The Shippon B&B at Cronkshaw Fold Farm

Homely cosy comfort with organic farming in mind. The Shippon is best for couples, or couples with a little one small enough to fit in a toddler cot. Arrive anytime from 3pm onwards using the lockbox. king size bed with all organic bedding. En-suite with sink, loo & walk in shower, all fed with the farms own delicious spring water. Breakfast supplies of all-organic yogurt, granola, porridge oats, tea, coffee, milk, sugar & hot chocolate ready for your arrival. The space We're so excited to finally be opening The Shippon for bookings this June 2026! Welcome to Cronkshaw Fold, a bustling organic family farm of three generations. Our farmhouse is the oldest building in the valley and underneath it is "The Shippon" - this is the old fashioned name used to describe what was once a cow shed. Historically, cows and other animals were kept in the Shippon during the winter months, the heat from their bodies rising to warm the farmhouse above and to the sides. The space has been used for all sorts over the years - cow stalls, a goat milking parlour, farm workshop, “this will come in one day” storage area - but in 2025 we decided to convert the space into a ‘Grandad Pad / Granny flat’ - a space that, in the future, the oldest generation on the farm can retire into and get some well earned peace and quiet from the main busy farmhouse and the noise (and smells!) of the rest of the family and their associated animals that end up in the main farmhouse creating havoc and “turn-the-hearing-aids-off” levels of ruckus. The Shippon is purposefully set up to be a calm space, completely separate from the main farmhouse madness. We've designed it to be easy to live in. A relaxing retreat away from the bustle of the farm all around. It’s not silent (you are surrounded by a farming family and the associated hill farming sound track of sheepdogs, quads, tractors, sheep, goats, angry granny chasing goats/kids out of places they should not be etc..) BUT it is very quiet thanks to 3 foot thick stone walls on all sides and sound proofing in the ceiling. There are wide access doorways, a spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower, a king size bed, a comfortable living area and dining chairs wide enough for bottoms that appreciate pies. The only not-so-access-friendly part is the steep concrete ramp up to the door from the parking area which was the original access for the cows. We’ve fitted a hand rail so please do use it, especially when it is wet or icy. This slope does limit our suitability for those with limited mobility, sorry! Breakfast: As an organic farm we do like to practice what we preach so you can expect to find in the cupboards and fridge all-organic goodies including porridge oats, yoghurt, granola and milk from our friends at Gazegill organics and/or from Acorn dairy in Yorkshire - all of which we will leave for you to enjoy and make your own breakfast from. The kitchenette area has a very old and well used large double belfast sink, a kettle tap for instant hot water so no waiting for a brew, all-organic tea, coffee and hot chocolate supplies and basic cooking equipment including a microwave oven, cutlery and crockery. There's no hob or toaster yet - these are coming by 2027 if not earlier! The living area has a comfortable sofa, soft lighting (made with parts of old farm equipment engines, you were right Dad, they did come in useful for something!) table (made from the top half of an old stable door) and chairs from a brilliant nearby antiques shop - we've three we can recommend if you want to go visit! There's no outdoor space access yet, BUT there are bifold doors that, from 2027, will open onto a currently not-so-spectacular very muddy patch of clay and a steep banking of dirt. We’ll be planting this space up with fruit bushes, herbs and berries for guests to pick and setting up some hammock space for you to enjoy. The outdoor space will be ready by late summer 2027 when the outdoor area will finally be both accessible for guests and visually pleasing instead of a muddy mess! The views are spectacular, looking up to the head of the valley and the rolling tops of Holcombe Moor (though the immediate view of the farmhouse garden as mentioned, is currently mainly a muddy swamp with the occasional rouge sheep. We have great plans for a clover lawn for the bees!) The bed is kingsize and dressed with GOTS certified all organic cotton from Dip and Doze - it is a delight to sleep in with a luxurious mattress on top of a sprung bed frame. We also provide all-organic cotton towels and flannels from Dip and Doze, too. There’s bedside tables and lights for readers - one I made from a recycled bit of a laundry posset out of Dads workshop. Please do not tell him this. We're not a family who do ironing - so crinkly but quality is our bedding style. If you like crinkle free sheets, bring your own iron - the only iron we have is in the vitamin tablets for Grandpa. He says they are yet to work on his wrinkles, which we can confirm to be true. He too, is crinkly but quality. Babies and toddlers: We have a large wooden cot (120cm long) with a GOTS organic cotton mattress from The Little Green Sheep Company and organic sheets, toddler duvet, pillow and covers (little people deserve comfy stuff, too!) We also have a Phil and Teds Lobster high chair that we will leave in the bedding box for if you need it, along with an organic GOTS cotton bib and a wipe down cape to keep meal times easy. We also have fabulous farm themed story books and a handful of toys for little people to enjoy. Do let us know on booking if you plan on bringing a little one and you'd like us to set up the cot and high chair ready for your arrival - we're happy to do so. Older children - The Shippon doesn’t currently have facilities for children too big for a cot. Do message us though if this is something you’d like to see in the future - perhaps we could have a sofa bed situation if there proves an appetite for this... Pets: Sorry, we don't accept pets in The Shippon - this is a hard no from us. (Check out the Old Farm Office or the Shepherds Hut as alternatives - these are simple "glamping" style accommodations which accept pets.) Hot tub: Our much loved wildlife lookout hot tub can be booked separately for an additional £42. This is for an hour and a half slot which is really plenty (you will struggle to stay in for more than half an hour, it really is hot!) It’s run with spring water and also has a spectacular outdoor shower. This can be booked via the farm website. It runs on renewable power and is HOOOOT, so we limit booking slots to 1 and a half hours to avoid anyone turning themselves into a lobster. Expect to see swallows and buzzards by day and owls and bats by night. Its a 30 second stroll from the front door of The Shippon to the hot tub area through our farmhouse kitchen garden (which we may be in - streak at your own peril!) The hot tub area is private, fenced off and has it's own hot outdoor shower and fairy lights. Wifi and phone signal: There's basically none of either in the Shippon. The walls of the farmhouse are so thick the signal can't get through. If you leave your phone in the porch by the door you will occasionally get signal here - we've installed a plug socket in this area so you can leave your phone at the door. Ironically there is great 4G in the goat barn, so stand in the car park if you would like signal and you will get reception. There's no TV, in fact the only screen is on the microwave oven, and that is on purpose! There are a plethora of great eateries within strolling distance who also offer delivery. Choose from Indian, Mediterranean, British 'pub lunch' and even sushi! There's also a tiny Michelin star eatery within a 5 minute drive with a set menu. There's tonnes of spectacular walking routes right from the farm so you don't need to get in the car to go site seeing. We will message you maps and walking routes when you book. We also have 'off road' farm prams, baby back packs, and old but reliable e-bikes for hire - message us to check availability (other guests staying elsewhere on the farm can also hire these - so first up best dressed!) THINGS TO DO ON THE FARM: Book ahead to avoid missing out! Beekeeping experiences (April - September) Goat hang out sessions (daily) Farm tours (daily) Goat yoga classes (1st Saturday of each month) Booking in advance is required. We need at least a days notice. All profits from bookings go towards helping us buy a wind turbine so we can run the farm on 100% renewable power made on site. Questions? Anything you still want to know? drop us a message and we’ll get back to you. Guest access From the car parking area, guests access the property by walking up a very steep concrete slope with a hand rail on one side. Please note this slope really is steep, and not suitable for those with limited mobility. There's a key box by the door, which is labelled 'The Shippon.' During your stay We won't disturb your stay and generally leave our guests to enjoy their getaway in peace - with only a slight risk of you being interrupted by a renegade sheep/ goat/ hen trying to live in the house. This is a family farm and we are a large family, so expect a muffled rukkus through the stone walls at around childrens bedtime and dinner time. Other things to note There's currently no outdoor area as this space is newly converted and the outdoor area isn't finished yet, so enjoy the discounted price while we get the final finishing touches done! All the profits from your stay we are using to buy a wind turbine for the farm so we can run on 100% renewable power year round and allow our employees to charge their electric company cars we provide them with, for free :D Thank you for considering us as somewhere you would like to stay.