Weekender: Horse trainer and legendary jockey expand luxury log cabin venture

Northern trainer Ann Duffield and her legendary jockey husband George have opened two more luxury log cabins at their Sun Hill stables in Constable Burton near Leyburn.

The Duffields’ £1.6m log cabin development was launched in 2013.

The two new lodges include the one-bedroom Melody, and Ninetta, which has two large bedroom suites with lounge areas and sofa beds and can sleep up to eight.

Ann Duffield said: “Since our first four log cabins opened in October 2013, they have proved immensely popular and their high occupancy rate has both delighted and astounded us.

“We then added Lillie Lodge and William Lodge (named after Just Lille, winner of 18 races and group performer Willie the Whipper) while Melody and Ninetta lodges opened this month to cope with the consistent demand.

“The bookings have been pouring in this year. What is especially gratifying is that a significant proportion of these are repeats. We have taken re-bookings for Christmas and New Year this year, and 2019 is already getting booked up, for example.”

The development at Sun Hill has been supported by a 35% grant from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

“It is estimated the latest log cabins will provide an additional £500,000 taking our input into the local community to at least one million pounds annually for Wensleydale and wider North Yorkshire economy where local pubs and restaurants are already seeing the benefits of this extra business,” Duffield added.

“It was important for us to diversify and we already had two very popular holiday cottages so it made sense to expand that business. We are blessed with an amazing location at Sun Hill and we thought we would make the most of it. The top field, next to the gallops, was not being used, and ideally located to enjoy the spectacular views and to see horses in training, so we wanted to develop it in a sensitive and creative way.”