"You made our wedding something that resembles a fairytale."
Gary & Claire, September 2008

"We were blown away by this place. Simon & Wendy really understand what good food is about and we really like their unique way of doing things.
Fiona Dunbar & Friends, August 2008

"I was amazed by the castle. I made some friends. Oliver & Emily were very nice to me. Thanks for the teddy."
Gabriel, August 2008

"Fantastic place, lovely friendly people. The kids had a ball."
Gabriel's mum, August 2008

"What a perfect place for a wedding. You were all wonderful, everything ran like clockwork."
Cath & Ant, August 2008

"Everything was just perfect, the food, rooms, weather and the staff who kept this place ticking over without ever seeing them!"
Sue, August 2008

"This truly is an amazing, unique and inspired place, made even more exquisite by the immaculate detail and warm atmosphere. The food was divine."
The Armitage Family, July, 2008

"Feels like stepping into a movie."
Marie-Louise, Lars, Peter, Christine & Caroline, July 2008

"We could not have asked for a more beautiful and romantic venue and excellent hospitality."
Malin & Dan, July 2008

"Thank you for a wonderful child friendly stay."
Jennie & Julian Savage & Family, July 2008

"The girls thoroughly enjoyed the cookery school, we all had a wonderful time."
Louise, Gary, Chelsie & Jordan, July 2008

"During 30 years of intensive travel I have stayed in grand and not so grand hotels around the Western World. Never have I been so well looked after in such a lovely environment than here."
A.J Williams, June 2008

"Utterly fabulous."
Jo & Paul Nichols, June 2008

"To Simon and staff at Augill. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your facilities are wonderful, beautiful and so comfortable. The bed in the Little Castle was the best one I have ever slept on."
Stuart Rennie & family, June 2008

"Very impressed by the little things in the room (good coffee!!) and a perfect mix of warmth and privacy."
Joe & Harriet, June 2008

"What a jewel."
Ray Comath, June 2008

"Wendy & Simon, thank you so much for the most beautiful wedding we could have wished for. The atmosphere that you have created here is extra special."
Brynjar & Helena, June 2008

"Exquisite!!"
Claire & Nick, May 2008

"What a great place to celebrate a wedding. We've had so much fun!"
Lucy & Jonathan, May 2008

"Fantastic place, fantastic location, fantastic service."
Andrea, Allan & Olivia, May 2008

"Awesome! We were blown away by everything here. We look forward to staying in every room you have in the future."
Nick & Jen, May 2008

"We have enjoyed every minute of our stay here. Wendy & Simon are great hosts and have managed to create a place that is beautiful and relaxing. Best of all was just how child friendly the castle is. A real gem."
Lewis, Fiona, Holly (7), Adam (5) & Rebecca (5), May 2008

"This is a wondrful, magical, romantic castle. The people here are so friendly and gracious. The food is divine. We have fallen in love with Augill Castle."
Gary & Jason, May 2008

"This was the most wondrful place for my surprise 60th birthday and it lived up to its first enchanting impression. Love the food, the style, the setting and IT!"
Rita & John, May 2008

"I liked the dog and cat, the playground, the treehouse, the pianos and the turret wardrobe."
Zoe, May 2008

"The first truly welcoming hotel for our kids and the most astonishingly stylish castle. Loved the honesty bar and the relaxed hosts."
Bek, Rob, Saskia & Flynn, May 2008

"A truly stylish and welcoming place for families in a glorious setting. Wendy & Simon and the rest of the crew made us very at home and our son Max had the run of the place."
Laura, Andrew & Max, May 2008

"It was all great. Two very happy children and two relaxed parents. Keep up the good work."
Justin & Nina, April 2008

"What a great break for parents and children. Ruby & Freddie have had a wonderful time."
Rosie & Tim, April 2008

"Thank you so much. Me and my family had a fab time. My dad loved his birthday and we will come again. I felt like a princess and the food was great (so was Holly)."
Alex, April 2008

"What a top pad!"
Kevin & Lynne Hilton, March 2008

"Our princess was married in a perfect castle made extra special by your laid back style, warm, friendly but efficient."
Michael & Dawn Merrill, March 2008

"From the second we met you to plan our wedding we knew everything would be fabulous. Our expectations have been far exceeded."
Gary Sarah Lea, March 2008

"It's now our fifth visit and we always struggle to leave this wonderful home."
Kaye & Jason Panni, March 2008

"It's been like a dream staying here."
David & Laura, March 2008

"What a memorable four days. Big thank you for looking after us so well. We had a fantastic wedding day - Emily picking flowers for the bride, Oliver cutting the cake with his sword were touches we'll never forget."
Linda, Andy & Rosie, March 2008

We do, of course take all criticism seriously and have listened to and acted on several guest comments and suggestions that have helped us improve our service. We're happy to say that complaints are few however, there are the odd brickbats worth sharing...

'...the odiferous dog under the table' Summer 2008

'Spooky and oppresive' Summer 2007

'The bed creaks almost as much as the floorboards' Summer 2008

'One would expect flat screen TVs in a place like this' Autumn 2007

'We've heard quite enough about how this is your home thanks' Spring 2002

'Christmas lunch took forever' Christmas 2000

Posted on 10 Sep 2008

"Grand and romantic yet effortlessly informal, Augill is a real home... it's all roaring fires, comfy sofas and evenings spent feasting on homemade, four course dinners served around the huge dining table."

The Observer, December 2007

"For a place to stay with a difference, Augill Castle is hard to beat with turrets, battlements, ornate lattice and mullioned windows."

FlyBe Uncovered, January 2008

"The taste of Augill is truly delicious. It is a most imposing home but there is no regality to Wendy & Simon's warm welcome."

Karen Brown's Guides, Spring 2008

"It is wild and beautiful here... from the windows of Augill the hills beckon gently. It's grand but intimate too... bedrooms are historic but homely... Augill slows you down and places you in some of Britain's lovliest countryside. The atmosphere is created by Simon and Wendy who have chosen quality of experience over the modern pressure to have more, bigger and faster."

The Observer, Go Slow England, March 2008

"Lord it up in your very own castle. The welcoming owners of this Victorian castle hand over their wonderfully quirky home for wedding parties."

Brides: 100 Hot Wedding Venues in the UK, April 2008

"Augill Castle is imposing but you can still kick off your shoes and relax... from the moment visitors see the castle they're knocked out."

Cumbria Life, August 2008

"We were blown away by this place."

Cumbria Tourisn Mystery Shopper, April 2008

"Grand interiors come properly furnished... Wendy, Simon and their staff ply you with delicious food, big pillows and massive tubs."

Alastair Sawday's Special Places to Stay, Hotels & Inns, September 2008

... and a few from the archives:

"What a magical place to be married."

The Independent

"There is nothing stuck up or forbidding about this most relaxed of castles."

The Sunday Times

"As dinner progresses you realise this is like nowhere you have ever been before."

Manchester Evening News

"Kick off your wellies by the front door without causing a scandal."

The Big House Party

"A truly amazing place."

Les Routiers Great Britain & Ireland

"The taste of Augill is quite delicious."

Karen Brown's Guides, USA

"Simon & Wendy have poured all their creative talent into the palatial bedrooms and the results are stunning."

Cumbria Life

Posted on 10 Sep 2008

Augill Castle is one of just five special places to stay across the country to be awarded a full set of three of Alastair Sawday's new ethical stamps. The new grading system from Sawdays, trailblazers in championing ethical and environmentally responsible tourism, cites Augill Castle as having made the grade in its environment, community and food categories singling us out for our commitment to reduce our environmental impact, the positive role we play in our local community and our efforts to source local and home grown food and other supplies. Coming from such an authoratitive source as Sawdays, this makes us probably England's most environmentally and socially responsible green castle to stay at.

Posted on 10 Sep 2008

This autumn there will be treasure to be found at Augill Castle. A collection of golden dragons and griffins from the castle's coat of arms will be hidden around the castle at half term. Children will be able to hunt for the mythical creatures and there will be prizes for finding a full set.

Posted on 10 Sep 2008

We are delighted to be back in The Good Hotel Guide 2009 after a year's absence due to lack of reports! If you come to stay and feel Augill Castle is worthy of inclusion again next year, please write to the Good Hotel Guide and let them know about your stay at www.goodhotelguide.com

Posted on 09 Sep 2008

Where better to herald in a new year than a fairytale English castle? At Augill Castle in Cumbria's Eden Valley, between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, you can relax in front of a roaring fire, sip a whisky mac and look forward to a sumptuous five course banquet to take you into 2009. There'll be no forced jolity, no dancing against your will, just great food, good company and a glorious bed to retreat to in your own time at your own pace. Families will be welcome too and there'll be plenty to keep younger visitors occupied until midnight. Double rooms start at £260 for two on New Year's Eve, or £460 to include New Year's day as well.

Posted on 05 Sep 2008

Our first round of Little Augill Cooks children's cookery courses at the castle in July & August was a great success with several dates fully booked, really adding to our family friendly country house credentials. We are offering more dates in October half term. Feedback from the children who have taken part in the cookery school has been very positive with many saying they loved not being treated like children and enjoyed the opportunity to cook 'proper food' rather than 'baby things'. We have family rooms and suites with interconnecting bedrooms available for our upcoming courses and if you're coming for more than one day, there's still the lake district and yorkshire dales on our doorstep to explore.

Posted on 26 Aug 2008

Augill has always been happiest when it is full. We're determined not to let the current doom and gloom (and that's not just the weather in the lake district!) get us down. The castle was built to entertain and has always come alive when full of people. So, to encourage as many visitors as possible to enjoy our unique brand of Augill hospitality, our four poster beds and happy family and child friendly atmosphere, we are offering the chance to pay for two nights and stay for three. Come for two nights between the beginning of September and the end of January and we'll give you a third night, bed & breakfast, on the castle. There will be a limit on the number of offers available each week, so early booking may be advisable, especially at weekends. We also have the same offer available on a few weekends still free for a wedding or house party for exclusive use.
Please quote 'website free night offer'.
This offer is not available during October half term.

Posted on 26 Aug 2008

Team GB in Beijing are not the only team celebrating a winning streak! Having won Cumbria Tourism's Guest Accommodation of the Year award in May, a recognition of the relaxed and informal way we create the real country house experience, our team at Augill Castle are now representing the county in the North West Tourism Awards to be announced in October. If we're successful, we'll go on to the national EnjoyEngland awards. Ten years of hard work from a dedicated team, huge beds, good showers, deep baths, great food, a happy family atmosphere and the willingness to listen to what our guests tell us have got us this far as well as achieving five stars and gold award for excellence.

Posted on 26 Aug 2008

As summer turns to autumn, we are starting to look towards Christmas. We have not opened the castle for Christmas since our children were babies and were unaware of the frantic preparations that go into Christmas in a castle going on all around them. But this year we are offering an utterly family focused Cumbrian Christmas at the castle where parents can relax knowing that their children will have plenty of space and other playmates for entertainment. It may not be the quietest way to celebrate Christmas, but there will be huge beds, great food, a happy family atmosphere and certainly not a dull moment. Christmas at Augill Castle has given us some of our best memories and we are looking forward to sharing this relaxed and informal Christmas with some new friends.

Posted on 26 Aug 2008