Frenchgate Mews Richmond

Frenchgate Mews is a small cottage for two people in the middle of Richmond. It's a one-bedroom place, Grade II listed, so the walls aren't straight and the ceilings are low in parts. It was all done up a couple of years ago.

It's an upside-down layout. You come in at ground level to leave your boots and coats. The stairs go up to the main living area, which is open plan. There's a kitchen, a table for two, and a couple of sofas. The reason it's set up this way is the view from the first-floor windows. You can see the castle over the rooftops.

Downstairs is the bedroom with a king-size bed and an en-suite bathroom that has both a bath and a shower. There are two walk-in wardrobes, which is handy.

You really don't need the car once you're here. Everything in Richmond is a short walk. The market square, the shops, the pubs and restaurants are all right there. The castle is a few minutes away. For a good walk, you can follow the river around to The Station. That's a converted railway station with a cinema, a cafe, and a few other bits.

Richmond is right on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. You can drive into Swaledale in about ten minutes. For a longer day out, Hawes or Leyburn are within half an hour. The Yorkshire Dales National Park site has all the walking routes. Because it's a Dark Sky Reserve, the stars can be very clear on a good night, just from the back lane.

Facilities: it has a dishwasher, WiFi, and all the bedding and towels are included. There's no dedicated parking, but there is a public car park about a two-minute walk away. No pets.