Swinton Estate
9.8Masham, North Yorkshire, England
Rooms Available
You can book an individual room.
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Exclusive Use
You can have the venue to yourself, sleeps 80 guests in 42 rooms.
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Weddings
You can get married at this venue.
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Events
You can stage corporate events at this venue.
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A luxury castle hotel in the Yorkshire Dales, set amidst an extensive 20,000-acre estate.
Owned by the Cunliffe-Lister family since the 1880s, and the ancestral seat of the Earl of Swinton, this luxurious property combines the traditional warmth of a family home with all the modern comforts of a contemporary hotel. The large estate offers a full range of outdoor and rural activities, along with a relaxing modern spa.
Bedrooms and Suites
Swinton Estate offers some of the best accommodation North Yorkshire has to offer.
There are 42 beautifully appointed suites and bedrooms across the hotel and Coach House (just a short walk from the main building).
The spacious en-suite rooms are furnished to the highest standard with a contemporary, historical aesthetic.
All of the rooms have views of the surrounding park-land and Yorkshire countryside.
For families, there are interconnecting rooms, as well as rooms with bunk beds and z-beds available for the larger rooms, so that you can share your time together.
Self-Catering Cottages
These three and four bedroom cottages are perfect for a small gathering of friends or family. Located within close proximity to the hotel and spa, parkland & gardens and the wider 20,000 acre estate, they offer guests the chance to experience all the benefits of Swinton Estate from the privacy and intimacy of their own self-catering accommodation. Minimum 3-night stay applies.
- Low Swinton House (sleeps 8)
- High Swinton House (sleeps 8)
- Swinton Grange (sleeps 8)
The Estate
You can choose from a myriad of fabulous experiences within the estate. A full range of outdoor and rural activities is available, such as shooting, fishing or pony-trekking. You can hone your skills at the Cookery School, explore the four-acre walled garden, play the nine-hole golf course or take part in one of the falconry experiences for families, groups or individuals. 20,000 acres of moorland horizons and lush river valleys make the estate a superb place for walking and cycling.
Activities at a glance
- Spa
- Falconry
- Cookery school
- Walking
- Cycling & mountain biking
- Reservoir and river fishing, plus fishing school
- Golf
- Shooting (including clay pigeon)
- Pony trekking
The Spa
For a more relaxing experience, residents can enjoy the contemporary spa. Opened in 2017 to compete with the finest in Europe, it includes a wellness suite, indoor and outdoor natural pool, thermal suite with sauna, steam rooms and hydrotherapy pool. A wide range of treatments is available, overseen by the friendly and professional staff.
Dining
During your stay, choose from two fabulous restaurants, the opulent fine-dining experience of Samuel’s and the contemporary Terrace Restaurant and Bar. Both offer seasonal menus using the finest produce from the estate farms and walled garden.
Samuel’s Restaurant
Samuel’s Restaurant was built by Samuel Cunliffe-Lister in 1880 as part of major works that were carried out when he bought the estate on his retirement. This is a spacious and airy room, with sweeping views over the gardens and lake, and a distinct ornate gold-leaf ceiling. The spectacular elegance of the décor is complemented by seamless levels of service, exquisite wine selection and a seasonal fine-dining menu that combines the best, locally sourced ingredients. From 5 September 2022 Samuel's Restaurant will be open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday evenings (closed Monday and Tuesday).
The Terrace
The Terrace offers an extensive range of modern and traditional food and drink, from brunch and morning coffee to a cocktail at the bar and dinner. The Terrace Restaurant and Bar combines globally-inspired flavours with estate-grown seasonal produce. Here you can enjoy nourishing, flavoursome and classic dishes with a fresh new feel. From 5 September 2022 The Terrace Restaurant is open for breakfast Saturday, Sunday and Monday (closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday).
History
The first house built on the Swinton Estate was commissioned in 1695 by Sir Abstrupus Danby, an English wool merchant and country gentleman.
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His successors built the stable block and gatehouse and, during the 1760’s, planted the parkland and created the chain of five lakes.
The building was substantially altered during the early 1800’s with the addition of a two-storey west wing (now the drawing room and master suite) and north wing. A few years later, a museum was constructed (which later housed the family chapel and is now the bar). At the same time the building became a “castle” with the addition of a tower, turrets and battlements.
The earliest record of the gardens dates from one laid out in 1699 in a design by George London, with fountains added a few years later. This was probably swept away by William Danby during his landscaping programme in the 1760’s. During this time, five lakes were also dug out within the parkland, with the stone bridge at Coffin Pond built during the 1880’s. There are also several follies, standing stones and druids seats in the grounds. The walking track around the lakes leads to Quarry Gill, which is by far the most dramatic part of the parkland with views down the ravine and through the bridge. The parkland also supports a herd of approximately 100 fallow deer which often graze in front of the hotel.
In 1882 Samuel Cunliffe-Lister bought the castle and, at the age of 68, embarked on an extensive building programme, adding a third floor and enlarging the dining room with the addition of the existing fireplace and gold-leaf panels of rosettes on the ceiling.
Philip was later created Viscount Swinton in 1935 and the 1st Earl of Swinton in 1955. During the 2nd World War, Harrogate Ladies College occupied part of the premises and, following their departure, Philip and Molly offered the major part of the castle to the Conservative College. The castle was sold in 1980 following Molly’s death in 1974.
From 1976 to 1998, the castle was occupied by the Lindley Educational Trust who ran it as a management training centre. Mark Cunliffe-Lister, the great-grandson of Molly, along with his mother, brother and sister, bought back the castle in May 2000. On 17 June 2000, Mark and Felicity (the current Baron and Baroness of Masham) married and, on return from their honeymoon, moved to Swinton to set up the family business. The castle hotel was opened in 2001 following an extensive refurbishment.
Prices
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Location
Swinton Estate is located in North Yorkshire, close to the small market town of Masham and less than an hour from the historic city of York. It is easily accessible, just 15 minutes from the A1, but set amongst a secluded 20,000-acre estate.
Reviews
9.8