STONE HOUSE HOTEL
Wensleydale

Special Interest and Activity Breaks and Holidays in the Yorkshire Dales

The following courses have been planned.

Please note: All our Special Interest Breaks become fully booked very quickly, so please reserve your place early to avoid disappointment. Please ring reception for prices, dates and availability.

• An Introduction to the relaxing art of Malt Whisky Drinking
• Wine Tasting Courses
• Watercolour Painting Courses
• Oil Painting Courses
• An Introduction to the Art of Fly-fishing
• Guitar Courses
• Photography Workshops
• Relax and Rejuvenate
• Embroidery Courses

Each course will be approximately three days and will usually commence on a Sunday. The price will differ for each course but will include dinner, bed and breakfast, tutor fees and all materials unless otherwise stated.

For details of dates, prices and course content, please contact us. If you have any ideas for other courses that you may be interested in, please let us know.

The Relaxing Art of Malt Whisky Tasting: from £225 per person
Sunday 24th & Monday 25th February 2008 and
Sunday 9th & Monday 10th November 2008

Imagine a rejuvenating break in magnificent Wensleydale whilst at the same time learning and enjoying the relaxing art of Malt Whisky drinking!

If the idea seems like heaven, then why not book your place on our next introduction to whisky tasting at the Stone House Hotel, comprising of ten classic malt whiskies over two nights.

The evenings will be hosted by a keen whisky drinker of some experience who will guide you through the malts with their various differences and complexities, the history and manufacture of malt whisky and the best way of getting the most from tasting them. There will also be the odd anecdote and light-hearted fact along the way!

The price will include:

• two nights' dinner, bed and full Dales breakfast
• four-course dinner with coffee, ten malt whiskies
• all tuition fees

Prices

• £225 - standard rooms
• £230 - conservatory rooms
• £235 - four-poster rooms

This course would also make an ideal Christmas/Birthday gift for friends or relatives. Why not buy a voucher online or from reception to make a stylish gift with a difference!

If you wish to bring along your partner and they do not wish to participate in the course but would like to join you for a relaxing break, then our normal Bargain Break price will apply.

Host Profile: Phil Lindsey
A resident of West Yorkshire, Phil is not so much a text book expert as an enthusiast of malt whiskies! In the field of malt whiskies he is widely drunk (if that is the correct term) and has a wide experience of alcoholic beer and wine making. Phil's association with the Stone House Hotel began back in 1996 when the hotel was the honeymoon destination for Phil and his wife.

For availability please ring reception on 01969 667571 (+44 1969 667571 from outside the UK)

Watercolour, Oil Painting & Sketching Courses in the Yorkshire Dales: from £320 per person
Next course: dates to be confirmed

The stunning landscape and colours of the Yorkshire Dales have inspired artists for hundreds of years. Stone House Hotel is teaming up with local artist, Moira Metcalfe, to offer guests the opportunity of capturing this natural beauty on paper whilst enjoying a relaxing short break in magnificent Wensleydale.

The three-day course will cover drawing, sketching and painting using watercolour. The aim is to have an enjoyable experience and hopefully achieve a degree of progress. The course will be suitable for all levels of ability, particularly beginners. It will not necessarily be aimed at producing a finished painting by the end of the three days, but rather to leave the participants with enough encouragement, confidence and groundwork to go away and continue with the work done on the course.

Whenever the weather permits, the classes will be taken outside to work directly from nature and the stunning Wensleydale scenery. Moira also has a private studio that can accommodate up to ten artists.

Check into your ensuite accommodation any time after 1pm on the Sunday and enjoy all the comforts the Stone House has to offer. Moira will then meet you and discuss the course over a delicious 4-course dinner.

The price will include:

• three nights' dinner, bed and breakfast
• a packed lunch on the three painting days
• all tuition fees
• exclusive use of the studio.

Prices

• £320 - standard rooms
• £330 - conservatory rooms
• £340 - four poster rooms.

Please note: all artists will be required to bring their own materials.

This course would also make an ideal gift for friends or relatives. Why not buy a voucher online or from reception to make a stylish gift with a difference!

If you wish to bring along your partner and they do not wish to participate in the course but would like to join you for a relaxing break, then our normal Bargain Break price will apply.

Host Profile: Moira Metcalfe
Pre-Diploma - 1 year, York Art College
BA (Hons) in Fine Art - North Staffs Polytechnic - completed 1976
1976-80 - Freelance Artist/running a small handknitting design company
1980-85 - Part-time craft fair work, marriage and raising three children
1985 - Full-time Artist specialising in watercolours on silk, pastel and pencil work, selling though galleries and exhibitions
1995 - Opened own gallery in Appersett in conjunction with private teaching and submitting work to exhibitions.

For availability please ring reception on 01969 667571 (+44 1969 667571 from outside the UK)

Oil Painting Courses in the Yorkshire Dales: from £320 per person
Next course: dates to be confirmed

The stunning landscape and colours of the Yorkshire Dales have inspired artists for hundreds of years. Stone House Hotel is teaming up with local artist, Moira Metcalfe, to offer guests the opportunity of capturing this natural beauty whilst enjoying a relaxing short break in magnificent Wensleydale.

The three-day course will cover drawing, sketching and painting using oil paints. The aim is to have an enjoyable experience and hopefully achieve a degree of progress. The course will be suitable for all levels of ability, particularly beginners. It will not necessarily be aimed at producing a finished painting by the end of the three days, but rather to leave the participants with enough encouragement, confidence and groundwork to go away and continue with the work done on the course.

Whenever the weather permits, the classes will be taken outside to work directly from nature and the stunning Wensleydale scenery. Moira also has a private studio that can accommodate up to ten artists.

Check into your ensuite accommodation any time after 1pm on the Sunday and enjoy all the comforts the Stone House has to offer. Moira will then meet you and discuss the course over a delicious 4-course dinner.

The price will include:

• three nights' dinner, bed and breakfast
• a packed lunch on the three painting days
• all tuition fees
• exclusive use of the studio.

Prices

• £320 - standard rooms
• £330 - conservatory rooms
• £340 - four poster rooms.

Please note: all artists will be required to bring their own materials.

This course would also make an ideal gift for friends or relatives. Why not buy a voucher online or from reception to make a stylish gift with a difference!

If you wish to bring along your partner and they do not wish to participate in the course but would like to join you for a relaxing break, then our normal Bargain Break price will apply.

Host Profile: Moira Metcalfe
Pre-Diploma - 1 year, York Art College
BA (Hons) in Fine Art - North Staffs Polytechnic - completed 1976
1976-80 - Freelance Artist/running a small handknitting design company
1980-85 - Part-time craft fair work, marriage and raising three children
1985 - Full-time Artist specialising in watercolours on silk, pastel and pencil work, selling though galleries and exhibitions
1995 - Opened own gallery in Appersett in conjunction with private teaching and submitting work to exhibitions.

For availability please ring reception on 01969 667571 (+44 1969 667571 from outside the UK)

Wine Tasting in the Yorkshire Dales: From £345
Next tasting: Sunday 9th March 2008 - 3 NIGHTS

Sunday

A look at Riesling and Pinot Noir from around the World

Riesling is so often misunderstood – this will restore your faith

Pinot Noir is the wine makers nightmare grape but they can be successful

 

MONDAY

Spanish Speakers

A look at wines from Spain, Chile and Argentina

TUESDAY

Vertical tastings

6 vintages of Warden Vineyard English Wine

6 vintages of Château Coutet Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

There will be wines from the evening’s themes with dinner

 

The cost will be: (per person)

• four poster rooms : £395.00
• conservatory rooms : £385.00
• superior standard : £375.00
• standard room : £365.00

• Three nights' dinner, bed and full Dales breakfast
• All tasting wines and wines with dinner.
• Wine tuition from Mr Derek Smedley, who has 40 years' experience in the wine trade and some 30 years as a Master of Wine. Derek will be happy to answer any questions on wine during the three days

This break would also make an ideal Christmas/Birthday gift for friends or relatives. Why not buy a voucher online or from reception to make a stylish gift with a difference!

If you wish to bring along your partner and they do not wish to participate in the course but would like to join you for a relaxing break, then our normal Bargain Break price will apply.

For availability please ring reception on 01969 667571 (+44 1969 667571 from outside the UK)

An Introduction to the Art of Fly-fishing - courses in the Yorkshire Dales - from £395 per person
18, 19 & 20 May 2008

This course is intended for people with no or very little current experience of the art and craft of fly-fishing. It will be practically based and the emphasis will be firmly upon exploring the relaxation and enjoyment associated with the sport. We will cover all basic aspects of fly fishing including:

• Equipment
• Fly Casting

"First catch of the day"

• Artificial flies
• Practical fishing skills
• Safety issues
• Environmental factors
• Entomology

Here in upper Wensleydale, we have access to a small, secluded still water fishery and to the beautiful river Ure. Both these venues may feature in our fishing programme.

All equipment will be provided. If you can beg or borrow a pair of waders, that would be ideal; failing that, bring your wellies.

This course will be led by Roger Beck of Beckfisher Fly-fishing School. Roger is a qualified professional fly-fishing instructor and guide who you may have seen featured in the Yorkshire Post and on television in "Dales Diary". Roger has recently been selected as a member of the Hardy Academy of fly-fishing instructors. This prestigious English rod maker has appointed only a handful of people to their Academy and the appointment is in recognition of excellence in their field.

This is a golden opportunity to learn, with a professional, an absorbing and relaxing skill in wonderful surroundings.

Prices - to be confirmed but from £395 per person

This course would also make an ideal gift for friends or relatives. Why not buy a voucher online or from reception to make a stylish gift with a difference!

If you wish to bring along your partner and they do not wish to participate in the course but would like to join you for a relaxing break, then our normal Bargain Break price will apply.

For prices and availability please ring reception on 01969 667571 (+44 1969 667571 from outside the UK)

Folk, Classical & Jazz Guitar tuition in the Yorkshire Dales - NEW FOR 2008 - TAILOR MADE TUITION from £199 per person
Dates to suit (subject to availabilty)

2008 - Two-day workshops in Folk, Classical or Jazz Guitar (according to demand) utilising the "Mind Scaffolding"® method of guitar study, including:

• How to tune and change strings
• Tablature and notation
• Repertoire
• Technique
• Learn new material faster
• Compose pieces instantly
• Chord construction & symbols
• Harmonise using intervals
• Back-cycling & Bass lines
• Use 7-minute warm-ups
• Practise effectively
• The 3 elements of improvisation

The Tutor: Brendan McCormack
Brendan plays both classical and jazz guitar. He studied with Emilio Pujol and Barney Kessel and was for 10 years Resident Guitarist with Granada TV. Brendan featured with the London Philharmonic Orchestra on their 4-CD set "Take my Breath Away" and CD "Themes for Lovers", and was the founder of the International Guitar Festival of Great Britain.

Dates

• one to one tuition can be added onto any dates of your choice - subject to availabilty

Prices

• from £199 per person (standard rooms)

Prices are per person and include 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast, all tutor fees and VAT.

Places will be limited, so please book early. Non course participants can stay for the current tariff.

For reservations please call 01969 667571.

This course would also make an ideal gift for friends or relatives. Why not buy a voucher online or from reception to make a stylish gift with a difference!

For prices and availability please ring reception on 01969 667571 (+44 1969 667571 from outside the UK)

Digital Photography Workshops in the Yorkshire Dales - from £310.00 per person
NEXT COURSE : Sunday 13th April - 3 nights

prices from £310.00 per person

This three day workshop is set in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, with stunning scenery all around. It is the ideal location to learn or improve your photography skills. During the course you will learn how to use the functions of your camera, discover how to capture the landscape using natural light, the art of composition and the correct use of filters, understanding depth of field and an introduction to digital photography and imaging. See some of Steve's wonderful photographs in our own Yorkshire Dales Photo Gallery.

The Tutor: Steve Reeve
Award winning photographer, Steve Reeve, will guide you through the basic information required in becoming an accomplished photographer. Steve has been a professional photographer for over 20 years and has won many awards. He also runs a successful photo library www.stevereevephotography.co.uk which supplies images to books, magazines and brochures.

The Venue
The Stone House Hotel is set in one of the most delightful and peaceful locations in the Yorkshire Dales. A unique area of natural beauty. A blend of rich green valleys, limestone, rivers and dramatic waterfalls.The old market town of Hawes is a short drive away.

Start/finish Times
10.00am to 4pm each day.

Equipment required
Your camera, film or digital media, a tripod if you have one. Bring a few of your best photos along for discussion.

Clothing
Walking boots, warm clothing and waterproof jacket. The weather in the Dales can change suddenly so come prepared with spare warm clothes.

Dates

• 13, 14 & 15 April 2008

Prices

• £310 - standard rooms
• £330 - conservatory rooms
• £350 - four poster rooms.

Prices are per person and include 3 nights dinner, bed and breakfast, all tutor fees, packed lunch each day and VAT.

Places will be limited, so please book early. Non course participants can stay for the current tariff.

For reservations please call 01969 667571.

This course would also make an ideal gift for friends or relatives. Why not buy a voucher online or from reception to make a stylish gift with a difference!

For prices and availability please ring reception on 01969 667571 (+44 1969 667571 from outside the UK)

Relax and Rejuvenate Break: from £360 per person
Next Break: Dates to be confirmed

With Kathy Scott of Ginger Tree Health & Beauty.

Take the opportunity to enjoy a mid-week break with a difference. On offer will be relaxation and gentle stretch classes, energising, detoxing and holistic treatments such as massage and facials, talks, short-to-medium walks, organic wholefoods and a take-home pack of organic face or body products.

Places are limited to just 6 to ensure the highest level of attention.

The price will be from £360 per person and will include:

• 3 nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast in a standard room (room upgrades available - please see below)
• All Treatments and Classes
• Take-home Pack

Prices

• from £360.00

This break would also make an ideal Christmas/Birthday gift for friends or relatives. Why not buy a voucher online or from reception to make a stylish gift with a difference!

For availability please ring reception on 01969 667571 (+44 1969 667571 from outside the UK)

Embroidery Courses in the Yorkshire Dales:
(4 nights)

Embroidery and Canvas work, using different threads and stitches. Suitable for beginners and all levels of embroidery.

For prices, dates and availability please ring reception on 01969 667571 (+44 1969 667571 from outside the UK)

See also:

Dates for your Diary

Check back again soon or telephone reception for full details of more courses and breaks!