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About usWhen John Bagot Pearson, 'a gentleman of leisure and considerable means' commissioned the castle in 1837, his vision was of a weekend retreat where he could entertain his friends in a style reminiscent of a medieval banquet. Today, Simon & Wendy Bennett run the country house hotel in a modern, informal style; it is a house which is happiest when it is full so families with children are very welcome. Here is a chance for guests to step out of reality and into a more relaxed place altogether. No formal reception desk to greet you but rather a collection of comfy leather chairs around a roaring fire. To achieve this, Augill Castle is, above all, a real country house with children, cats, dogs, chickens & ducks; muddy boots kicked off by the door and toys tidied carelessly into a corner. Guests can be part of the family or keep themselves to themselves. Anything goes at Augill Castle; anything but hushed tones and false formality. What is Augill Castle?Augill Castle is not a hotel, but a family home and country house which welcomes guests and offers unusual accommodation. We hope you won’t come here under any misconception that we offer the same services as a hotel. We work hard to retain the castle’s unique family atmosphere, believing that, together with big pillows, large towels, good showers, four poster beds, fresh ground coffee & homemade biscuits to be more important than direct dial telephones, modem ports and trouser presses. As a family home that welcomes other families, things can sometimes get a little chaotic and when things go awry or get forgotten we ask only that you tell us at the time so we can put it right. We don’t pretend to be experts and are always learning and striving to improve what we do. We cook as often as we can, given that we have no formal kitchen brigade and young children to take care of. We are proud to be a little bit different and if you are looking for a conventional, sterile place to stay, Augill Castle won’t be for you. Our AccommodationThe castle has twelve bedrooms, all of an equal standard but each with a very different character. Some have four poster beds, others four poster baths. You may find such unusual additions to your room as a piano in the bathroom, a church pew next to the loo or an African tribal hanging above your bed. But while your surroundings may be quirky (this is, after all, a Victorian gentleman’s country folly), be assured of the finest Egyptian cotton bed linens, huge fluffy bath towels, decent showers, big baths, Molton Brown toiletries, homemade biscuits, fresh ground coffee & fresh milk. There’s a decanter of sherry to help you unwind and a teddy bear on each bed to keep you company. Downstairs, roaring fires in winter may entice you not to venture out, but if you do there are 15 acres of landscaped grounds to explore and Holly our willing Labrador to show you the way. Food & DrinkAs with all good country houses, the Dining Room is at the heart of the castle. Breakfast is a leisurely affair, seldom kicking off before 9am and finishing when the last guests have emerged. Ingredients are locally sourced and include locally handmade Cumberland sausages & award-winning bacon, wild salmon smoked at Brougham Hall, free-range eggs from the castle’s resident hens, freshly baked bread, home made preserves and freshly squeezed juice. Later in the day, informal two-course suppers are often available during the week and at weekends everyone sits down together for a house-party style four course dinner. All the castle’s meals are prepared from the finest ingredients sourced from England’s northern counties, often organic but always from producers who recognize the importance of quality over quantity. There is a well balanced, ever changing wine list and you can try your bartending skills at the honesty bar in the Drawing Room. Children & FamiliesSo here is a truly child friendly and family friendly castle where parents can kick off their shoes and relax knowing that their children are having an equally good time. Young visitors to Augill are often adopted by the Bennett’s children as ‘special friends’ and are whisked off to the ‘Den’, the playground or the trampoline. Once the fresh air has tired them out, there is an extensive library of videos and DVDs, a games room, toys for all ages and a whole castle complete with towers and turrets to explore. Bedrooms are big enough to comfortably take extra beds, most have DVD players, all the bathrooms and baths are big, some are enormous and there are inter-connecting bedrooms, cots, highchairs, baby listening, flexible eating options (adult and children’s dietary whims are accommodated. Visit www.family-day-out.co.uk/region/north.htm for a wealth of things to do as a family. WeddingsIf you can’t boast a country house big enough for all your friends or family, Augill Castle is the perfect venue for your own house party: the castle can be exclusively yours. As well as playing host to many types of party and celebration, Augill is licensed to hold civil marriages and has been described as one of the country’s top ten most romantic houses. House parties and weddings for up to forty-five can dine banquet style along two eighteen foot oak refectory tables and smaller groups eat together around one huge dining table. With twelve bedrooms there is space for twenty-four overnight guests. There is no formula; no set packages. Each event at Augill is as unique as the setting itself. House PartiesWhether visiting for a romantic weekend or you are hosting a party or wedding, we can help you arrange a number of activities and entertainments. Try quad-biking, go-kart racing, archery, shooting and falconry organised for you in the castle grounds or at nearby Greystoke Castle www.greystoke.com Nearby sporting estates and activity centres can offer a wider range of activities including off-road driving, climbing, kayaking, sailing and even skiing. The castle’s own 1967 MGB Roadster with fully laden picnic hamper strapped to the back can be hired by the day. For party entertainment with a twist, how about a casino night, a themed murder mystery evening or even a wild west bucking bronco? www.thefuncasinocompany.com The castle has an all-weather tennis court complete with automatic ball machine if you can’t find a willing partner and nearby are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, natural swimming holes, golf, horse riding and endless uncrowded walking. Business Retreat at AugillBecause a comfortable and informal environment makes for a relaxed mind, Augill is the perfect retreat from the office. Small teams can use the space and mental freedom of being away from the workplace to concentrate on what's important. We have eleven en-suite bedrooms for single or double occupancy, meeting and breakaway spaces for up to 24 boardroom or 40 theatre. If you chose to consider us as a venue for your meeting or company event we know that you are looking for something out of the ordinary. We offer a bespoke service and our pricing is tailored to your individual requirements as we know that every event is as unique as we are. Christmas at AugillImagine roaring fires, trees to the ceilings covered in glittering lights, four chimneys for Father Christmas to choose from and one huge dining table heaving with local Christmas delicacies all in a fairytale English castle. Live the dream and join Simon, Wendy, Oliver (ten) and Emily (eight) for a truly magical and utterly family focussed Christmas. The fun will begin on Christmas Eve with afternoon tea, then carols and mulled drinks before supper. Christmas Day will start with presents, Bucks Fizz, then a huge breakfast. Later, lunch will continue into the evening and surely singing around the piano and a late supper will finish us all off! After Boxing Day brunch, spend the rest of the day exploring before returning for a fabulous dinner. There'll be a few reluctant goodbyes after breakfast on the 27th. Rates: £720 per adult, £240 per child (under 12) sharing parents' room, £480 per child in their own room. All meals detailed are included. Little Augill CooksWhat better than the chance to learn to cook in the kitchen of a real castle? This is the stuff of fairytales for children and adults alike. Your little (and not so little) ones will learn everything that's fun about food from growing it in the castle's kitchen garden, raising it (we have our own chickens and pigs) preparing, cooking and eating it. We may visit local farms to see how they do things or perhaps even the local auction mart. And at the end of it all we'll sit down together and eat what we've made. While all this is going on, parents have the chance to relax around the castle and grounds, go out for a walk, visit the lakes or dales or just do nothing and enjoy the peace and quiet. Courses usually run during the school holidays and are geared around the ages of the children attending. For details, prices and dates contact us at . Recent Reviews"For a place to stay with a difference, Augill Castle is hard to beat with turrets, battlements, ornate lattice and mullioned windows."
"The taste of Augill is truly delicious. It is a most imposing home but there is no regality to Wendy & Simon's warm welcome."
"It is wild and beautiful here... from the windows of Augill the hills beckon gently. It's grand but intimate too... bedrooms are historic but homely... Augill slows you down and places you in some of Britain's lovliest countryside. The atmosphere is created by Simon and Wendy who have chosen quality of experience over the modern pressure to have more, bigger and faster."
"Lord it up in your very own castle. The welcoming owners of this Victorian castle hand over their wonderfully quirky home for wedding parties."
"Augill Castle is imposing but you can still kick off your shoes and relax... from the moment visitors see the castle they're knocked out."
"We were blown away by this place."
"Grand interiors come properly furnished... Wendy, Simon and their staff ply you with delicious food, big pillows and massive tubs."
"The taste of Augill is quite delicious."
"Simon & Wendy have poured all their creative talent into the palatial bedrooms and the results are stunning."
How to Find UsAugill Castle is at the geographical centre of the British Isles, four miles outside the small market town of Kirkby Stephen, two hours’ drive from Manchester & Leeds, an hour from Lancaster, York & Newcastle z Teesside Airport is 45 minutes’ drive, Newcastle Airport is 75 minutes away. Rail services to London at Kirkby Stephen (four hours), Penrith (three hours) & Darlington (two and a half hours). We are at OS grid reference NY806138, Longitude 2°18’ W Latitude 54° 31’ N. To find us from the South & West, take Junction 38, M6 on to the A685 through Kirkby Stephen & Brough Sowerby then right to South Stainmore. From the North, take Junction 40, M6 at Penrith, on to the A66 east to Brough then right on to the A685, left to South Stainmore. From the East take the A66 at Scotch Corner to Brough, left on to the A685 towards Kirkby Stephen & first left to South Stainmore. Click here for Google map. Augill Castle, South Stainmore, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria CA17 4DE, P: 01768 341937 / F: 01768 342287 / E: |