out to views of the nearby Yorkshire Dales and the Lakeland Fells beyond. Built in 1841 as a Victorian gentleman's country residence, the castle has all the fairytale romance of a turreted hideaway. Augill Castle is not just a hotel, but a country house in its truest sense. Wendy and Simon, together with their young family, do all they can to ensure their guests leave feeling that they have stayed with friends.

Not here a formal reception desk to greet you, but rather a collection of comfy leather chairs around a roaring fire and a friendly Labrador. The castle provides the chance for guests to step out of reality and into a more relaxed place altogether. It is a place where the background is of creaking floorboards, ticking clocks and distant laughter. Interesting antiques lurk in every corner and artifacts on every mantle have a genuine story to tell.

The dining room at Augill Castle is one of the highlights, an enormous, Baronial chamber with a plaster ribbed ceiling in blue and gold. Guests can choose to sit at the large communal oak dining table or at a private table in the Conservatory or Drawing Room. The restaurant concept has changed since we last visited with the arrival of chef Justin Woods. He focuses on using local produce from the Eden Valley and surrounding area. From Tuesday to Saturday, he cooks a contemporary northern British menu (we like the sound of the eight-hour feather blade of beef, creamed potato, savoy cabbage, shallot, wild mushroom and red wine). Sunday is pizza night, serving up Cumbrian-infused Italian classic dishes with large salads and tiramisu; Monday sees seasonal two-course suppers. Sweet or savory afternoon tea is available every day until 6pm (with or without bubbles).

After our meal, we relaxed at the castle’s Great British Bar (in the Conservatory), which only stocks drinks from independent British producers. Simon and Wendy will happily recommend something for you based on your tastes - maybe a cocktail or two. We enjoyed a delicious Lemon Bon Bon made with toffee vodka.

In the morning, our breakfast took a good hour to devour: fruit and porridge, freshly-squeezed orange juice, homemade breads and croissants, Cumberland bacon, Augill Eggs Florentine and Cumbrian Rarebit.

Augill Castle is, above all things, a real home with children, cats and dogs, muddy boots kicked off by the door and toys tidied carelessly into a corner. Guests can be part of the family or they can keep themselves to themselves. Anything goes at Augill; anything that is but hushed tones and false formality.

Check-in: 4:00 PM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Children welcomed

No smoking

No pets

Events on request

Exclusive use on request

VAT in addition to rates

Meals in addition to rates

Security deposit (damage deposit) required

Rates vary depending on time of year and number of guests

High season and holiday rates are higher

50% down to book

Balance due 60 days prior

Please bring proof of identification

Passport required for non-resident

Travel insurance recommended

All bookings are final

Rates and fees subject to change without notice