You’ll never get tired of staring at the 20 acres of shared grounds from the sunny south-facing terrace. If you do, go explore it. Find the tumbling, picnic-perfect waterfall, admire the David Austen Rose Garden, kick a ball into the footie nets and smack a croquet ball through the hoops.
Among the shared facilities is an all-weather tennis court, open all year round. Bring your cossies and inflatables to mess about in the shared outdoor heated pool from May to September. Sear your steaks on the barbie and guzzle them under the gazebo. Exercise your dogs – they stay for free! Feed the ducks. Ponder what’s next down by the pond.
Once an ancestral home, then a prep school, and latterly the location for the shooting of BBC drama Gentleman Jack, Howard Hall South Wing has seen plenty of life and living. Now you can turn the next page and add your own chapter amid the dripping chandeliers, the high ceilings, the period wallpaper and the exquisite coving.
Today, modern entertainment options are abound in the indoor living space at Howard Hall South Wing. Not least Netflix, Prime and Now TV on the living-room telly, BT broadband and log fires to light. And when you’ve finished with all that, you can talk about it all over a gin or Prosecco in the residents’ bar, which is shared with the estate. Admire the horse-saddle stools, fill with your own alcohol and enjoy complimentary soft drinks.
Elsewhere, there’s plenty to stoke the fires of inter-generational competitiveness. How many manor house wings come with a full-size basketball court? This one does. Or badminton, for smaller numbers. Silver medal? Bring late-night harmony to your group with a singalong on the baby grand piano.
How many does the dining room seat? All of you. Gather round, pass the Prosecco, butter the bread and thank the cook who took charge of the electric oven and wood-fired stove. Or hang your apron up and ask us about external caterers for a one-off celebration or fully catered break.
Fill the fridge with meats from Nesfield and Piercy and deliveries from Morrisons. Call up takeaway treats from Speedy Peppers, India, or Thai from Tuis of Malton. When you’re done, there are two dishwashers to deal with the dirties. You can start your mornings with coffee from the cafetière and spend your evenings firing up the gas barbie on the sunny south-facing terrace.
Malton’s a leading UK foodie destination with a bustling artisan scene, tours, cookery school, markets and festival. Be sure to explore the gelato makers, gin distillery, breweries, coffee roastery and macaron maker. The Talbot sits at the heart of this, with imaginative local menus that include thyme-rubbed flat-iron steak.
Elsewhere, pop out to the Blacksmith’s Arms in Westow for roast sirloin of Yorkshire beef or pan-fried rack of lamb. Try miso-glazed cod loin, salt-and-pepper squid ball salad, or toasted pecan, artichoke and chilli ravioli at The New Malton. Or head for The Stone Trough in Kirkham to pork out on crispy confit duck leg or 9oz sirloin.
You’ll sleep well here in the Wolds, on the edge of the North York Moors, where the smooth hush is rippled only by the flap of a partridge, the ducks landing on the lake or the bending of the boughs. Howard Hall South Wing sleeps 13 in 6 bedrooms, with two extra sofa-beds for younger children.
Bedrooms here are delicious and bathrooms come with freestanding baths for you to drape a bubbly leg over. All rooms sleep two in kingsize beds apart from bedroom four, sleeping three kids in singles. Bedrooms one (Grey), two (Pink) and four (Kids’) offer luxury en-suites. All other rooms share de-luxe bathrooms.
