Writer Victoria Benn is selling her Dales home near Grassington

Top of the search list for most would-be buyers who dream of a home in the Dales is a cottage, converted barn or farmhouse.But by clinging rigidly to the chocolate box ideal, they could well be missing out on some of the best properties on the market.Victoria Benn learned that after reluctantly viewing Greensleeves, a detached 1970s house in Threshfield, near Grassington. Her husband, Wayne, had already fallen for its charms and persuaded her to take a look.

Greensleeves in Threshfield

“I wanted an old cottage or farmhouse with lots of character and original beams but I agreed to go and view the house thinking there was no way we’d buy it,” she saysShe soon realised that it beat a historic property hands down thanks to its location, views and an abundance of space and light.The huge dual-aspect windows fill the five-bedroom home with natural light and there are uninterrupted views over the River Wharfe to Grass Woods and beyond.

Location, location, location

The location couldn’t have been better for the Benns and their two children. It is a quiet spot within walking distance of Grassington and it is close to Upper Wharfedale high school, which has been judged “outstanding” in all areas by Ofsted.“I loved it and the views and setting are stunning but if it hadn’t been for Wayne persuading me to view it I would have discounted it.“It was also out of my search area because I was looking in Grassington but living here in Threshfield you get all the benefits of Grassington, which is on the doorstep, but it’s much quieter,” says Victoria who is now selling to downsize.

The kitchen with retro table and chairs

The property on Wharfeside Avenue is on the market with Dale Eddison for £674,950 and has a hall, 21ft sitting room, large conservatory, a second sitting room, kitchen/diner, dining room and utility room. Also on the ground floor is self-contained annexe with a bedroom and en-suite. Victoria and Wayne utilise it as a highly successful holiday let with a five star rating on AirBnB.The first floor has a master bedroom with ensuite, a second bedroom with ensuite, two further bedrooms and a bathroom. Outside, there is a large lawn, seating area, shed and greenhouse to the rear. At the front, there is a lawn, parking for several cars and a double garage.Decorating and furnishing the property proved to be a delight for vintage enthusiast Victoria as its mid-century roots allowed her to “go retro”.

The dining room with wals in Farrow and Ball and a Heal's sideboard and table

“I love mid-century style and this house really suits that because it was built in that era,” she says.The kitchen is now in a neutral off-white with a dining area that sports a vintage table and bright orange 40/4 chairs that were designed by David Rowland and feature in the MOMA in New York. Victoria bought the chairs for £30 each from a used office furniture supplier in Cleckheaton and they got them from a police station in Leeds.

Victoria has an impressive collection of mid-century homeware

They go beautifully with her favourite Denby Arabesque tea service, vintage West German pottery and the Ladderax shelving unit that holds the TV and houseplants.Next door, in the large dining room, the walls have been re-painted in Farrow & Ball’s Olive. The blinds are in vintage fabric by Swedish designer Saini Salonen bought from the Space Vintage shop in Harrogate. The sideboard and table were sale bargains from Heal’s and the chairs are Ercol.The stand-out pieces in the sitting room include the Ox-Art coffee table made in 1976 and the vintage sofa and chairs, which have been re-upholstered in bright colours.

Victoria's bedroom inspired by Art Deco style

Upstairs, stylish Ladderax shelving offers a wealth of storage in their son’s bedroom and there’s an Art Deco theme in the master bedroom.The walls throughout the house show the family’s love of art and there is everything from classic 1950s prints by Tretchikoff to vintage posters, along with work by Yorkshire artists Victoria Alderson and Helen Peyton, and ceramics by Grassington-based David Ashby and Carine Brosse.“I’ll be sad to leave the house and the views. It’s been a lovely and very private and peaceful place to live but our children are growing up and it’s time to move to something smaller,” says Victoria.

The view from the house

Property expert's view on the area

Helen Carter of Dale Eddison, which is marketing the property, says that Grassington and Threshfield are among the most popular places to live in the Yorkshire Dales, thanks in part to their community spirit and their proximity to Skipton, which has a rail link to Leeds and Bradford.She adds: “They are unusual as they are in the Dales surrounded by beautiful countryside but they are only a 15 minute drive from Skipton, which makes them very accessible.“For that reason, there is a wider market for properties there. Buyers include everyone from retirees and people over 50 whose children have left home to young families and second home buyers.“Grassington and Threshfield are also on the radar for those moving up from the south.”The amenities are another attraction. There are good schools, pubs, shops and sports clubs, including Wharfedale Rugby Union Football Club“They are very vibrant and friendly villages with very good schools and there is always something going on from the various festivals to clubs and other events,” says Helen, who says that house values reflect Grassington and Threshfield’s popularity.Prices start from £170,000 for a two-bedroom flat, £250,000 for a semi-detached house and £400,000 plus for a detached house*For more details on Victoria’s house, Greensleeves, Wharfedale View, Threshfield, £674,950. contact Dale Eddison’s Skipton office, tel: 01756 630555, www.daleeddison.co.uk

Victoria's Wharfedale must see and do ideas

Visit the Hedgerow, florist and coffee shop, Threshfield.I also suggest walks by the river on the Dales Way; the festivals in Grassington including The Music and Arts festival in June, the 1940s weekend in September and the Dickensian Festival in December; the Fountaine Inn at nearby Linton; The Craven Arms at Appletreewick; Kilnsey Park for fishing; watching Grassington Rugby Union play; The Wishbone Gallery in Grassington and attending all the local sports and agricultural shows.