I am a freelance Architectural Designer, a Social Media fan, and I enjoy Contemporary Art.

I have a broad interest in food and hospitality which I have inherited from my parents who were both chefs and worked in hotel management.

As Chair of Trustees for Acaster Malbis Memorial Hall, I am able to contribute to an important part of our village community, which is also a living memorial to those who served in the First World War.

Born in Yorkshire with parents from the South and the North, I haved lived in several parts of England, and am both passionate about economic development in the Yorkshire region, whilst having an understanding of how this relates to the rest of the country.

The story of York, the many layers of history that are still available to see in the buildings and artefacts here, are a constant fascination to me and the thousands of visitors that York attracts every year from around the world. This beautiful little city has such an illustrious past, and I believe a great future!

Orchard Lodge is sited near to the place my grand parents used to bring their early touring caravan in the 1930's. Later grannies sister, my great auntie Elsie, came to the farm, as a land girl, during WW2, and never left and living the grand old age of 94. Consequently several generations of my family have been visiting Mount Pleasant all our lives and its become a place we all love. Bridget and I came to live here in 1996, and we developed Orchard Lodge in 2007 to take advantage of this lovely secluded plot which we believe you will learn to love and enjoy too.

We will greet you on arrival, and guide you to the private parking at Orchard Lodge, and personally show you around your accommodation. You will then be able to enjoy the peace of the site and surrounding fields with only the sounds of nature, and an occasional agricultural noise to disturb you.
We are however close enough to respond to requests for assistance, as we live just 100m away in the original Mount Pleasant Farmhouse screened from view by the trees of the old farm orchard and gardens.
Accessing our property, from the public highway, you pass 300m through the Mount Pleasant Park Home Estate, a retirement village, which guests are occasionally surprised to find, however it is completely separate from Orchard Lodge, and our property.
Please respect the 10mph speed limit when passing through this retirement village, as these are our neighbours, and the residents are friendly and polite.
Entering our property there is a sign right to Mount Pleasant House, our home, and left to Orchard Lodge. Call at our home to be guided to the private floodlit parking at Orchard Lodge and be shown personally around your accommodation.
This is the beginning of your relaxing break in Orchard Lodge.

The best of both worlds: Orchard Lodge is situated in the beautiful riverside village of Acaster Malbis in the rural fringe of the City of York with Askham Bar park and ride just 2 miles away.
Why not visit one of the the 8 village Pubs all serving food within a 5 mile radius of the lodge, see the guidebook section for a further details.
The famous walls and ancient buildings of the City of York are only 4 miles away with a wealth of historical sites, festivals, restaurants and bars.
Surrounded by the Vale of York there is a wealth of beautiful countryside to walk, cycle or drive through.
Alternatively we are central for trips across Yorkshire and its many delights, Leeds, Harrogate, Wakefield, Bradford, Helmsley, Hull and Whitby to mention but a few see the guidebook section for a further details.

Walk, cycle, ride on no. 21 bus (2 hourly service), or drive, 2 miles to Park and Ride or all the way into York centre 4.5 miles away.

Ancient city, Medieval Walls, National Railway Museum, Jorvik Centre, York Minster, Centre for Ceramic Art at York City Art Gallery,
Sustrans national cycle network is 1.5 miles away linking York to Selby.
A1/M1 is only 15 miles via A64.
40 miles to Scarborough and East Coast, or slightly further to Whitby, Robin Hoods Bay. Whitby is now linked to Pickering by the North Yorks Moors Railway, heritage steam railway featuring carriages used in the Harry Potter films.
20 miles to Leeds, Royal Armouries,
20 miles to Harrogate for Bettys, RHS Harlow Carr, or the Turkish Baths
see the guidebook section for a further details.