Now here’s a puzzle for you to solve. How is it that Swarthghyll Farm – which sits in a private valley approximately half way between Hawes and Settle and around one-and-a-half miles from the nearest hamlet of Oughtershaw – is so remote yet close enough to the footfall it needs to make a business run on its grounds successful?
The answer: because that business offers accommodation and the property is strategically located on the Dales Way footpath which attracts a stream of walkers keen to soak up the magnificent surroundings, get their fill of country air and perhaps even stop and stay a while.
But Swarthghyll Farm is by no means only a business – it also has an important role as a much loved and extremely versatile family home which offers buyers bags of potential to configure it in a number of ways to suit their lifestyle and their circumstances.
A traditional stone-built farmhouse with a stone-flagged roof, Swarthghyll Farm is entered via a porch and from there into the entrance hall off of which are a well-proportioned dining room, a drawing room with feature fireplace and a large family kitchen with a good-sized pantry.
An inner hallway leads to a cloakroom, a sitting room, large utility room and a boot room to complete the ground floor accommodation.
Upstairs are a family bathroom with freestanding bath and three bedrooms, one of which has an en-suite shower room, but there is potential to incorporate a first-floor apartment with a sitting room, kitchen and shower room, and to reconfigure the accommodation to create a good sized four or five-bedroom house.
In the courtyard at the back of the property are traditional stone buildings which have been turned into three flats – two of which sleep two people and a third, on the first floor, which sleeps four. These have been well utilised to provide a first-class business stream which could be developed further should the buyers wish to do so.
To the west side of the courtyard lies a partially-converted barn with further potential, plus a first-floor apartment which has recently been converted to a high specification and is accessed by external stone steps. It could be used as guest accommodation or for rental use.
To the north of the courtyard – and built into the hillside – is a substantial barn used as a large bunk house which can accommodate up to 40 people in various dormitories.
On the upper ground floor of the barn is a large communal kitchen, substantial common room with impressive feature beams and a games/party room also with feature ceiling beams. This barn has been used to host weddings and parties on an occasional basis, and could also be developed further by the buyers.
A newly constructed bungalow (not yet completed) lies to the north of the farm steading in a quiet and secluded location. Subject to an agricultural restriction, it could be used as separate accommodation or even sold if not required by the buyers.
The property is complemented by approximately 100 acres of mixed grass and woodland which provides that all important amenity value.
The land also supports an active farm use including sheep and beef settlers, as well as a range of environmental stewardship, forestry and natural capital development.
To this end there is a range of modern general-purpose agricultural buildings which include covered sheep handling facilities and are also suitable for a range of livestock housing, machinery storage and other lifestyle uses. One of the three buildings is home to the array of solar photovoltaic cells, in addition to which the property has a wind turbine.
And then, of course, the one thing we haven’t yet mentioned – the stunning views, thanks to Swarthghyll Farm’s secluded location in the very heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Swarthghyll Farm is on the market at offers in excess of £1.95m.
For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Robin Jessop Ltd on 01677 425950 or 01969 622800.
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