High Houses, perched aloft a hill in the quieter North of the English Lake District, completely surrounded by fell and farmland, is a 1669 Cumbrian farmhouse, unchanged for 50 years until being fully renovated in 1989. From having no electricity, no water supply and no bathrooms, the house now has one bathroom, one shower room and three bedrooms (one with cockloft with an extra 2 beds), lovingly restored whilst retaining many original features. Central heating and electricity are provided by generator.

The views alone are quite breathtaking - west across the Solway Firth to Scotland, north and east to the hills of the Borders. A short walk onto the fell behind the house offers what Wainwright describes as 'one of the best views in the Lakes'; from here it is possible to see Helvellyn, Coniston Old Man and Skiddaw.

Wuthering Heights comes to mind when describing High Houses. There are stone slab floors, open beams, open fires and open draughts! The main house is let on a self-catering basis but the owner, who lives next door, can cater for larger functions and special occasions in her dining room which can seat 20 people.

There is a large inglenook fireplace which had to be supported by an external buttress, and the stables – which although they are now a very characterful self catering cottage, still bear the names and sometimes saucy poems scratched into the wood by the grooms in years gone by.

Another fascinating feature is the now collapsed ceiling tunnel linking the outbuildings unlike any other in Cumbria and very rare in England, though common on the Continent. The barn still contains the original threshing machine.

High Houses can be let on a self-catering basis, or catering can be provided by myself, Jill Green, a professional cook and caterer specialising in game, wild food i.e. home-made jams, bread, hens hatched on the farm, eggs and home-grown vegetables. Venison and lamb are also locally-produced. Jill can also provide "drop-off" meals for people not wishing to cook after a long day walking the Northern Fells. Fresh local milk, basic vegetables and wonderful meats are available from the local Farm Shop.

Catering for larger parties and celebrations, weddings and functions is also available at High Houses.