Augill Castle, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, England - Explore & Book

"Take two feuding brothers, add in a small fortune, stir vigorously, allow to simmer and hey presto! - you get a folly castle. Augill was built in 1841 by John Bagot Pearson in a bid to outdo his younger sibling. He succeeded in some style, commissioning the castle as a weekend haunt in which to entertain his friends. It is a triumph of vanity over common sense: turrets, mullioned windows, castellated towers, wonderfully ornate lattice windows - the usual castle fare. It is also a trompe-l’œil of sorts: the house is mostly one room deep. A longish gravel drive leads up from the lane. Lawns and sheep-filled meadows encircle you, beyond the Pennines rise majestically. Inside you find enormous rooms, creaking floorboards, vibrant colours and an easy-going house-party feel. The music room - now the restaurant - has an open fire, a grand piano, and serves contemporary small plates and daily afternoon teas with a modern twist. The décor is ‘country house’, reassuringly traditional, but without the chintz. Highs An impressive folly castle with imperious countryside all around Superb for families, with lots of large rooms and handy baby equipment, a whole house for 8-10, plus loads of activities on site A relaxed, easy-going feel - owners Simon and Wendy are friendly and present Large shabbily authentic bedrooms and good home-cooked fare Some of Britain's most unspoilt walking; the Pennine Way and Coast to Coast footpaths pass close by Lows Couples wanting a grown-up break may want to avoid booking during the school holidays Room interiors are more shabby chic than perfectly polished No evening meals on Monday & Tuesday; be sure to give a few hours' warning if you'd like afternoon tea It's not cheap and the extras can soon add up WiFi and phone signal can be patchy, but you're here for a getaway!" - Tom Bell