My Story - Reconnecting in Yorkshire

During a sunny week in mid-April, our Performance Marketing Executive ventured into the breathtaking Yorkshire countryside for a two-night retreat at an extraordinary accommodation. Wanting to find a serene getaway not too far from home, they chose Kirkby Malham—a secluded hamlet nestled deep within the Yorkshire Dales National Park—to unplug and reconnect.

Their chosen sanctum was The Engine Room, a remarkable modern conversion of a 1924 mill turbine room that brims with unique charm. A focal point is the original, 15-foot long water turbine engine that remains proudly on display in the living room—it will celebrate its centenary in 2024!

The Engine Room is part of Scalegill Mill, originally built in 1795 as a cotton mill. Today, it belongs to one of eight properties forming a tranquil and close-knit community. Their time there was nothing short of rejuvenating.

Nestled in a tranquil setting, the property spans 8 acres of shared gardens and woodlands, home to an array of beautiful birds and wildlife. Here, you might catch sight of herons gliding over the water, otters playing along the banks, kingfishers darting through the trees, dippers by the streams, and occasionally even deer wandering gracefully through the woods.

The trails seamlessly connect with the National Park Footpath leading all the way to Malham. The surrounding area is dotted with stunning walking routes waiting to be explored. Within a short 25-minute drive, you'll find towns like Grassington, Skipton, and Settle. Read on to discover how their girls' retreat truly met and exceeded their hopes.

Where did you go and for how long? And with whom?

We chose to embark on an all-girls getaway for a two-night stay in Scalegill, Kirkby Malham. When we discovered this uniquely eclectic accommodation, it was clear that we just had to experience it. While online chats with friends are lovely, city living often means missing out on genuine face-to-face moments. We yearned for the countryside's tranquillity to unplug from our daily routines and truly reconnect with one another. The cottage exceeded our expectations—vibrant, fun, quirky yet incredibly cosy and homely. Our time there together was nothing short of magical. It was a really interesting and cool place that someone of my generation was very happy to put on my social media, an instagram worthy moment!

What did you think of the location and its convenience to local attractions?

We were looking for a secluded holiday home, far from the hustle and bustle of city life, and this place fit the bill perfectly. Just a short 15-minute drive away was a charming little village with a lovely pub and cafe. From there, we embarked on one of the many walking routes to Malham Cove, eventually plunging into Janet's Foss waterfall. The water was freezing but invigorating; we felt such pride in having done it! This destination truly allowed us to disconnect from everything else. We spent our days walking, chatting, laughing—and by the end of our mini-holiday, we felt both relaxed and rejuvenated. In the mornings we woke up to the sound of birdsong and the river running at the back of the garden. It was idyllic. With the newly born lambs skipping in the nearby fields, it felt like a true holiday. A break from the ordinary.

Were there any specific amenities or features of the cottage that you really enjoyed?

Even though the cottage was large, it felt really intimate and cosy. We loved the kitchen, we spent a lot of our time cooking and sitting around the table chatting. It was a well equipped kitchen, with high end appliances that we enjoyed spending time in. We had lots of good chats and laughs and enjoying each others company. The other feature that my friend was obsessed with was the disco bathroom, she was very quick to reserve that bedroom! The hosts were lovely and had left us a hamper filled with tea and coffee and local jams. They had also left us some flowers and a welcome card. It was a lovely touch.

Did you visit any local restaurants and discover any hidden gems?

Whilst the owners were really great at informing us of places to eat in the surrounds, there was also a folder filled with eateries nearby. We chose to have a dinner at The Victoria pub in Malhamdale, and they served the largest fish and chips I have ever seen! Definitly value for money! We also had a well deserved post walk pint at the Lister Arms which helped ease our aching muscles. Before we headed home we stopped off at a cute cafe called Old Barn Cafe where we had a coffee and a delicous cake.

What were the highlights of your break? Any memorable experiences?

There was one that reminded us of that we were deep in the English countryside, as we were arriving at the cottage we were driving behind an open backed truck where a lamb was being born. It was a marvellous thing to witness and most certainly unexpected! The other highlight would be us plunging into Janet's Foss. It was very,very cold and we didn't think we would plunge in but we did and were so proud of ourselves afterwards. The surge of adrenaline afterwards was amazing and it was a great bonding moment.

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