The story so far…
High Farm Country Park, just four miles from Beverley, is fast becoming the region's hot-spot for those in search of the rural idyll.
The Park is the culmination of leisure industry millionaire Pat Northgraves’ life-long dream to create a holiday location for people who want the best of both worlds.
‘It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,’ said Pat. ‘Two years ago I was in a position where I could have retired, but I had always wanted to create something from a green field site. Somewhere special, which was unlike anything else in the region.rsquo;
If anyone could take a former dairy farm and turn it into a viable business in less than 12 months, it was Pat.
A life of leisure
The Hessle-born businessman, who now lives in Hornsea, has spent most of his working life in the leisure and mobile homes sector, mostly in sales and marketing. Two years ago, with his son John, he launched Coastline Leisure Ltd which sells caravans on other people’s parks up and down the East coast of Yorkshire. Rather than ease the 59-year-old into well-deserved retirement, it merely whet his appetite to take on something even more challenging.
‘I wanted to buy a business which would serve my family and give my son and daughter something to build on,’ he said. ‘It was a huge gamble, but I knew I could make it work.’
Last year Pat paid £1.3 million for the farmhouse and dairy farm buildings, standing in 135 acres of land directly off the Beverley to Hornsea road in Routh. The stylish entrance is just a few yards from a country pub which is currently being renovated and refurbished. The two will undoubtedly benefit each other.
A growing success
The gamble lay in the fact that Pat didn’t have planning permission to turn the site into a country park - but his track record and detailed business plans soon convinced East Riding of Yorkshire Council that his scheme would help to raise the standards and profile of the region as an attractive - and up-market - holiday destination.
Within the past year, he has invested £1.2 of a proposed £4 million in landscaping, the first phase of the conversion of farm buildings into luxury holiday cottages, siting of the first holiday homes and stocking of the lakes with carp, tench, roach and bream. £10,000 has gone on the planting of 2000 new trees - including oak, sycamore, maple, ash, rowan, alder and beech - and miles of hawthorn, blackthorn and hazel hedging. Boules and bowling greens, a children’s adventure play park and a series of one, two and three-bedroom holiday cottages overlooking a private central courtyard, are all part of Pat’s long-term vision, whilst a nine hole golf course is awaiting planning permission for 2007.
A family affair
The homes and log cabins are already selling like hot cakes. Pat’s offspring, Lisa and John are the friendly, open face of the business whose people skills undoubtedly earn customer confidence. John concentrates on sales and marketing, Pat oversees the development and servicing of the site whilst Lisa is responsible for the letting and maintaining of the simply exquisite holiday cottages.
‘The emphasis will be on quality,' said Pat. ‘From the level of customer care to the detail of the finishes in our luxury homes and cottages. Everything we do is aimed at discerning clientele who perhaps live in the town or city and want to escape to the countryside. Everything we are doing on the park is environmentally friendly. Our key objective is to enhance the beautiful surroundings, rather than detract from them.’
Rustic chic
As we drive around the park in an open-sided buggy, Pat is keen to show the extent of the development which has open countryside views as far as the eye can see. The winding roads and pathways which will form the basis of the residential section are clearly designed to offer maximum privacy, as are the plethora of saplings which will create beautiful tree-lined avenues and wooded walkways.
The natural five acre lake, with its wooded banks and wooden angling pegs, is already stocked with enough fish to keep anglers quietly amused for the coming season. A second three-acre lake is a haven for wildlife.
Barns and stable blocks have been transformed into stunningly attractive brick cottages - the ultimate in rustic-contemporary chic. Pat’s dream of creating a scenic, peaceful hideaway for those who want to be in the heart of East Yorkshire is a reality.
Five star treatment
As members of the British Holiday and Home Park association, he is aiming for their five-star award, along with gold star recognition from David Bellamy’s conservation award scheme.
‘More and more people want to get away from it all. We’ve invested a huge amount of time, money and effort into creating a country park which will be known throughout the UK as one of the best holiday locations of its kind.’