East Yorkshire B&B opens the stable door to new guests
AN East Yorshire farming family has come up with an entrepreneurial solution for horse lovers who want to enjoy a break in the countryside.
Vivienne and John Sweeting, who own The Dairy Farm in the picturesque hamlet of Saltmarshe near Howden, are now offering B&B for equine guests.
The farm offers bed and breakfast in the main house as well as four-star holiday cottages.
Guests have been able to bring along their canine companions by prior arrangement to stay but the family recently decided to extend the warm welcome to horses.
Mrs Sweeting said: “We have plenty of room in our stables for people to bring their own horses with them so that they can ride out in the surrounding parkland.
“I am aware of holiday cottages where you can go and ride other people’s horses, but I’m not aware of anywhere that allows you to take your own.”
The farm can take two to four horses at any one time and there are some fantastic rides for visitors to enjoy including a one-hour route through the parkland with a great gallop.
“In addition to the gorgeous countryside on our doorstep, our visitors find that the cottages are a great base from which they can explore other parts of the county, including York, the coast, the Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors,” she added.
“When you arrive here and take in the beautiful countryside, it’s easy to forget that Saltmarshe is just minutes away from the M62 and that this area is so easily accessible to visitors.”
Work on converting the redudant farm cottages began three years ago and since completion have attracted a loyal guest list.
The Sweeting family has been farming in East Yorkshire for generations and Vivienne first came up with the idea of converting some of the redundant farm buildings into cottages around three years ago.
Everything served to guests is sourced from local suppliers with the Fairtrade coffee supplied by the Sweeting’s eldest son James’ company Lincoln and York.
Apple Tree Cottages is part of the Farm Stay scheme, which is a national network of working farms offering accommodation to those want to explore the countryside and enjoy a taste of life on a working farm.
