Getaway Country House
Matt Andrews takes a walk in the country at Beverley's premier rustic resort
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Nestled in the beautiful East Yorkshire countryside of Beverley (named best place to live in the UK in 2007), you’ll find The Barn House. Set in the pretty little village of Walkington, you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for another lavish home lining the main street. Step off the main road, however, and you’ll find a luxurious retreat.
My partner and I arrived late on a Friday evening after a busy week, both feeling tired and hungry. Luckily for us, Niki, the wonderful manager, had saved us a sample of their regular FFF - “Friday Fish & Fizz” - to enjoy. The Barn House’s staff frequently enjoys some quality fish and chips along with a glass of bubbly on a Friday, and they’d thoughtfully left ours to keep warm on the Aga, along with a bottle of cava in our room – a nice way to start the weekend. We took the opportunity to check out the venue, decorated in beautiful style with illustrations and carvings decorating the walls, and exposed beams illustrating the original structure that the guesthouse takes its name from.
Rooms were all decorated with a theme, ours being the Chambre de Provence - a French themed room with a bathroom complete with posh Miessence pampering products. We took a cheeky peek at some of the other rooms, including The Raj Experience and Out of Africa, both of which looked fantastic. We also headed back downstairs to explore the sumptuous living room, covered in throws and sofas and decorated beautifully. Heading into the farmhouse-style kitchen, we saw with delight the illustrations decorating the walls, including a sneaky mouse hiding in a corner.
Breakfast the next morning was a well cooked full English, along with a wide range of fresh fruit, yoghurt, and preserves. Feeling well prepared for the day ahead, we decided to grab a quick bus to Beverley and spent the day ambling around the pretty little market town, making a stop at the awe-inspiring Beverley Minster - a must see if you’re in the area. Finally, we retired to one of the bustling but cosy pubs across the road from The Barn House for a good pub dinner.
The extensive grounds of the guesthouse also include The Garden Retreat - a health and wellbeing centre offering massage, reflexology, and a wide variety of treatments from Niki, an expert in a wide range of holistic therapies. We also looked around the Pigeon Loft (no prizes for guessing what this was converted from), a more business-oriented location with equally nice features to its sister venue, The Barn House.
On the Sunday we left after another delicious breakfast, feeling full, relaxed and satisfied. Fully earning its 5 star reputation, The Barn House is ideal for a romantic weekend break, a pleasant weekend away from it all, or just any excuse to sample a life of luxury in one of the most idyllic and beautiful surroundings in Yorkshire. Plus the fish and chips are great too.
18 East End, Walkington, Beverley, HU17 8RY, 01482 880 542
Posted on Wednesday 4th March 2009
Matt Andrews
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