Old Fever Hospital, near Masham

A former isolation hospital, which has also been a rope mill and a dairy. It's a great place for a gathering with friends or family, close to Masham with lots of outdoor space and the nature reserve literally on the doorstep. Please enquire re hot tub - this is an optional extra we pass on at cost - usually £250, but free in Feb school hols Book with complete confidence that if anything changes Covid-wise you will get full money back from us (you will need to check with AirBnb about fees). The house is spacious and well equipped. It has been a major renovation project and has retained its quirks and character as well as gaining some warmth and comfort! We're not 100% there yet, and are delighted to be using Airbnb funds to keep going with improvements, so thank you for helping us get there! Guests so far have been very complimentary but please don't expect perfection!! It's an interesting and relaxing space to stay in, with the countryside on your doorstep, and Masham a short walk across fields (public footpath - 10/15 minute walk) or an even shorter drive (2/3 mins!) Guests enjoy the large kitchen, with old range cooker (sadly not working yet, but adds to the ambience). We're big cooking fans, so the kitchen is well equipped with most mod cons (big cooker, big fridge and freezer, wine fridge, KitchenAid mixer, bread maker, etc etc - let us know if you've got a specific cooking requirement in mind) There are five bedrooms, four of which are ensuite: 1. Big room, king sized bed, en suite bathroom with bath and shower (can add single z bed here if needed) 2. Double room. With ensuite shower room. Room for travel cot if required, but not for additional single. 3. 'Harry Potter' room (see pics). Zip and link beds which can be king size or twin (please let us know which you'd prefer. You can sleep up to three in this room at a push.... Ensuite bathroom (bath with shower over) (Note picture of bed not up to date in this room) 4. Double, with pallet-wood feature wall. Ensuite bathroom (bath with shower over) 5. Double bed with a single high bunk. Morroccan/Bohemian style decor. This room is not ensuite. Again, room for further z bed in here if required. The house is set in a garden of 1/3 of an acre. The pictures show the front, with seating near a brick built barbecue. The back of the house is a further garden area. It is overlooked from the big bifold doors in the kitchen and lounge so you can cook and keep a check on the kids... Please note, there is an unfenced stream at the back of the back garden. (This is not suitable for paddling - a bit on the sludgy side and we would ask that you keep an eye on any children in the party...) Guests have access to the full house, apart from one room which we keep for storage. We are happy to provide as much information and contact as required. Most guests seem to prefer an unobtrusive host, and, while of course we're happy to welcome you and will be on the end of a phone, we are generally taking off on an adventure of our own! Within an easy walk of Masham centre (15-20 mins across fields!), and with a nature reserve literally on our doorstep, visitors have the best of both worlds. We are right on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and within easy reach of the Yorkshire Moors. Pubs, restaurants, and two breweries (Theakston and Black Sheep) are available in Masham itself. Don’t miss these local independent shops, cafes and businesses… Corks and Cases has the most amazing selection of wine, and will give you a 10% discount if you let them know you are staying here… (It ends up just as cheap but so much better quality than the supermarkets!) The Gallery in Masham is owned and run by our good friend Josie Bezant, and among all manner of lovely take-home gifts, she sells some of our absolute favourite things you’ll see around our house, including the fab porcelain tea lights and vases by Charlotte Morrison., the little wren and dog ornaments. Also the books by her husband Ian Scott Massie, as well as original art and prints. The screen print in our lounge was ‘made’ by our son Jack when he was about 11, with (more than a little!) help from Scott! Josie and Scott also run some of the courses at Artison…. Artison – they run all manner of fantastic artistic and creative courses, where you can learn a new skill from local artists. These would need to be booked in advance – check the website… Veg and butchers shops are all great – much better than the supermarkets! The veg stall on the market is also extremely good. ‘Johnny Baghdad’s Café on the Square’ is our favourite place for a hot drink or really lovely and good value lunches. Bivouac at Druid’s Temple is a really quirky café, and a good place for a short or longer, and very picturesque walk with a folly to explore Walks and attractions on the doorstep as well as day trips further afield - easy reach of Harrogate (40 mins), York (60 mins), Northallerton (25 mins), Leyburn (25 mins), Thirsk (25 mins). There are buses from Masham to Ripon, Harrogate, Bedale and Northallerton. The nearest train stations are Northallerton and Thirsk, and a taxi from each of these is around £20-£35 (25 minute journey, Thirsk a fraction closer than Northallerton but there may be more direct trains to Northallerton). Direct trains from London to Northallerton or Thirsk take about 2.5 hours. The stairs are fabulous old railway sleepers, which means they look great but need to be treated with absolute care by smaller visitors, eg for under 5s you may feel the need to keep a close eye and not let them wander off on their own. We have had a lot of families stay, who don't seem to have struggled, and we brought our own kids up here from being tiny, so we are by no means saying don't bring kids, just be aware! Also, there is a stream at the back of the back garden which is unfenced (not suitable for paddling). We try to be as eco friendly as possible and leave 'Faith in Nature' products in reusable/already recycled bottles for your use.