Thorns Hall
Yorkshire Dales
Delivering on all fronts for countryside lovers, this cosy Grade II-listed manor house is just a skip away from Sedbergh – the Cumbrian market town treasured for its cobbled streets, public school, artisan shops, and bookshops (it’s known as England’s official book town for good reason). You’ll also have the Yorkshire Dales National Park on your doorstep as well as the Howgill Fells - the small group of hills adored by legendary fellwalker, illustrator, and guidebook author Alfred Wainwright. The walking opportunities here are outstanding, but if you fancy travelling further afield there’s Kendal (home of the mint cake), Hawes, Wensleydale, Appleby-in-Westmorland, and Lake Windemere all within easy driving distance.
Thorns Hall
| • Open March to October and during the festive season • 25 well-appointed guest rooms • Exclusive occupancy: 30 guests minimum • Check in from 4:00pm • Free Wi-Fi • Free on-site parking • Boot room and drying room • Travel cot & high chair • Discovery Point offering a wide range of local area maps, route guides, and information for self-guided walks • Books and games to borrow • Licensed bar • Lounges • Garden • Electric vehicle charging point - Please note, you will need to bring your own cables to use this EV charging point |  |
Then & now at Thorns Hall
The earliest reference to Thorns (it was renamed Thorns Hall in 1685) was in 1534 when Alan Sedgwick transferred ‘the gudewill and tennendright of my hole Fermold cald Thornys’ to Giles Lund of Sedbergh for £30. It was then sold in 1586 to John Mayer, Master of Sedbergh School, and the property remained in the family until 1679. It continued as the residence for subsequent Masters of Sedbergh School until 1802 when it was marketed as a ‘handsome roomy mansion...with a large fruitful garden and orchard, a cottage, two water corn mills, drying kiln, malt kiln and granary’. It was purchased by sea captain William Findlay for £4,650 and changed hands a few times thereafter. It has been part of our HF Holidays line-up since 1988 and was visited by King Charles III during our centenary celebrations in 2013.
Although the building has been renovated, many of the original features will appeal to history lovers; think wood-panelled public rooms, beamed ceilings, open fireplaces, and stone flag flooring. There’s also a pretty garden, books and games to borrow during your stay, a handy boot and drying room, and a Discovery Point offering a wide range of local area maps, route guides, and easy-to-follow information for self-guided walks. Accommodation comes by way of 25 well-appointed guest rooms in three categories (Classic, Premium, and Superior) spread across the main house, cottages, and cobbled courtyard. You’ll also find a dining room for a wide range of dishes made with fresh and seasonal ingredients, a licensed bar for cosying up with a drink by the log burner, and wow-worthy countryside views in every direction.
Rooms
Designed with your comfort in mind, Thorns Hall has 25 well-appointed guest rooms available in three categories: Classic, Premium, and Superior.
Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.
Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers, and comfortable mattresses.
Superior Rooms are even more spacious en-suite guest rooms offering upgraded views of the surroundings*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers, and comfortable mattresses.
We love: The spacious Room 25 for its ground floor setting, brick fireplace, comfy seating, large bed, and gorgeous views of the gardens. Room 4 is large and airy while the cosier Room 13 has an exposed wood ceiling and courtyard view.
The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.
Check in & check out
You are welcome to check in from 4:00pm at the earliest. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team.
On the day of departure, we kindly ask all guests to check out by 10:00am. You’ll be asked to settle your bill prior to leaving. You may, of course, make a charitable donation to our HF Holidays Pathways Fund if you wish. Please note that we only accept card payments.
Room supplements
| Superior | Premium single | Premium double/twin | Choose your room |
| £25 pppn | £20 pppn | £20 pppn | £30 per room |
*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location
About your stay
A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).
Evening entertainment
While evening entertainment varies from house to house, the HF Holidays Big Pub Quiz held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays Leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided walking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.
Walks talks
Our HF Holidays Leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s walking delights (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.
The walking day
Prior to setting off on walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.
Food & drink
Led by experienced chefs, we serve a wide range of dishes made with fresh and seasonal ingredients. We always aim to source the best produce available and use home-grown herbs and vegetables from our own gardens whenever possible. Additionally, we have a licensed bar with beers, soft drinks, and a superb selection of spirits. Full-board comes as standard and includes a cream tea on arrival and a hearty breakfast on departure day.
HF Holidays understands the importance of managing allergens effectively to ensure food is safe for guests with food allergies. Whilst we are always able to confidently inform guests which allergens are present in our ingredients and dishes, we are unable to guarantee absolute freedom from the 14 main allergens in our kitchens. Vegetarian and vegan menu choices are available. If you have allergies, food intolerances, or any special dietary requirements, please inform our reservation team at the time of booking.
Accessibility
For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Thorns Hall
House calendar
- Guided Walking
- Self-Guided Walking
- Special Interests
- Unavailable to Book
Discover Yorkshire Dales
Places to visit
Whether you’re enjoying a guided or self-guided walking holiday, there’s always the opportunity to linger for longer. Here’s our pick of the very best things to see and do within easy travelling distance of Thorns Hall.
Sedbergh
A few minutes’ walk away, this Cumbrian market town is treasured for its cobbled streets, public school, and bookshops (it became England's Book Town in 2003). Just down the road is the Farfield Mill Arts, a crafts and heritage centre housed in a Victorian woollen mill.
Kendal
Home of Romney's Kendal Mint Cake which was made famous on 29 May 1953 when it was carried on the first successful summit of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sirdar Tenzing, this market town is a 20-minute drive away.
Sizergh Castle
A 25-minute drive away, this 1,600-acre estate delights with ancient woodland, an award-winning limestone rock garden, and a boating lake. Built by the Strickland family in 1350, the house has turrets, battlements, a collection of family paintings, and oak-panelled interiors.
Levens Hall & Garden
A 30-minute drive away, this privately-owned Elizabethan mansion is most cherished for its award-winning topiary gardens – the oldest in the world. Inside, there’s fine oak panelling, ornate plasterwork, leather wall coverings, and he earliest examples of English patchwork.
Settle to Carlisle Railway
This 73-mile-long railway route crosses regions of the Yorkshire Dales and the North Pennines. Head south for the Ribblehead Viaduct as well as Settle, Skipton and Saltaire – or head north for Appleby. The nearest station is Garsdale, a 20-minute drive away.
Hawes & Wensleydale
A 30-minute drive through the Yorkshire Dales takes you to the Hawes, the market town of Upper Wensleydale. From here you can continue through to Wensleydale, the wide open valley famous for its historic villages, traditional markets and crafts, and plentiful cheeses.
Lake District
A 40-minute drive away, the Lake District in the heart of Cumbria has been adored by poets, painters, and literary giants for centuries. It spoils first-timers and returning visitors with charming villages, tumbling waterfalls, impressive peaks, and shimmering bodies of water.
Lake Windemere
An hour’s drive away, this watery wonder measures 10.5 miles long, one mile wide, and 220 feet deep. Whether you start your journey in Bowness, Ambleside, or Lakeside, there are plenty of cruise operators offering old-fashioned steamers or modern sightseeing vessels.
Getting to Thorns Hall
Getting here
Address
Thorns Hall
Cautley Road
Sedbergh
Cumbria LA10 5LE
Tel: +44 (0)1539 620973
By train
The nearest station is Oxenholme, Lake District, on the main line between London and Glasgow.
Check National Rail for routes and journey times.
By shared transfer
If you’re travelling to or from Thorns Hall on Mondays or Fridays or over the festive period, you can join our group transfer from Oxenholme Railway Station.
2024 prices are £40 per person for a return transfer or £20 per person for a single transfer. 2025 prices are £50 per person for a return transfer or £25 per person for a single transfer.
Outward journey: Depart Oxenholme Railway Station at 16:30; arrive at Thorns Hall at 17:10.
Return journey: Depart Thorns Hall at 09:30; arrive at Oxenholme Railway Station at 10:10.
Places are limited so booking is essential. We recommend booking at least 14 days in advance by contacting:
HF Holidays Sales and Support Team
Tel: +44 (0)203 974 8865
Email: reservations@hfholidays.co.uk
By taxi
The journey from Oxenholme station to Thorns Hall is 10 miles and will take about 20 minutes.
For pricing, please contact Woofs of Sedbergh directly.
Woofs of Sedbergh
You can pre-book a taxi from our recommended company, Woofs of Sedbergh*. We recommend booking your taxi at least seven days in advance by contacting:
Tel: +44 (0)1539 620414
Email: woofs.sedbergh@outlook.com
A return journey can be arranged on your behalf by the HF Holidays House Manager at Thorns Hall.
*Woofs of Sedbergh is not owned or managed by HF Holidays.
By car
There’s a car park available at Thorns Hall if you decide to drive.
Leave the M6 at junction 37 and follow the A684 eastbound for five miles to Sedbergh. At Sedbergh follow the road into Finkle Street (avoiding the main street), then almost immediately turn left at a small roundabout into Back Lane. At the next mini roundabout turn onto the A683 following signs to Kirkby Stephen. Thorns Hall is 100 yards on the left.
By air
The nearest airport is Manchester International Airport.
There are direct trains every hour to Oxenholme with the journey taking around 90 minutes. From Oxenholme station you can complete the journey to Sedbergh by taxi.
National Rail have up-to-date information on train times and routes.
Flying to London Heathrow airport is another option, but it'll take you at least four hours to reach Oxenholme. Catch the train to London Paddington station, then the London Underground to London Euston where you can connect to the main line train to Oxenholme. The journey from here is 2.5 hours.
