Cat Hole Cottages

Cat Hole Cottages is a local, friendly holiday cottage agency, run by Judith Dower (who lives in Thwaite, right on the Pennine Way). All the cottages she manages are in Arkengarthdale, upper Swaledale (Low Row, Crackpot, Gunnerside, Muker and Thwaite), and upper Wensleydale (Simonstone and Hawes). 

They range from cosy little retreats for just two people, such as Bridge View Cottage, Victoria House, or the Byre (terrific views over Arkengarthdale) to spacious family houses, such as The Rash, near Muker, sleeping 9, (pet-free) and Low Shaw Farmhouse, Simonstone, sleeping 8/10. There is a wide range of cottages in between, including: Throstle Nest Barn, a detached luxury holiday cottage near  the hamlet of Crackpot, sleeping 4, dog-friendly, wifi, (and it even has its own field!); Nettlebed, a detached quirky, charming house sleeping 6/8, with wonderful Dales atmosphere, great views and a huge (enclosed, dog-friendly) garden; Farmendon, a stone's throw from the King's Head pub in Gunnerside, with a lovely private, south-facing garden (dog-friendly), sleeping 5; The Haven, sleeping 4, also in Gunnerside, dog-friendly, charmingly decorated and furnished; Sandpiper, Low Row, lovely views overlooking Swaledale, dog-friendly, sleeping 2/3, attractively refurbished; Chapel Farmhouse, Whaw, Arkengarthdale (pet-free), sleeping 4, lovely Dales character cottage; East Calvert House, a roomy cottage not far from Muker (although to drive to Muker, you need to double back down through tiny Ivelet), sleeping 6, with lovely views, dog-friendly.

All the cottages have free wifi, many are dog-friendly, some are in isolated rural positons along single track roads and some are in small villages, such as Gunnerside or Muker (we have one cottage in the heart of the litle market town of Hawes, in Wensleydale, sleeping 2, pet-free). Many have gardens, but all are within very easy reach of the famous buttercup meadows of Swaledale, with their iconic stone barns (or cowhouses, 'cow-uses' to locals), pastures, moors and many footpaths.

All are known personally to Judith, so if you require detailed information on which cottage would best suit your needs, or is in your preferred location, just give her a ring and she'll give you the benefit of her extensive local knowledge (she is a farmer's daughter, and was born and brought up in Swaledale, not far from Gunnerside).

You can book week bookings online, and most cottages welcome short breaks, although these need to be booked directly with Judith. All cottages include bedlinen, heating and electric; some do not provide towels (although they can be hired from Judith if necessary) and if the cottage has a stove or fire, most provide either a starter pack of fuel, or all fuel for the stove or fire.

With a large variety of holiday cottages available all year round, you can book your perfect holiday, whether you're planning to walk the whole of the Pennine Way, or just the  bits in upper Swaledale and Wensleydale (the best bits!).