Finding good-quality holiday accommodation for a large gathering is charming in theory, but logistically fraught in practice. Throw in guests travelling from Cumbria, Northumberland and Surrey for a milestone birthday celebration and the search becomes more challenging still. Wressle Grange Farmhouse, available through Premier Cottages, answered the brief: a beautiful period house that sleeps up to 14 across three floors, with ample indoor and outdoor space for a more intimate celebration rather than passing like ships in hotel corridors.
The welcome
Access was the no-drama, modern-country kind: a lockbox code sent ahead of our arrival and a straightforward self-check-in. But the stay was certainly not impersonal since, within an hour of our arrival, owner Claire came to say hello in person, swapping a few practicalities for local tips and giving us insights into the history of their former home. A small gesture but one that leaves you feeling that the owners care and are on hand if you need.
The property
Our arrival brings us in through the rear of the farmhouse and our gaze is immediately drawn to the kitchen with its sociable central island, polished worktops, and an abundance of modern appliances — from two dishwashers (surprisingly useful for group stays) to an electric hand blender.
From the rustic-but-modern kitchen you can spill into the formal dining room that seats up to 14.
This space is perfect for a celebratory dinner and we enjoyed using it for a special birthday meal during our stay.
Alternatively, from the kitchen you can drift through the informal dining area into a light-filled conservatory lounge.
With a large corner sofa and several double sofas – plus a suspended egg chair in the corner – you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing where to relax.
For cosy evenings in, there’s also a snug with another TV and wood burner.
Beyond that, a games room with a pool table adds a touch of friendly competitiveness to any gathering.
A downstairs bathroom and utility room beyond it completes the ground floor. Of course, nobody really goes away to do their laundry, but it’s a handy facility to have nonetheless.
Upstairs on the first floor, the master bedroom, Brooke, has a super-king and its own en suite.
It it flanked by three further doubles – Vesci, Hedge and Lane End.
Vesci is adorned with dusty pink décor and furnishings and a resident hobby horse.
Hedge has a fun tractor theme depicted on the curtains and the cushions, appropriately pictured here with a tractor passing the window.
Lane End, meanwhile, is a contemporary, compact double room with wonderful views over the farmland at the rear of the property.
These rooms share a large family bathroom that benefits from underfloor heating, with both a bath and wetroom-style shower – and even a chaise longue.
Toiletries are provided in all the bathrooms.
The top floor has two further en suites and a compact twin-bedded room.
Fleet is light and airy and has a king size bed; its en suite looks out over the arable farmland.
Oat has a double bed, a few more splashes of colour, and a mirror image of Fleet’s en suite bathroom.
Sandwiched between them is Paddock, accessed via a sliding door – a compact twin, better suited to children.
Super-fast fibre broadband is enjoyed throughout the property — even on the uppermost floor. And with seven bedrooms, there’s never a feeling of over-crowding because the house offers multiple shared spaces, both inside and out, where guests can spread out.
The facilities
Whilst I’ve already mentioned the games room, I haven’t really touched on the abundance of outdoor space and the additional facilities it offers.
Firstly, there’s the outdoor hot tub – perfect for soothing tired limbs and excellent on an evening with a tipple and a sky of stars.
And it doesn’t stop there. There’s an outside table that seats 14 for al fresco dining, a fire pit and patio for marshmallow roasts,
There’s a manicured garden at the front, a lawn with goals at each end, an outdoor table tennis table, and a tarmacked area popular with pedal tractors and small bikes. Furthermore, planning permission has just been granted for two brand new padel courts.
All of this makes the farmhouse versatile: it’s a party house, a family escape, and a practical base for exploring the East Riding.
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The location
Wressle is a tiny, appealingly sleepy village on the eastern bank of the River Derwent, roughly three miles north-west of Howden. It feels gloriously rural yet not stranded — the narrow lanes and open fields are part of the charm.
Howden itself is close by and pleasantly bigger than you might expect: a market town with a remarkable ecclesiastical centre. Howden Minster was once one of the most significant churches in the north and the town also played a role in Britain’s early airship story — the R100 was built in the area, a local episode of industrial ambition that you can follow on a small heritage trail.
Regular readers will know that we like to incorporate a parkrun on our travels. The nearest to Wressle is a flat course at West Park in Goole where two of our party, myself included, were pleased to pick up all-time parkrun PBs.
If running is not your thing, Selby and York are both within easy reach for a day trip. York’s cultural and culinary riches are just a 40 minute drive away.
Among York’s many attractions is, of course, York Minster which now proudly displays a statue of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Other nice touches
Wressle Grange scores heavily on welcoming detail. A generous welcome hamper awaited us, full to the brim with local produce — Yorkshire Tea, Howden Coffee, locally produced honey (from bees kept on the farm), Yorkshire Pasta Company products, rapeseed oil with Great Taste recognition, marshmallows with roasting sticks, and fresh milk in the fridge.
Another lovely touch was a cake and card for the birthday girl in our party.
Up to two well-behaved dogs are welcome to stay at the farmhouse, so long as they remain on the ground floor and keep off the furniture. Even they were kindly recognised with the provision of bowls, blankets, poo bags and Wagg treats.
And let’s not forget that guests are even provided with gowns – something that’s not usually expected with self-catering, but a luxury that is particularly handy if you are venturing to or from the outdoor hot tub.
The cost
Weekend breaks (three nights, Friday–Monday) are typically in the region of £2,850–£3,250, and a full week around £4,200 . There’s also currently an offer of 10% off for all remaining stays at the farmhouse this year.
The best bit
For us, the house’s greatest strength is sociability. There are many shared spaces to enjoy together, whether it’s gathering around the kitchen island as dinner is prepared or roasting marshmallows at the outdoor firepit. In short: you are together, but not crowded; sociable, yet private when needed.
The final verdict
Wressle Grange Farmhouse is exactly what its publicity promises: a large, three-storey house set in sprawling fields with views that extend for miles . It’s a country house for the 21st century, with period features combined with plenty of modern extras. The balance of location, facilities and thoughtful hospitality makes it one of those properties that feels like a proper treat rather than just a convenient place to sleep.
Dislcosure: Our stay was courtesy of Wressle Grange and sponsored by Premier Cottages. Premier Cottages’ collection features almost 1,000 four- and five-star self-catering cottages across the UK.
Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.
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