BY ALLISON LEE
Driving up to the Swinton Park Hotel, even on a dark night in November, is truly enchanting. The warm lights, the sweeping driveway and the genuine welcome makes this hotel one of the most charming in North Yorkshire. The Swinton Park Hotel is an opulent, Grade II castle set in 200 acres of manicured gardens and parkland at the very heart of the 20,000 acre Swinton Estate and it is absolutely stunning.
Swinton Estate has been in the ownership of the Cunliffe-Lister family since the 1880’s. Samuel Cunliffe-Lister owned Manningham Mills in Bradford which, at the time, was the largest factory in Europe and, on his retirement he bought Swinton Estate. Samuel’s sons inherited the Estate which was then subsequently passed on to his granddaughter, Molly and her husband Philip Lloyd-Graeme. Molly and her husband, a prominent politician who served in 11 Conservative cabinets, took on the family name and Philip was appointed Earl of Swinton in 1955.
Prior to the Estate being owned by the Cunliffe-Lister family, it was in the ownership of the Danby family from around the late 1600s and it was this family that landscaped the parkland, creating the deer park, deer house, five lakes, woodland and extensive gardens.
After the death of Countess Swinton in 1974, Swinton Park ceased to be used as a family home and was instead owned and run as a management training centre by Lindley Lodge until 1997. In May 2000, two weeks before his wedding to Felicity, Mark Cunliffe-Lister, his mother Susan and his siblings bought back Swinton. After his honeymoon, Mark and his new wife set about on an extensive program of building woks that was to take nine months and transform Swinton into a castle hotel which opened in March 2001. Development has been continual and Mark and Felicity have since seen the launch of several successful enterprises on the Estate including the Swinton Cookery School, Swinton Bivouac Glamping, Swinton Country Club and Swinton Birds of Prey which I can highly recommend having experienced a taster session.
Swinton Park’s early appearance was typical of a late 17th century Georgian country house. It had five bays and three stories with a belvedere turret. The additions, in the early 1800s, of a large round tower and castellations turned the house into the ‘castle’ that it is today.
Under Samuel Cunliffe-Lister’s ownership substantial building works were carried out to the estate including adding on a second floor, raising the height of the turret and adding the wing which is now home to the palatial dining room, now known as Samuel’s Restaurant.
My husband and I had the pleasure of dining in Samuel’s Restaurant on the second night of our stay and our experience, both of the food and the ambience were amazing. The warm, friendly manner of the staff provide a familiarity which enables guests to feel relaxed and ‘at home’ in this grand hotel.
Swinton Estate is one of the largest privately owned estates in England. It is situated close to the market town of Masham and its huge acreage extends from the River Ure across the Nidderdale national landscape through to the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is a working rural estate with approximately two thirds of the land being active forestry and farmland and the other third open moorland. The Estate ensures that the areas are carefully managed for retention, biodiversity and conservation to enhance the natural habitats and restore the original peatland landscapes of the moors.
The Cunliffe-Lister family also own upwards of ninety properties on the Swinton Estate some of which are farms and others private residential houses situated both within the nearby market town of Masham and the surrounding countryside.
In addition to the grand rooms, suites and public areas of Swinton Park Hotel, guests can also choose to stay in one of three cottages on the Estate or experience the great outdoors by going ‘off-grid’ and staying in Swinton Bivouac which is founded on firm environmental principles. Situated on the edge of the moor and nestled in the shelter of the Druid’s Temple plantation, Swinton Bivouac provides breathtaking views and scenery. Tree lodges, meadow yurts and cabin yurts are also available to stay in and these provide secluded accommodation in either woodland or wildflower meadows, perfect for a night of complete relaxation surrounded by nature and the beautiful countryside.
However, accommodation is not all Swinton Estate has to offer. With several options to dine and enjoy afternoon tea and cocktails, along with a wellness clinic offering a variety of treatments the Estate appeals to many. If complete relaxation isn’t your thing and you prefer to be entertained, then the range of activities on offer has something for everyone. Swinton Estate’s 20,000 acres are home to some action packed activities including archery, axe throwing, orienteering, wild swimming and laser clay shooting to name but a few.
Check in to read my article next week which will include some of the activities I enjoyed whilst staying at this remarkable retreat.
Allison Lee is a smallholder from North Yorkshire who has written for the Yorkshire Post and other publications. Her website can be accessed here.