Time to reach for the stars
Finding aspirational places to live that protect the country’s wild spaces is a big ask but the pretty village of Birstwith fits the bill perfectly, says DEBORAH STONE
HARROGATE, Leeds and York mark the three points of Yorkshire’s property golden triangle but it’s the surrounding countryside that is, quite literally, the star attraction for many who live in the area.
As well as being able to see thousands of stars at night from the hills and dales, you can even see the Northern Lights when conditions are right.
Now the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are the focus of campaigns to win International Dark Sky Reserve status to help protect the region’s connection to nature.
Just 10 UK sites have this status, three each in England,wales and Scotland with another in the
Channel Islands, but none of these are so close to major towns and cities.
Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty already has four official Dark Sky Discovery Sites, noted for their excellent places to stargaze, at Thruscross reservoir, Scar House reservoir, Fewston reservoir and Toft Gate.
But while Britain’s wild spaces need our support and protection it’s also true that people need aspirational places to live and the newwest House Gardens development in the pretty village of
Birstwith fits the bill. Its 33 three to five-bedroom houses are set in a landscaped five-acre site in the Nidderdalevalley on the doorstep of the 53-mile Nidderdaleway footpath.
The path meanders beside the river on the outskirts of Birstwith and is particularly pretty near the church, which has thriving social clubs, a choir and Church of England primary school.
There’s a post office and village shop and the tennis and cricket clubs help maintain the strong sense of community.
“Birstwith is an idyllic and welcoming community, set in stunning countryside in the Nidderdale valley, yet conveniently close to the wonderful town of Harrogate,” says Anthony Mackle, sales and marketing director of Newby, the North Yorkshire-based developer.
The firm aims to build communities as well as luxury homes such as those atwest House Gardens, where high-quality fittings include underfloor heating throughout the ground floor, timber windows and designer bathrooms.
Currently only seven houses are still available and ready to move into, although more may be released later. Prices start at £690,000 (01423 326336; newby. co.uk). Birstwith is just six miles from Harrogate, where Newby’s 61-home development Springfield Court is on the site of an old council building in the town centre.the mix of new-build and conversion homes includes one, two and three-bedroom apartments with allocated private parking in a gated development.
Its first phase of 35 two and three-bedroom apartments start at £299,995 (01423 326336; newby. co.uk) and there’s a limited offer for stamp duty to be paid.
These high-end apartments have wooden floors, carpeted bedrooms, smart heating control, broadband connections, video entry phones and terraces or balconies.
IN RECENT years Yorkshire has benefited from a growth in digital industries and financial services, bringing new employment opportunities to the region, particularly in Leeds. There are good rail connections between York and London – it takes fewer than two hours – and flights to London and Europe from Leeds Bradford Airport.
As for Harrogate, Newby’s founding partner Nick Moody points out that there are four railway stations in the spa town and adds: “If there’s a list compiled of the best places to live, you can pretty much guarantee Harrogate will be on it.”
● To help the campaign for International Dark Sky Reserve status visit nidderdaleaonb.org.uk