Meet Louise Dinnes, Owner of The Black Swan

As I looked around the Victorian building during our interview, it was hard to imagine the hotel as anything other than the award-winning establishment that it is today. This is a charming venue with its cosy decor and a mix of bedrooms, from singles to family size. There are also ensuite facilities in every room, step-free access to the ground floor, and an array of homely touches. Louise tells me that many guests return year after year to relax in the peaceful surroundings.

Today, a quiet road runs outside the hotel. However, it was once a bustling main road – there has been a coaching inn on the site of The Black Swan since the 1600s. Although the occasional horse and rider still trot past, the most likely animals at the inn today are visiting dogs snoozing on the plush bar carpet.

Louise’s eyes light up as we talk of the wildlife outside the window. The Black Swan boasts a quiet garden by the river and a glamping area across the tiny bridge. After experimenting with bell tents, the team switched to more robust yurts in 2020. Despite a rocky start during the COVID-19 pandemic, these new yurts have proven a hit. With king-sized beds and a wood-burning stove, guests can get back to nature in comfort and style.

Wildlife at The Black Swan

Guests strolling into the garden at dawn or dusk might be lucky enough to spot the flash of a red squirrel. These elusive animals scurry through the trees and enjoy hazelnut feasts generously supplied by the hotel. Protected by a local conservation group, red squirrels – threatened by their bigger grey cousins – thrive in Ravenstondale. Other wildlife enjoying the local area includes otters and freshwater crayfish in nearby Scandal Beck, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.