About St Marks Stays
St Marks Stays is a group holiday accommodation and retreat venue that is all about connections.
St Marks Stays is a group holiday accommodation and retreat venue located between Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales with dedicated yoga spaces, creative and wellbeing facilities.
This renovated vicarage is a self-catering house, that is dog friendly, sleeps up to 16 maximum and sits at the foot of the Howgill Fells. St Marks Stays is the home of Damian and Joanne Withers, who live in their own self-contained apartment at the end of the house and are around to help with your stay if required.
St Marks Stays has been set up to create a socially connected place where groups can all stay and hang out together, but also have space for peace and solitude when needed. The house is about connections : Connection to the landscape and nature it is surrounded by and connections to like minded people who you stay with.
We always wanted St Marks Stays to be a venue for the word Friluftsliv. A Norwegian word for outdoor living, being present in nature, embodying a deep connection with nature and a lifestyle of embracing the outdoors in all weather. We would love guests to be inspired by the landscape and nature, so they can care for the planet and people. To feel more passionately about experiences rather than material items.
St Marks Stays has been featured in Cumbria Life Magazine, The Yorkshire Post, Living North Magazine, Living Magazine and the Guardian’s Saturday Magazine and Damian and Joanne have featured on TV’s Escape to the Country.
St Marks Stays is what happens when an architect and photographer use their business experience, creativity and participation in community projects overseas, to create a home from home for people to share and feel calmness, joy and connection.
Damian and Joanne Withers
We love dogs, travel, wild swimming, exploring, films, live music and good food, but which one of us likes fine art and which one of us is the mountain navigator?
We have been in hospitality since 2017.
We learn a lot through travelling and consistently having an awareness of businesses, great customer services and sustainability. We seek consistent feedback from guests and retreat organisers, learn what works for them and understand what people are looking for, to keep updating, improving and providing the facilities that make this a better house and venue, year by year.
Our home is your home
The ‘why’ of St Marks Stays
It all started back in 2014 for us, with a work sabbatical from our careers, to volunteer with Raleigh International in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. We realised life should be about connecting with others, getting outdoors and really living life. Our Raleigh Expedition and love of travelling led us to creating a home to share with others.
We want you to feel a part of an inclusive community, with the addition of peaceful spaces to take time out on your own. Technology has taken us away from connecting as humans sometimes and we want to host a house that everybody gets involved in, creating an inspired atmosphere that leaves you with real memories.
There is nothing better for the soul than being part of a group of like minded people, learning from others, discovering the world from somebody else’s point of view and having a childlike curiosity again to making friends for life.
A Restorative space in nature that can also be Inspiring and Invigorating
Prices
St Marks Stays is a group holiday accommodation and retreat venue that involves booking the whole house. Minimum of two nights. (Longer stays required over Bank Holidays, Easter, Christmas and New Year.) Monday to Thursday is a lower rate than weekends.
— Low Season price rate is generally November to March (Excluding Christmas & New Year)
— Mid Season price rate is generally Spring and Autumn
— Peak Season price rate is generally school holidays and Bank holidays
To check up to date prices, click on the Availability Page, or Book button, select the dates and click show prices.
Also please be aware there are T&Cs for payments when booking. See FAQs below.
Email or Call us to discuss your Bespoke Stay
If you have something particular in mind for your stay, need surprises for celebrations, or have a retreat you wish to plan, then we are always happy to help
Frequently Asked Questions
Payment T&Cs
A 25% non refundable deposit is required to book. The non refundable balance is payable 3 months before check in. If you cancel and we can refill the same dates we can refund your payments minus 10% for admin involved in marketing the availability. We also require a £500 security deposit, pre-authorised on your card before you arrive. This money does not actually leave your account, but is released after your stay if no damages are due to be paid for. Full T&Cs can be viewed on our booking platform.
Check in & out Times
Check in is 3pm and check out is 10:30am. If you require an earlier check in from 9am, or a later check out of up to 6pm, this is £120 per each one you require and must be booked in advance so that availability is blocked off.
How do I get in to the property?
St Marks Stays is our home and office, so as long as we know your time of arrival, we make sure we are around to give you the key, a tour of the house and welcome you in.
Do you accept groups bigger than 16?
Sorry no. Not even for day visitors. We know from experience that 16 is the maximum number that works with all the space and rooms at St Marks Stays. It is worth noting that our dining tables only just fit 16 around and we do not have extra beds or bedding.
Do you allow more than 1 dog?
Do you actually live in the property?
St Marks Stays is our home and we do live in a self-contained apartment, next to the studio, at the end section of the house. So we are not in the main house, but around if you should need help with anything.
Catering
St Marks Stays is self-catering and the kitchen is fully equipped for group catering and dining. See House page for more info. If your chef needs to know if we have certain specialist gadgets, then please tell them to email us.
We can be in for your food delivery if arranged in advance and Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda all deliver here.
We can send you a PDF of information on local places to eat, food shops, greengrocers and also caterers that can offer a collect service, or come here and cook for you.
What is included in the bedrooms?
All beds are made up and bedrooms have towels, body wash and lotion, but no hair products. There are a couple of basic hairdryers in a shared cupboard, along with an ironing board and iron. We are not a hotel, so the towels are not changed throughout your stay. There are no tea and coffee facilities, or TVs in the bedrooms as these facilities are downstairs.
Parking and Electric Vehicle Charging Point
There is space on the drive for 9 cars and a lay-by next to the house. We have an Electric Vehicle charging point on the wall at the end of the house next to our apartment. We ask that people take a note of the meter reading when using and we charge at cost only, of what we are paying for electricity at the current time. As of January 2026 it is 40p per Kwh.
Wood, Fires and Barbeque
We do have a Kadai barbeque that doubles up as a firepit. We provide wood for this and the indoor log burning stoves, but you do need to bring coals for your barbeque cooking.
What size is the studio?
The studio measures 6.7 x 5.1mtrs and can fit 9-13 yoga mats maximum as a guide. We have yoga equipment for 16 as you can squeeze that many on the garden decking. We have 12 tables and 10-12 chairs that can be moved in and out. There is a projector, Bluetooth speaker and WiFi available.
See our blog for photos of the studio with mats laid out so you can judge the space.
Ice Bath & Sauna
Ice Bath is free. Book in a time between 8am and 7pm. State what temperature you need it chilling to. Please shower and wipe feet before using. Outdoor towels in the summer house.
Sauna £150 for 2 hours. Start times between 8am and 5pm. Book and pay in advance of your arrival as we have to be here to get this heated up and clean afterwards. No shoes inside and use outdoor towels please. Payment link can be sent when you book in advance to pay by card.
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