Elianne
17 September 2018
What do you get when you combine a former station master’s cottage on the Wensleydale railway line with an owner who is used to designing the interiors of luxury yachts?
The answer is Station House – one of the finest holiday cottages in Yorkshire (and indeed the UK)!
We just had to sit down for a coffee with owner Terri Crosby to find out more about how she found this hidden gem and set about transforming it into an uber-luxurious retreat.
Discovering an old station master’s cottage in Wensleydale
I first discovered Station House about four years ago while I was out walking in Wensleydale. I walked through the nearby village of Preston-Under-Scar and just happened upon this wonderful house beside the Wensleydale railway line. It really stuck in my memory so when it came up for sale years later I knew I had to buy it!
Right from the start, I had a vision of what the property could be; even though, as the old Station Master’s cottage, it was very different at the time.
A holiday home with wow-factor
We completely redesigned the layout to really open it up and make the most of its unique location. I wanted it to have the wow-factor throughout so the wall coverings are really quite special.
I’ve used Tektura fabric-backed wall coverings and in the snug, there is fabric-backed silk. I wanted a dramatic look in the master bedroom so the wall covering was actually specially-designed and measured to fit in here.
Everything is top-spec and no expense was spared on getting everything just right.
A master bedroom for everyone!
Although technically the master bedroom is the one that looks out over the railway line, all three bedrooms at Station House are equally special.
One of my pet hates with holiday cottages is when the master bedroom is absolutely stunning but the other bedrooms just don’t live up to this. You always feel a bit short-changed if you aren’t the one staying in the beautiful bedroom! I wanted to make sure every bedroom at Station House has the ‘master bedroom’ feel.
All the bedrooms have an en-suite bathroom, plush fabrics and furnishings and even a silver and leather water tray with complimentary still and sparkling water. The quality of beds is so important to me so they are all the same type that I use at home. I think everyone should be able to have a great night sleep on a really comfortable bed when they are away from home!
There are hairdryers in all the bedrooms, a complimentary pack of Elemis toiletries, solid wood coat hangers for guests to hang up their clothes and even suit carriers that guests can take away when they leave!
Making the most of a unique location…
My favourite room is the open plan kitchen/living and dining area – the high ceilings and glass wall mean it is filled with light and looks right out to the garden with the Wensleydale Railway line at the bottom. It’s really magical when you see one of the traditional steam trains chugging past.
The outdoor space is just like having another room and I’ve included outdoor heaters and twinkling fairy lights so that it can be used late into the evening.
There’s a summer house in the garden too that has a water cooler, crockery, an ice machine and bucket, cushions, a croquet set, blankets and slippers.
Basically everything you could need to make yourself comfortable outdoors!
Glamorous style in a Wensleydale setting
The design concept I had for the property was uber-luxurious. My background is designing the interiors of yachts for the super-rich and I wanted to bring a sense of this glamorous lifestyle to Station House.
Working in this environment means I have an eye for detail so it was important to me that everything was top-notch and I’ve included lots of little extras for guests to enjoy as well.
One of the first things guests usually want to do on arrival is head to the hot tub so this will be ready for them to enjoy within an hour of arrival. The temperature can even be checked remotely to make sure it is perfect!
My tip for success…
My tip for other people is to use quality furnishings – not only will they look good but will last much longer as well. I always try and exceed guests' expectations so I try to think of all the little extras that people may need during a short break, from tea and coffee to an array of condiments!
A warm welcome at Station House.
The welcome someone gets when arriving is very important so we have personalised postcards of Station House, scented candles, hand-made lavender bags and a welcome hamper full of goodies.
Lots to see and do nearby
There are lots to do in Wensleydale and we leave a full pack of recommendations to try in the area. It’s well worth taking a trip on the Wensleydale Railway and looking out for Station House as it goes past, heading into nearby Middleham and getting food at the gorgeous Wensleydale Heifer.
There are lots of country pubs to try in Wensleydale, including The Three Horse Shoes which is just a short walk away. They even do takeaway pizzas which are ideal for bringing and eating alfresco at Station House.
It’s also well worth heading to the spa at the nearby Swinton Estate – the facilities are first-class!
A break from the norm… with lots of extra touches
Station House is a grown-up hideaway for people who want to treat themselves or just have a break from the norm. It’s ideal for spending quality time with friends or family but there has actually been a lot of couples booking who want an extra special getaway too.
The feedback so far has been great – people really appreciate the extra little touches and absolutely love being able to see the trains going past.
I’m definitely planning to do more holiday cottages in the future so watch this space!
Station House is a 3-bedroom holiday cottage in Wensleydale that is available to book for short breaks and holidays through Gorgeous Cottages.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.