ABOUT COLD KELD

Cold Keld is situated
about three miles south
of the village of
Ravenstonedale, midway
between the two small
market towns of
Sedbergh and
Kirkby Stephen.

It is about 20 miles East of Kendal and about two miles from the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

A traditional 17th Century farmhouse, it appears on the earliest map of the area, produced pre 1728. This map shows only three houses in the Parish, one being Cold Keld.

It was certainly in existance in 1734 when John Fothergill paid 3s 4d Land Tax on it. It was probably built about 1680, replacing an even earlier single storey building.

The reason that Cold Keld was considered important enough to get a mention on the map is that, at this time, it was 'licensed to sell Ale & Porter'

It was a sheep and dairy farm up until about 1974. We bought it for a family home in 1982.

After our children had 'fled the nest', we decided to convert some redundant buildings into en-suite guest rooms and we started offering Guided Walking Holidays in 1988.

It is beautifully situated on a open fell road on the side of Wild Boar Fell and overlooks The Howgills. Walk out of the door and you have access to a hundred square miles of open fell.

Footpaths will lead you to stunning waterfalls that not many people know about and tiny becks where you can gather handfuls of fossels. You never know what you might find, and all right on your doorstep!
Just above the house is an amazing Limestone Pavement where you can balance on clints and look into grykes and see plants you might never have seen before. There are also remains of old lead workings to explore.
There are many cycling routes and the road is safe enough for children to cycle on. At Kirkby Stephen you can board a train on the famous Settle- Carlisle Railway Line.

In 1997 we built two single rooms, attached to one of the outbuildings, and added a wonderful, large conservatory in 2000.

 

Then we had a new problem - we wanted to live in the conservatory so in 2006 we converted the new bit into a self contained Granney Annex, errected a fence between the vegi garden and the house to make both completely private and started letting the house - minus the conservatory and the new bit- out as a Holiday Let.

In September 2009 Libby Johnath and Morgan moved into the main house and we continue to live in the annex - in between holidays.

 

Meanwhile, we enjoy the sunset,
or watch the stars, even the Northern Lights if we're lucky.
With no light polution for many miles around it really is heavenly.