The Old Storehouse
Rooms, rates and booking

The bedrooms

There is a double bedroom on the first floor and another, with a twin, on the second. All have sofas and armchairs and en suite bathrooms: the two upper ones bath and shower, the first floor with a shower attachment that allows a liberal soaking of everything. In early December early December and mid- January you can watch the sun rise across the valley, lying in bed in the twin room with a cup of tea and it makes me smile simply recording this most wonderful natural event. Glorious.

Because the Storehouse was built with no internal walls, to allow grain and wool to dry, sounds from bedrooms do carry despite our best efforts to soundproof the building. It's not ideal for frisky honeymoon couples.

Attic

There is also an attic up a stone stairway outside the house. Again, it has its own bathroom and also basic cooking facilities, and from the four poster bed there are lofty views to the hills. It is also home to swallows and bats from April to early September and the outside door stays open all the time, allowing freedom of passage. It's a unique experience, and surprisingly popular, but it is an attic with an open door and swallows do chatter when they wake up.

The conservatory

Downstairs, the conservatory where breakfast is eaten (old fashioned rather than Homes and Gardens) looks over the garden to the canal and hills. The refectory table can seat everyone staying, but breakfast may also be taken outside in the garden. It's a room simply for sitting and watching the birds, or reading, or – almost anything peaceful. The sitting room has a cast iron range, sofas, armchairs and an upright piano. A good place for a wet and wintry afternoon and evening.

Rooms are sometimes not ready until 4pm but guests are welcome to arrive and drop off bags, use the loo and have a cup of coffee at any time. Equally, there is no set hour within reason to leave at the end of a stay.