Couple follow lifelong dream of opening a destination for ‘outdoorsy’ travellers

A couple are following their lifelong dream of opening a destination for ‘outdoorsy’ travellers, with the launch of five luxury lodges in Marsden.

Hannah Byram and Jamie Mawson are set to open phase one of A Place In The Pennines this month, following nine months of construction.

Located between the Huddersfield Narrow Canal pathway and The River Colne, the site is a two-minute walk from the village centre. The luxury lodges are set to attract people from across the UK, which are perfect for walkers, bikers, and dog owners.

After spending time travelling around Europe, and running AirBnBs in France and the UK, the couple wanted to create cabins reminiscent of French chalets, whilst being cosy, warm, and inviting.

Speaking about their new venture, Hannah said: “We are both outdoorsy people – we love adventure. We have done walking trails around the world, from Nepal to Tour Du Mont Blanc (a 100km walk around the base of Mont Blanc), and we have our own sheep, and three sheepdogs. We love nothing more than heading off in our campervan with our son, William, and finding new places to visit and explore; it’s a feeling that can’t be beaten.

“So, with A Place In The Pennines, we want to create a destination that makes people feel at home – but better. Somewhere they can explore the amazing adventures our region has to offer, whilst coming back to a small slice of luxury. Our cabins have everything you need to discover the area, but also completely unwind and chill out. And they are dog friendly – that was very important to us!”

With the couple’s connection to the outdoor community, it is expected that key calendar dates will get booked up quickly, such as the Harden Moss Sheepdog Trials, as well as busy dates for Marsden, such as the Jazz Festival.

The lodges range in size, offering double beds, log fires, kitchens and ensuite bathrooms. Some also offer bunk beds, for families.

Jamie said: “We’ve put a lot of thought into how the lodges work. We’ve put sockets in the right places, somewhere you can rest your book, an area where you can dry your dogs, places to store bikes. The beauty of it has been that I’ve built the lodges myself, so I’ve had first-hand input into how they’ll work, bringing together our likes and dislikes from other lodges we’ve stayed in.”

This summer, the three further lodges will open, alongside the communal area – a firepit for events and BBQs. 20% off is currently on offer for bookings made in May or June.

The couple have invited Yorkshire Businesswoman editor Gill Laidler to try out one of the cabins and in our next edition due out at the end of July, we will let you know what she thought of these new lodges.