A COUPLE who moved from London to open a guesthouse in the Dales, with no experience of catering or hospitality, have won Yorkshire’s top award for guest accommodation for the second year running.

Jane and Neil McNair of Low Mill Guesthouse, Bainbridge, entered Welcome to Yorkshire’s White Rose awards having taken the top spot in the category twice before: last year, and in 2013.

"We had no expectations this time round. We certainly thought it unlikely we’d win two years in a row," said Mr McNair, a carpenter and builder who oversaw the transformation of the restored 18th Century flour mill by the River Bain into a top tourist destination with multiple awards.

The couple bought the Grade 11 listed building six years ago on a whim, after seeing it advertised in an estate agent’s window during a weekend break. Partly restored by the previous owner it had been empty for several years and took a year to refurbish before they opened for business.

Six miles away at Newbiggin in Bishopdale, Diane and Andrew Howarth of Newbiggin were celebrating winning the White Rose self-catering award for their luxury cottages for the first time – The Byre, also at Newbiggin, and Inglenook Cottage in West Burton.

They also made their home in the Dales in 2010 and began the transformation of the Newbiggin property. Like the McNairs they used exclusively locally-sourced materials and produce.

"We go to great lengths to promote local businesses and attractions. That really is our strength. We give personal recommendations on where to eat, what to see, where to shop," said Mr Howarth.

Next summer they hope another cottage conversion, The Dairy, in the grounds of their Newbiggin property, will be completed. The Dairy will provide facilities for guests with mobility, hearing and visual impairments to National Accessibility Standards, possibly the first in the Dales to do so.

by Betsy Everett