Grantley Hall: The Country House Hotel That Gets Everything Right

There’s something about having a car delivered to your front door that makes you feel as though you’ve made it. It’s a quiet luxury - no showroom handover, no queue at a rental desk, no faff. Just a tap on the doorbell, a signature, and the keys to a brand-new Range Rover Sport. We were heading from central London to the Yorkshire Dales for a long weekend at Grantley Hall, and using THE OUT, Jaguar Land Rover’s premium on-demand car rental service, turned the journey into part of the escape.

THE OUT is a sleek, app-based operation from JLR’s innovation arm. The idea is simple: their garage becomes your garage. You choose the car (everything in the fleet is less than 18 months old), book it online, and it’s delivered to your exact location. The price includes fully comp insurance, unlimited mileage, and extras like bike racks or child seats. For London addresses, delivery and collection is free.

Our car arrived right on time and was more than a means of transport. Smooth on the M1, confident on the winding B-roads into the Dales, and elegant enough to blend in effortlessly at a hotel like Grantley Hall, it made the journey part of the experience. By the time we pulled up at the gates, we’d passed through rain, sun, and traffic jams without a moment of discomfort, and the car park full of fellow Land Rovers confirmed we’d brought the right kit.

The greeting at Grantley Hall’s gates was exactly what you want after a long drive. A cheerful porter greeted us excitedly before pointing us up the long, sweeping driveway and gave the first hint that service here might be something special. That first impression held true throughout the stay. Staff remembered names, anticipated needs, and struck the elusive balance between friendly and formal.

The house itself - a grand Palladian mansion on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales - has been transformed from country pile to serious luxury hotel without losing its character. Originally built in the late 17th century, it reopened in 2019 after an extensive (and by all accounts, extremely expensive) restoration. The result is a hotel that doesn’t need to shout. It knows what it’s doing.

We stayed in one of the Superior Suites in the newer Fountains Wing, accessed via a quiet rooftop atrium just behind the main house. The suite was huge, light-filled dual aspect, and elegantly restrained, the kind of place where you can actually unpack and feel at home. It felt more like a well-designed apartment than a hotel room: books everywhere (not just on the coffee table but on shelves), objets d’art, a proper sitting area with a sofa made for sprawling, and a television cleverly hidden in a picture frame. The blinds were remote-controlled, the lighting well thought out, and a bottle of damson gin was waiting for us on arrival. The bed was enormous, the windows opened onto views of the grounds, and even the entrance had its own hallway, which made it feel unusually private. The bathroom was all marble - high ceilings, a freestanding bath, and a steam shower with enough buttons to warrant a user manual. It got everything right.

The grounds themselves are a highlight. Beyond the formal lawns and riverside paths, there's a Grade II-listed Japanese garden, originally designed by Lady Jane Furness in 1910 and restored in recent years. It's a secluded spot with ponds, a stream, and stepping stones, all framed by maples, ferns, and bamboo. Elsewhere, sculptures are dotted across the landscape, adding a contemporary touch to the historic setting. The River Skell runs through the estate, and we had breakfast one morning on The River Terrace, overlooking a small weir with the sound of water providing the soundtrack. A few pretty wooden rowing boats are moored on the river alongside the winding driveway - whether for use or decoration, they added a whimsical, Wind in the Willows feel to the scene.

Grantley is the sort of hotel where you could easily stay put all weekend. But we came to explore too, and the staff helped us make the most of it. When we mentioned going for a hike — and being slightly ill-equipped — they produced a rucksack, filled it with water bottles, and handed us OS maps. We drove to Brimham Rocks and set off on foot for a few hours of proper walking: gritstone crags, rolling fields, a pitstop in Pateley Bridge for coffee and a very substantial Ploughman’s, then back along the panoramic Nidderdale Way, over dry stone walls and through fields of sheep. It all culminated in what felt like a private viewing of Brimham Rocks - a surreal scattering of sculptural behemoths. Yorkshire delivers on drama without the crowds.

Back at the hotel, we made straight for the spa. Grantley’s Three Graces Spa is more than just a pool and a few loungers. It’s a full-blown wellness centre with a hydrotherapy pool, indoor-outdoor swim-through, outdoor hot tub, snow room, steam room, and a Nordic garden complete with ice baths and a sauna. We tried them all. The massage I had the next morning, long, firm, and properly therapeutic, was one of the best I’ve had.

Dinner that evening was at The Orchard, a relaxed restaurant on the west lawn with an open-sided structure and a seasonal menu that made the most of Yorkshire produce and a fun partnership with Whispering Angel.  There’s also Shaun Rankin’s Michelin-starred restaurant for the Taste of Home tasting menu, as well as pan-Asian and classic British options. But we liked the quiet informality of The Orchard, especially in late spring light with a glass of rosé, live music (every Sunday) and no plans.

It’s rare to find a hotel that feels this self-assured. Grantley Hall doesn’t try too hard. It knows its audience, it gets the details right, and it avoids the usual clichés of luxury country house hotels - no overstuffed furniture, no stiff dining rooms, and no sense that you’re staying in someone else’s house. It’s a hotel designed for comfort, privacy, and proper relaxation. And with staff who seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs, the experience is as effortless as the drive north.