With the house almost fully booked until July ( Easter and May school holidays are still available), Fairfax Corner is a truly stunning house which offers all you need, right down to having lots of crocks and cutlery so that you can actually fill up the dishwasher before turning it on! Close to the station (a discount is offered for people not bringing a car), and great for those keen walkers and cyclists (there’s a bike shed available), nowhere is more welcoming and ideal for families and groups to stay!

www.fairfaxcorner.co.uk

Shan and Bill RigbyTel: 01482 862085 Mob: 07769 607710

3 Norwood, Beverley, East Yorkshire HU17 9ET United Kingdom

Email: rigby@voice.karoo.co.uk

The perfect base to explore York…Fairfax CornerOffering a prime location for those visiting York and the surrounding area, Fairfax Corner family eco-home is a spacious, warm and welcoming Victorian end-terrace house that is perfect for those seeking the ideal base from which to explore.Awarded 3 stars by VisitBritain, this charming accommodation is located in a quiet and sunny central spot beside the grassy ‘moat’ and historic medieval walls of the city. Available all year round, the house is a two minute walk from Micklegate with its independent shops and restaurants. There is also a good variety of shops in Bishopthorpe Road, a short walk away, and several of York’s cosiest traditional pubs are nearby, some with live music. A residential enclave within the famous York city walls, you’ll be only a short distance from York rail station, Minster, theatres, cinema, museums, shops and other attractions.

Inside, Fairfax Corner boasts a comfortable and relaxed environment, with large windows providing a light and airy feel, along with outdoor space which is both private and well-equipped with garden furniture and BBQ. There are three bedrooms: two double and one twin with an additional put-U-up bed, along with family bathroom and separate shower room, a fully equipped kitchen, and two comfortable reception rooms. There is table tennis in the cellar, and lots of books, music and pictures.

Fairfax Corner is as environmentally friendly as possible, with secondary glazing of the windows, enhanced insulation of walls and ceilings, and solar water heating (with gas back-up) all installed to reduce wasted energy. Even down to the smallest details such as the use of eco-friendly paints and cleaning materials where possible, owners Shan and Bill Rigby strive to create a home that is eco-efficient, whilst still welcoming and comfortable.

We spoke to Shan to find out more about her passion to be green…

“We lived in Uganda for a few years and we loved it there. However, it did open our eyes to bigger issues and we felt that we had to return to the UK and address environmental and social issues. We joined the Green Party and Friends of the Earth, and other organisations such as CND, Amnesty International, and the Woodland Trust. We work full time towards a greener world, because we are very concerned about the way things are going. So, when it came to the house in York, we wanted to provide a holiday home that was as eco-friendly as possible without losing any of its character.

We have super- insulated and gradually improved the house so that it is far more economical and environmentally sound, whilst keeping its original features such as the Victorian windows. The house now retains a huge amount of warmth and we keep thinking of new ways to make a difference, whilst ensuring the utmost in comfort. Many people return year after year and say it’s a home from home in a great location.”

“We are constantly striving to address the impact of the tourism industry on the environment, providing a real example of what can be done to an older house and promoting the local community. Tourism is a huge industry, and an awful lot of waste comes out of it, so if we can just look at things a bit differently, we can make a real difference.”