Swinton Park, Ripon, United Kingdom
Swinton Park 4 Stars
"With its gorgeous Yorkshire Dales setting and grand premises, Swinton Park is one of the North of England's finest contemporary country house hotels."
Hotel Overview
Review of Swinton Park, by Chloe Loyd
The Virginia creeper-cloaked, turreted façade of Swinton Park cannot fail impress as you sweep up the dramatic drive. It’s set amongst 200 acres of parkland, surrounded by the vast family estate, and outside activities are plentiful. Choose between fly fishing on the river or the reservoir, off the road driving, clay pigeon shooting, biking, croquet or merely enjoying a country walk. The emphasis is informal; the boot room is open to anyone who wishes to grab a rod, wellies, coat or other suitable outdoor attire.
One of the many attractions of the hotel is the fabulous gourmet restaurant, Samuel’s, well-deserving of its three-AA Rosette Award for culinary excellence. The emphasis is on fish and game from the estate and many of the herbs, fruit and vegetables are fresh from the impressive award winning kitchen garden.
Withdraw with coffees and chocolate afterwards to one of the enormous plumped sofas in the drawing room or a nightcap in the bar. Billiards or the private cinema are also available for the less sedentary. Breakfast, too, is a gourmet affair with freshly made pastries, seasonal fruits, homemade bread as well as cereals and a cooked option if you are not too full from the previous night. The acclaimed Rosemary Shrager cookery school runs frequent courses in the hotel building for those who feel inspired.
The light and airy library provides the perfect space for weddings and other large events which can spill over into the sitting room and drawing room. It is possible to book out the whole hotel exclusively. In addition the hotel runs some unique events of its own: antiques and wine appreciation lunches as well as garden and flower lunches, where some of the tricks of the wonderful in-house flowers are unveiled.
Despite the vast grandeur of the castle building, the hotel has only 30 rooms, each individually decorated, the warm colours and thick fabrics giving a surprisingly cosy and homely feel.
Named after parts of the Yorkshire Dales or local historic houses, the rooms are large, mostly with magnificent parkland views augmented by the huge windows. Bathrooms are particularly spacious with ample pale wooden floors and luxurious baths and great showers, complete with the quintessential Molton Brown accessories to wallow in.
The décor, whilst in keeping with the traditional style, is gloriously unfussy, not a hint of chintz, with a contemporary touch. Complimentary whisky and gin help provide a rosy glow...and there’s alka seltzer to avoid those foggy mornings. Go for the Wensleydale suite for the view, the Turret suite for that unique castle feel or the York or the Turret for the freestanding Galaxy bath experience.
Facilities
Hotel Policies
Rooms
30Awards
"Green Business Award" Yorkshire Rural Awards 09; "Award of Excellence" Tea Guild 08
Who stays here?
Grace Jones, Bryan Ferry and a smattering of European royalty have been known to favour Swinton Park for a country getaway.
Come for...
- Cookery courses
- Shooting and fishing
- The stunning Turret Suite
Not Suitable for...
- City slickers
Eating in
Samuel's is the hotel's main restaurant, a three AA rosette-awarded affair, which serves up fine Modern British cuisine to a fiercely loyal following. Room service is 24 hours.
Reviews
Review of Swinton Park, by Jill Starley-Gr...
You know that fairy-tale castle you've always dreamed of, the one with the ivy-covered turret, elegant drawings rooms and staff to cater to your every whim? You'll find it at Swinton Park in a hidden corner of North Yorkshire. Home to the Cunliffe-Listers, whose family abode it has been for more than 200 years, 17th-century Swinton Park is one of England's best castle hotels, decorated in Georgian style with hints of Victoriana.
Pull on your finest walking shoes, jodhpurs or cycling gear to see the hotel's 20,000 acre estate. Explore the blossom-filled spring garden, walled vegetable garden, lakes and ponds, and 9,000 acres of heather moors. Wildlife spotters should keep an eye out for visiting water-birds and the rare white stags who play among the fallow deer.
The adjacent cookery school offers sessions in everything from student grub to wild food, often overseen by celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager. In the warmer months, croquet and boules are set up on the lawn. Borrow the hotel's kites, model boats or bicycles; the stables next door have horses for lessons or treks through the grounds. If the weather's fine, the hotel will whip you up a picnic to take in the Druid Temple folly or overlooking one of the lakes.
Bad weather? Play a game of snooker, table tennis, darts or scrabble in the games room, or watch a DVD in the private cinema. Have a private lunch by the fire in the Bothy Hut on the moors, or take afternoon tea in one of the five drawing rooms. Relax in the sauna and Jacuzzi of the small four-person spa, or have a Swedish massage or anit-aging facial in the treatment rooms.
Dinner is a grand affair in the hotel's gourmet restaurant, with its dramatic gold-leaf ceiling, marble fireplace and views of the lake. The estate's own game, fish and produce are served with Modern British flourishes, such as apricot-stuffed rabbit with chesnut puree and celeriac, or pumpkin and parmesan velouté with forest mushrooms. More casual meals and snacks can be taken in the bar or drawing room. Five-star service by the jovial staff ensure a high level of repeat visitors.
Most hotels of this size would have at least 60 rooms, but Swinton Park has just half that, including a princess-y honeymoon suite on three floors in the turret. Rooms are all spacious and vary in style from traditional to modern, but you won't see OTT chintz here. Instead, your room might be contemporary clean with touches of pastel blue, or have velvet burgundy bedding and sofa with gold detailing. Go for a room with lake or park views. Bathrooms are mostly Victorian in style, with plenty of room to move around. All have baths, and some come with separate showers. The full-sized Molton Brown toiletries are a nice touch, and some rooms have separate dressing areas.
If you're looking for a British castle hotel that ticks every box, Swinton Park should be top of your list.