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Two cosy, dog-friendly holiday cottages beside Gouthwaite Reservoir in beautiful Nidderdale. Up to three dogs stay free.

Each sleeps four, with an enclosed garden, log fire and walks from the door. Explore the Yorkshire Dales or simply enjoy the peace. Covill Cottages are located on the edge of Gouthwaite Reservoir in beatiful Upper Nidderdale- one of the most scenic Yorkshire Dales and rightly enjoying it's AONB status. This pair of charming characterful stone cottages have many original features including stone floors, exposed wooden beams and log fires. Each cottage has two bedrooms and will sleep 4 guests. It is an ideal location to explore the Yorkshire Dales with Wharfedale to the south and Wensleydale to the North. The bustling little market town of Pateley Bridge is only 6 miles away with its selection of independant stores and galleries. Located on the Nidderdale Way, it is situated in an enviable position to explore the many walking and mountain biking opportunities that Nidderdale has to offer. At the front of the cottages is a pretty patio area with furniture where you can enjoy your morning coffee or dine alfresco in the summer months. There is also shared use of a lawned area with a picnic table where you can listen to the sound of the stream babbling by and soak in the panoramic countryside views.

01/11/2026

Who’s visiting Gouthwaite this winter?

We’re not the only ones welcoming visitors to Nidderdale. As autumn turns to winter, Gouthwaite Reservoir attracts feathered guests of its own.

Look out for goosanders and tufted ducks on the water, and you might even spot visiting whooper swans. You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy watching them: binoculars, a warm coat and a little patience are a good start.

From the reservoir’s viewing areas, take a moment to scan the water. What first looks like a scattering of distant dots can become a busy scene of birds feeding, diving and moving between flocks.

Gouthwaite is a nature reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, making it much more than a lovely view beside our cottages. Please give the birds plenty of space and keep dogs under close control.

If you’re staying at Covill Cottages this winter, pop your binoculars in the bag. You never know who else might have checked in.

Have you spotted a favourite bird at Gouthwaite?

31/10/2026

What’s your idea of a perfect cottage day?

A leisurely breakfast, then boots on and out into Nidderdale with the dogs? A wander around Pateley Bridge’s shops, followed by a pub lunch? Or a book by the fire, with absolutely no intention of checking the time?

Perhaps you’d squeeze in a bit of everything: a walk, something good to eat and an evening back at the cottage with a board game and a glass of w**e.

One of the pleasures of a stay at Covill Cottages is having the freedom to decide when you wake up. The countryside is on your doorstep, and there’s somewhere cosy to return to whenever you’ve had enough exploring.

Would you fill the day with plans, or see where it takes you? Tell us what your perfect cottage day would look like.

25/10/2026

An extra hour in Nidderdale

When the clocks go back, how would you spend your extra hour?

At Covill Cottages, we’d be tempted to take a little longer over breakfast, then head out for a walk beside Gouthwaite Reservoir. There’s no need to hurry back: the cottages will be waiting, with a hot drink and a log fire when you return.

Autumn in Nidderdale is lovely at its own pace. 🍂

How would you spend your extra hour?

24/10/2026

A taste of Nidderdale in autumn 🍂

One of the pleasures of a cottage break is deciding what to have for supper with no particular hurry.

Spend the afternoon browsing the food shops in Pateley Bridge. Pick up some good Yorkshire cheese, fresh bread and something for dinner, then head back to the cottage as the light begins to fade. There’s plenty of room to cook if you fancy it, but a simple spread on the table can be every bit as satisfying.

Pour a glass of w**e, light the log fire and settle in. Outside, autumn might be doing its best to remind you that you’re in Yorkshire. Inside, you’ve got everything you need for a lovely evening.

What’s the first thing you’d put on your Nidderdale supper table?

18/10/2026

A holiday where the dogs are invited too 🐾

At Covill Cottages, we know a break is better when the dogs can come along. Both Lakeview and Dalesview welcome up to three dogs at no extra charge, so there’s no need to choose which member of the family gets a holiday.

Each cottage has its own enclosed garden, and we provide dog bowls, towels and treats to help everyone settle in. Then, when it’s time to explore, you can head out into Nidderdale straight from the cottage door. There are country paths, waterside views around Gouthwaite Reservoir and plenty of new smells to investigate.

After a day outdoors, the dogs can snooze while you put your feet up by the log fire. Muddy paws, happy dogs and no rush to be anywhere else: that sounds like a proper holiday to us.

Please keep dogs close around livestock and follow any signs on local paths.

How many dogs would you bring along?

https://covillcottages.com

17/10/2026

The Nidderdale village with its own cinema… that disappeared

If you’ve walked around Scar House Reservoir, you’ll know how quiet and remote it feels today. It’s hard to imagine that, a century ago, a whole village stood just below the dam.

Scar Village was built for the people constructing the reservoir and their families. And it had rather more than a few workers’ huts: there were shops, a school, a post office, a hospital, a fish and chip shop, tennis courts and even a concert hall and cinema.

Perhaps the most surprising detail? The village had electric lighting, hot and cold running water and flushing toilets at a time when many homes in Pateley Bridge had none of those luxuries.

Once the reservoir was finished in 1936, the village was sold off and dismantled. Today you can still spot traces of it near Scar House. Next time you’re up there, pause for a moment and picture children heading to school, workers coming home and families going to the cinema in what now feels like the middle of nowhere.

That’s one of the things we love about Nidderdale: even the quietest places have stories to tell.

10/10/2026

An autumn walk from the cottage door 🍂

There’s something lovely about setting off for a walk in October without having to get in the car first. Pull on your boots, step out of Covill Cottages and you’re straight into the Nidderdale countryside.

The views around Gouthwaite Reservoir change with the season: trees turning gold and rust, hills fading into the mist, and the water reflecting whatever the Yorkshire sky happens to be doing that day. Bring a camera, take your time and enjoy the excuse to stop and look around.

And if the weather turns halfway through? That’s part of an autumn walk too. Head back to the cottage, hang up your coat, make a hot drink and settle in beside the log fire. The best walks often end that way.

Who else thinks autumn is one of the loveliest times to visit Nidderdale?

04/10/2026

Rainy days in Nidderdale? We’ve got a few ideas.

A grey forecast needn’t mean staying in all day. Some places are even more memorable when the Yorkshire weather gets involved:

Explore Stump Cross Caverns. Leave the rain behind and head beneath Greenhow Hill to wander through limestone passages, stalactites and sparkling crystals. The caves stay at around 7°C all year, so bring a warm layer. There’s a café for a hot drink afterwards, too.

Unwind at the Turkish Baths in Harrogate. For a completely different sort of rainy day, spend a few hours among the heat and steam of these beautiful Victorian baths. It’s one to book ahead, especially if you’re planning a weekend visit.

Take a tour of Whittaker’s Distillery. This local Nidderdale distillery offers a behind the scenes look at how its gin and wh**ky are made, with a tasting to round off the visit. A particularly good choice when the clouds show no sign of clearing.

See a Yorkshire Dales waterfall in full flow. You’ll need a waterproof for this one, but rain can make the waterfalls spectacular. Aysgarth Falls is a favourite, with three sets of falls to explore. Enjoy the view from a safe spot and take care on wet paths and rocks.

Tour Black Sheep Brewery in Masham. Learn how the brewery makes its Yorkshire ales, then settle in at the visitor centre for a drink or something to eat. It’s a lovely way to spend a damp afternoon.

And when you get back to Covill Cottages? Dry off, put the kettle on and enjoy a cosy evening by the fire.

Do check opening times and book tours or bath sessions before you set off. If you’ve brought your dog, check each venue’s rules too: Stump Cross welcomes dogs in its café and visitor centre, but not in the caves.

03/10/2026

Step inside Nidderdale’s past

When you’re exploring Pateley Bridge, Nidderdale Museum is well worth a visit. It’s tucked inside the Old Workhouse on King Street, a building that has its own story to tell, and its 12 rooms are full of the objects and everyday details that bring the dale’s history to life.

You can look around a Victorian parlour, complete with a vintage music box, and see how different a schoolroom was for children in years gone by. There’s a general store packed with things you’re unlikely to find on today’s shelves, and the contents of a cobbler’s shop dating back to 1820. Across the museum, thousands of objects show how people in Nidderdale lived and worked over more than 200 years.

It’s a lovely place to visit early in your stay. Afterwards, as you walk through Pateley Bridge and travel around the dale, you may find yourself looking at familiar places with fresh eyes. The museum is entirely run by volunteers who help keep these local stories alive.

From April to October, it’s usually open Tuesday to Sunday, 1.30–4.30pm. Admission is £5 for adults, while accompanied children aged 5–15 go free. If you’re staying with your dog, please be aware that only assistance dogs are allowed inside the museum.

Address

Covill Cottages
Pateley Bridge
HG35RS

Telephone

+447702581493

Website

https://www.covillcottages.com/

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