Stow House

From the outside, it may look a solid Victorian vicarage but step over the threshold and it’s clear that a cool, designer eye has been at work. Stripped floorboards, unadorned windows, softly coloured walls and boldly painted woodwork form the backdrop to modern artwork and an eclectic collection of vintage and modern furnishings. Clever but understated, it’s designed so that your eye is always drawn to the views from the windows: the sheep-dotted fields and soft moorland of Wensleydale. Light-filled and restful, it comes as no surprise to learn that Phil and Sarah Bucknall, who masterminded the makeover, are ex-creatives from London’s advertising world. Bedrooms are similarly light and uncluttered, and designed to make the most of the views. Indeed, you can wake up in the morning and have a perfect bedside view of sheep, cows and clouds. Some rooms have open beams, others enormous bathrooms and some have a bath in the bedroom. After breakfast - a relaxed affair that might include smoked salmon, home-made granola as well as a full cooked - you can go for a walk from the doorstep, explore the nearby Aysgarth Falls or take a book into the garden and enjoy the views. Before supper, enjoy one of Phil’s infamous cocktails. They’re as good as the scenery for making you feel relaxed and at one with the world in this wonderfully peaceful setting.