JANE and Neil McNair never planned to live in Yorkshire. In fact, until a weekend break in the Dales three years ago, Neil had never even visited the place.

So, with no experience of hospitality, little inclination to entertain and not the slightest intention of leaving London, where they’d lived nearly all their lives, it comes as a bit of a surprise to find them running a multi-award-winning guest house in Bainbridge.

Low Mill, the 18th-century watermill, converted for living in the 1970s, had stood empty for four years when the McNairs acquired and renovated it in 2010. It’s just won bed and breakfast of the year at the White Rose awards, and AA guest house of 2013/14 in May, making it the best in England.

They seem genuinely surprised by their success, and still not sure why, or even how, they did what they did: nearly a year’s hard slog in stripping out and renovating the unique property alongside the River Bain in what must rate as one of the most stunning locations in Britain.

What’s more, and significantly, a property that enjoys the distinction of being a Grade 11 listed building in the Yorkshire Dales national park, whose headquarters happen to be just across the village green. It took six weeks and several visits just to get the pointing material approved: pointing is a big deal on listed buildings.

The windows were installed in the ’70s when retired GP Dr Christopher Coles did the original conversion, and so, says Neil, had to be re-done in the same style.

“We had to apply for permission to replace them with double-glazed units but we wanted oak frames, not pine, and the authority did agree to that,” says Neil.

There was little structural work to be done: it was semi-derelict when Dr Cole undertook an extensive refurbishment of the old building, restoring the wheel and mill machinery, opening it to the public and using it as a workshop and for his famous dolls’ house museum.

But, say Jane and Neil, the years of neglect as it stood empty after his death, had taken their toll, and the 1970s preference for miles of stained, pine panelling on the walls and ceilings meant there was much to be done.

“It’s not a criticism. It was of its time,” says Neil.

There was also, in the energy- conscious 21st century, the need for masses of insulation.

“There was foam everywhere. We couldn’t move for it. It wasn’t a skilled job but it was hard work and there was lots of it, but it was something I could do,” says Jane, who before becoming the doyenne of bed and breakfast accommodation - with varied and extensive dinner menus every night of the week - managed a vets'

practice in London.

“We were freezing throughout that bitterly cold 2010/11 winter. We had to live in the dining-room,” she recalls. Dennis, the 18-yearold lurcher, and a soft southerner, needed no fewer than three winter coats.

Neil, a builder, carpenter and property developer, was more at home with the building work. Still, they used local craftsmen for plumbing, electrics and other specialist jobs.

“We are so lucky here to have so many skilled people and it shows now in every aspect of our business.

Everything we serve is locally- sourced. People comment on the meat which we get from our local butcher, Nigel Hammond. Just try the supermarket version - there’s no comparison,” says Neil.

Jane reflects on that long, and life-changing, weekend three and a bit years ago.

“We were on our way to Cotterdale where I used to holiday as a child. But we stopped at Hawes, looked in the estate agent’s window and our lives changed. We never did get to Cotterdale.”

“We will,” says Neil. “One day. When we’re not so busy.”

With the Tour de France looming, for which he's offered to make giant letters spelling out the name of the village so it can be seen from the air as the race passes through, and their fame spreading with every award, it’s hard to imagine when that might be.