Leyburn, Yorkshire Dales

The Reading House

Sleeps 6

3 Bedrooms

1 Bathrooms

Charming and full of character, this cottage was once a church and now offers a fantastic Yorkshire Dales retreat for a family or friends to enjoy beautiful countryside and leisurely walks to the village pub.

Lovingly restored by its owner, this cottage is part of a former church and is full of original character. Nestling in the typical Dales village of Carlton in Coverdale, the cottage enjoys incredible views of the countryside. It also provides a great base from which to discover the Yorkshire Dales. Beautiful walks can be explored in every direction and the village pub is a fantastic place to reward yourself with a hearty meal afterwards. The cottage is ideal for a family group with children, or friends who want to meet up and relax. For larger parties, you can also book this cottage with The Old Chapel next door.

Why we love this

Idyllic Yorkshire Dales village location with stunning countryside views
A hot tub can be booked as an extra for the ultimate outdoor relaxation
Can be booked with the cottage next door if you need more bedrooms

Key Features

Countryside views

Enclosed garden

Wood burner

Parking

Pub within walking distance

BBQ - charcoal

Children welcome

Enclosed patio

Farmhouse kitchen

Historical building

Period features

Self check-in

View All Features

Why Book with Us

Book with Confidence

Our properties are handpicked and inspected in person before listing, and we regularly review them for quality control and your peace of mind.

Best Price Guarantee

We only work with the best owners, so in the rare event you find one of our properties listed elsewhere for less, we’ll refund you the difference. *

Exceptional Service

Our award-winning Guest Services team will not only help you find your dream holiday but will support you through every step of your stay.

There’s no mistaking you’re in a lovely old building, thanks to the sympathetic renovation that has preserved the church windows, pitch pine beams and high ceilings. However, the modern decor is streamlined to provide a very soothing ambience.

Step through a solid pine door, which is the original door of the church that has been restored, and into the entrance hall with its flagged floor. There is plenty of space to hang coats and store muddy walking boots.

Just off the entrance hall is a utility room with storage cupboards, a sink, a washing machine and tumble dryer. There is also a downstairs cloakroom with WC.

The lounge is very spacious and the feature church windows let plenty of light in. It’s a place to get really cosy on the large corner sofa or in the armchair and watch a film on the Smart TV. There’s a modern wood burner to add an extra blast of heat on chilly evenings, while the views across the dale are captivating.

The kitchen/dining room is the ideal space for socialising together and having fun. It has a farmhouse style with granite worktops but with a modern twist. Perch on one of the stools at the kitchen island and keep the chef of your group company before gathering around the dining table to enjoy dinner all together. Fully-fitted, the kitchen has an electric oven and hob, a built-in microwave, a fridge/freezer, a cafetiere and a dishwasher. There are also views of the dale and a wall-mounted Smart TV.

Upstairs, the landing is flooded with natural light from the skylights and there are three bedrooms. Each one has a king-size bed, all of which are zip and link so can be set up as two single beds on request if preferred. Each bedroom also has wardrobe and drawer space, as well as a TV.

There is also a family bathroom with a bath and a separate shower.

Outside, to the rear, is a stone wall enclosed patio area which is private. There’s also the option to pre-book a hot tub – please contact our Guest Services team for more information.

Need more space? Book this cottage with The Old Chapel next door. Together, the two cottages sleep up to 12 guests in 6 bedrooms.

The door will be open for your arrival with the key in the door and the owners will greet you.

If you'd like to offset the carbon emissions from your trip, get in touch and we can arrange this for a small fee.

Check-in: from 16:00
Check-out: by 10:00

Deposit: Bookings are subject to a non-refundable deposit of 30% of the booking value plus applicable booking fees with the balance payable 60 days before the date of travel.

Accidental Damage Deposit: To maintain the highest standards in our properties, guests will need to pay a refundable Accidental Damage Deposit of £200 prior to their stay. An advance payment as detailed in the booking summary can be made to waive this requirement.

Book with confidence: If your booking is affected by new Government travel restrictions which were not known at the time of booking, and you're legally unable to travel, we will arrange with the property owner to refund 100% of your holiday cost.

No smoking
No parties and events
Please keep noise to a minimum
No pets allowed

Bespoke your stay

Stay your way with our bespoke travel service. Our Guest Services team are available to tailor-make your holiday matching you with the perfect property and provide personalised recommendations on anything from local restaurants to unforgettable experiences.

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Get in Touch

As your stay is due to commence within the next 2 days, please get in touch in order to confirm your last minute arrival

Location

The neighbourhood

Middleham is the next village, which has a store for any essentials you might need, pubs and restaurants. Middleham also has a castle, the childhood home of Richard III, which is worth a visit.

The neighbourhood

Carlton is a typical Dales village and the history of the area is perfectly captured with unique events such as the annual Forester’s Day that celebrates the foresters who planted trees throughout Coverdale. The Forester’s Arms is a short walk from the cottage and offers hearty pub food and local ales, a roaring fire in the winter and entertainment such as quizzes.

Middleham is the next village, which has a store for any essentials you might need, pubs and restaurants. Middleham also has a castle, the childhood home of Richard III, which is worth a visit.

The town of Leyburn is larger and has an independently owned supermarket which is heavenly for food-lovers and features a butcher, a delicatessen and a specialist wine department. There are a wealth of independent shops and a market is held every Friday.

Locally, there are plenty of attractions and activities to enjoy. The Forbidden Corner is a must visit destination, especially for those with young children. There are lots of interesting follies, underground tunnels and chambers to explore, as well as a 4-acre garden. Children will also love Brymor Ice Cream parlour where ice-creams are made on site, there’s a play area and a small aviary. For wet, rainy days, head to Catterick which has a cinema and a swimming pool.

Great days with an historic theme include the atmospheric Jervaulx Abbey which is great for a nature walk. Meanwhile, the attractions at the 14th-century Bolton Castle, famed for harbouring Mary Queen of Scots when she fled from her persecutors, include a maze and falconry experiences. For a little bit of local culture, throughout the summer there are agricultural shows including the Wensleydale Show that offer an insight into what more the countryside has to offer.

The cottage is also very well located for walking in the Dales, while cyclists might like to follow the Tour De France circuit. Meanwhile, the Swinton Estate is a good place to enjoy outdoor pursuits including fly fishing and horse-riding.

Getting around

A car is essential for travelling to the property and getting around. There is private parking for two cars and further parking on the quiet road outside.