Old Croft House

We stopped at The Old Croft House during our Coast-to-Coast hike and enjoyed the stay so much. Nick and Rachel were warm, welcoming and always helpful. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the house is beautifully decorated with personal, eclectic touches. Breakfast and the box lunches were generous and delicious. A couple of small things made it feel extra thoughtful: epsom salts for our tired hiking legs and the best homemade flapjacks we had on our travels. Thank you, Nick and Rachel!

We were in town for a wedding, and the hosts did everything they could to make the stay easy and enjoyable. The location is lovely, and there are plenty of good places to eat and drink within an easy walk. Breakfast was fantastic. What a great find. Thanks for having us.

The best part of our stay was Nick and Rachel, along with their dog Dillon. We arrived soaked after walking in the rain all day. Nick took our wet gear to the drying room, and Rachel brought hot tea and homemade cake to our room. They were so helpful and personable throughout. This was our first stop last year when we walked half of the C to C, from Kirkby Stephen to Robin Hood’s Bay. When we came back to England to finish the route, from St. Bees to Kirkby Stephen, we were lucky enough to spend two nights here at the end. The Old Croft house is centrally located, our room was beautifully decorated and had everything we needed, and breakfast was delicious, with options we hadn't found at other inns. We'd love to stay again if we return to Kirkby Stephen.

Breakfast was as good as the welcome that started my stay. The homemade sourdough was baked fresh each morning, and it was the best bread I had during my month in the UK. I ordered a packed lunch too, and Rachel's ginger-oat flapjack was so tasty I asked for the recipe. After a rainy day's walk, she had brought hot tea and a delicious homemade Victoria sponge to my room, and Nick had greeted me warmly at the door. I spent 16 days walking the Coast to Coast, and this classic bed-and-breakfast in the heart of Kirkby Stephen was probably my favourite place to stay. Nick and Rachel were so kind and friendly, and worked incredibly hard. I felt like a guest of generous friends. Setting off into the drizzle again the next morning, I felt refreshed and cared for.