My first year in Swaledale at Swale View Cottage
What a first year it was at Swale View!
I thought I would do a recap on what has been my first year, well nine months, in Swaledale at the lovely Swale View Cottage.
Some background, my mate suggested the area for a change of holiday destination as he had stayed as a kid at the Youth Hostel in Grinton so I thought we would give it a go.
As as a result of that I have been coming up to the Yorkshire Dales for about eight years; initially staying in Reeth where on the second night we had a massive dump of snow which was unexpected, to me anyway. I should have paid attention.
It was quite a change from Devon and Cornwall which were my usual holiday haunts and perhaps it took a bit of getting used to but pretty quickly I fell in love with the landscape, the moorland in particular appealing to me and of course the Dales themselves cannot be beaten. It helped that pretty much every visit I had the sun was always out. I usually visited in April and October but even on late November or early February visits I seemed to get lucky with the weather.
So after a few years of staying in Reeth, Fremington, Gunnerside and Low Row I decided that this was the area for me so when I had the chance to buy a house I started looking and saw some nice places in Thwaite, Muker, Healaugh and Low Row. The latter was found somewhat by accident for although the details from the estate agents looked good and I had arranged to see the house it was not in the village location I thought it was. So as I was walking through Low Row on another walk with my mate it was he spotted the red door on the barn and low and behold, there was Swale View!
After my first official visit in late 2018 I decided to buy the house and after the usual delays over a few things a price was agreed with the very friendly and super helpful owners and eventually I moved in on March the 8th.
The house was always intended to be my main residence and although I work in London I wanted to find a way to spend more time in Swale View. A change of job meant this was not as feasible as it may have been so I decided to let out the property as a holiday cottage which is done not just through this site but also via Hannah and her great team at Holiday Home Yorkshire who I had used many times for renting out cottages in the area so it made sense to work with them on letting out Swale View when I wasn’t using it.
So below are a series of photos showing the first nine months at Swale View. I have learned a lot, worked a fair bit, messed up a few things, got stressed over a number of situations, spent a fair bit of cash and thoroughly enjoyed myself. When all is said and done it is my home and while others are more than welcome to stay I wanted to make it somewhere where I felt comfortable and could relax but also work if I needed to.
Swale View in the background
Oct the 2nd 2018, I didn’t know it when I took this shot but I had a viewing later that morning that Low Row and Swale View were in the background. I took a drive over to Hawes and was just pottering around enjoying the views and decided to stop to take a couple of photos, it was a lovely day as you can see. So if you zoom in super closely you will see Sale View, I think, poking its head out among the trees. Little did I know that I would soon be viewing and bidding on the house a couple of miles away across the valley.
First photo of Swale View
This was taken in December when I came for a second visit to do some measuring up and see exactly what I had committed to buying. Fortunately all was as I remembered it from my initial view in October so it was all systems go.
I own Swale View!
March the 8th, a bit chilly, it snowed the day after, I drove up from London and only found out about an hour away the owners sale (I actually viewed the house they bought but my car got stuck halfway up the drive) had only just gone through but fortunately they had moved most things out already. I was staying in Fremington over the weekend to allow me time to move a few things in.
Rooms when I took over the house
The house generally was in good order but you always want to make a few changes so the first thing I did was paint all of the internal rooms (wee bedroom not done yet, will be early in 2o2o!) in order to lighten up the feel of the house.
I also added in some new lights, more to come particularly in the living room and kitchen, new smoke alarms wired in and carbon monoxide detectors installed. I may also change the flooring in the kitchen, hall and living room at some stage but they are good just now. Again, more of a personal taste thing than anything else.
Painting under way
As always I was supervised by Skye the dog as I painted all of the rooms, fascinating stuff I am sure but actually rewarding for me and the dog seemed happy with the results!
The paint is washable, allegedly, so any errant muddy tail swipes will be able to wiped off.
What else got done?
Well, over the last few months a number of changes have been made with the aim to improve the comfort of the house.
As those who have stayed you will know the heating and hot water runs off calor gas cylinders at the back of the house. Due to the tricky location only small ish cylinders can be used to I had a valve installed which allows four cylinders to be live requiring only one physical switch over when two run out. Nothing like the gas running out mid shower to liven up proceedings! This has happened and while we do monitor the gas levels be aware this can happen or the heating may just stop. We always have plenty of gas available so its easy to get started, just a tad surprising sometimes!
I have also added in a large electric radiator in the living room to provide background heat and a smaller radiator I had initially installed now sits in the hallway doing its thing. So now the ambient background heat is now a lot warmer and guest can control the heating on those radiators.
The Aga was professionally cleaned which was worth doing as it seems to be much more efficient now - probably imagining that to justify the expense!
All the beds and bedding are brand new as are a lot of the cutlery, crockery, pots, pans, electrical appliances, furniture and the garden furniture was a new addition. Some furniture was my own preowned (sofa) and some gifted from chums (blanket box) - thanks!
What went wrong?
Hmm, well quite a lot. Aside from the gas running out unexpectedly on a few occasions I managed to flood the kitchen on day one when I messed up the installation of the washing machine. Cue local electrician Michael Guy helping me locate the error and what had shorted out half the house.
I ordered the table and bench seating for the dining room, and when it was finally delivered by two of the tiredest looking scottish lads I have ever seen it didn’t fit through the entrance. So the next morning I popped of to Darlington B&Q to get the specialist tool I needed to disassemble the table to get it into the dining room. Next time I will measure up more accurately.
BT messed up my broadband order so I was late getting it and then they set up two accounts. Eventually, as I hadn’t used one of them, they reimbursed me but I was less than impressed. Also the routers have failed twice but fortunately some excellents guests got things working when new routers arrived and, touch wood, things have been stable for the last three months!
And finally, last Friday (last day of my Christmas visit) my boiler exploded and sent water into the kitchen via the ceiling. Clachers plumbers came out and stemmed the flow but it has meant my current guests are having to shower in the barn (this also happened when the gas valve failed) which is amazingly understanding of them as there is no hot water as a replacement part is not available until next week.
Guest visits, reviews & welcome
I have been incredibly lucky that I have had many guests staying, I was pretty fully booked from day one until mid November. And everyone who has stayed has been very kind with their messages and reviews of the house. We have a solid 5 stars throughout which is great but more importantly people have felt that Swale View was a home from home where they could relax, enjoy themselves and I hope not worry too much (as I used to do) about damaging someone else’s property.
There have been inevitably, a few accidents but that’s ok, it happens. And nothing too dramatic. So thanks to everyone who has stayed and your kind words.
And finally, thanks very much to all the local people of Low Row and the surrounding area. I have been made to feel most welcome as I was quite apprehensive when I first moved into the village. But people have been very kind with help, advice and just been very friendly. It is really, deeply appreciated.
Right, this chat was a lot longer than I anticipated so if you have read this far well done and if you are considering a stay in the Yorkshire Dales do get in touch.
And keep your eyes open from improvements to The Barn in 2020!
Here is to a great 2020, I hope yours is a good one as well!