Dent Station is the ultimate dream home for rail enthusiasts

For sale: Dent Station, Cowgill. Price: £395,000This first class property is the ultimate dream home for a railway enthusiast thanks to a sensitive renovation by a man who knows a banjo from a buffer stop.Robin Hughes, a chartered surveyor and rail buff, bought Dent Station in 2006 and, after an extensive remodel, it is now a holiday let.

Highest station in England

The building, which once housed the booking hall, waiting rooms and lavatories, was opened in 1877 to serve England’s highest mainline station. It was decommissioned in 1970 then sold by Railtrack in 1986 and converted into a home. “It was dilapidated when I bought it but I am a railway enthusiast and could see it had potential as a holiday let,” says Mr Hughes.There were challenges thanks to its Grade II listing and its position in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, but using his knowledge of property and his enthusiasm for railway history, his restoration won a RICS tourism and leisure award and a railway heritage award. Even better was the enjoyment of owning a property with a trackside seat and sensational long-range views over the National Park.Dent Station, which sits 1,150ft above sea level, is on the Settle-Carlisle line and trains still stop there. Along with regular trains, steam trains also pull in, most notably the Flying Scotsman.

Train to London

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“You can catch the 7am train, change at Leeds and be in London by 11am,” says Mr Hughes, who hopes to sell the property to another rail enthusiast who will appreciate the building’s history and its location.“It’s a one-off and this sale is a rare opportunity for someone who likes trains. It could be a full-time home or continue as a successful holiday let.”The property is half a mile from the village of Cowgill, four miles from Dent village and ten miles from Hawes.Recent refurbishments include installing oil-fired central heating and solar-powered underfloor heating, along with a solid fuel Rayburn.

The original waiting room pew is still in situ, as are the Thomas Crapper lavatories, the windows, doors, cast iron radiators, flagged floors, signage and clock.

The home has 1404 sq ft of space, which includes a hall, sitting room, three bedrooms, a dining kitchen, shower room and boiler/store room.Outside, there is a large parking area, a lawn and a rear terrace with seating.*For more details contact: Davis and Bowring, tel: 015242 74445, www.davis-bowring.co.uk