Augill Castle, Cumbria

Augill Castle – Fairytale Victorian castle, Cumbria

Step into a fairytale Victorian castle where relaxed country house charm meets luxury grandeur. Perfectly situated between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, Augill Castle blends romantic Gothic Revival architecture with the warmth and character of a welcoming country house. Its turrets, battlements and grand stone façade create a striking first impression, while inside, historic features sit comfortably alongside relaxed, contemporary style.

The draw: Built between 1837 and 1841 by a brother determined to outdo his sibling, the castle has been home to the same family since 1997, who rescued it from years of neglect and describe it, in their own words, as “perfectly imperfect.” There’s no reception desk here. Guests eat, drink and mingle together country house style, with dinner served in the Music Room restaurant Wednesday to Saturday and a full afternoon tea available daily between 2pm and 5pm. It’s a genuinely family friendly castle too, with cots, board games, DVD players in every room and an open house mentality rather than a formal kids’ club, plus its own free range chickens supplying breakfast eggs.

Address: Leacett Ln, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, CA17 4DE

Hours: Check-in from 3pm, check-out by 11am. Breakfast runs from around 8:30am to 10:30am, and dinner is served Wednesday to Saturday between 5:30pm and 8:30pm (an informal starters and puddings menu only on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday).

Vibe check: Warm, eccentric and unapologetically informal rather than polished luxury hotel. Best suited to guests who want a genuine shared country house experience, complete with roaring fires and a bit of history, over slick, impersonal five star service.