Jessica Barker, Thief Hole Cottages

The Essex girl turned Yorkshire convert has since become an ambassador for the region sharing her infectious enthusiasm with guests on what the area has to offer.

“The immediate area is particularly beautiful and steeped in folklore, with local legend claiming that many centuries ago, the nearby A168 served as the main London-Edinburgh road, and thieves would hide in the large hole at the end of Thief Hole Lane, ready to hijack coaches as they passed through,” she said.

The cottages, based between Northallerton and Thirsk, are continually developed, even though they already benefit from 98 per cent occupancy during the peak season.

And now they are in the running for The Press Business Awards 2012, in the Tourism & Hospitality Business Of The Year, with Jessica also nominated for Women In Enterprise.

Jessica said: “The properties are growing in popularity year on year, largely through word-of-mouth recommendation, and improvements to the already impressive interiors are on-going.”

Within the last 12 months the interiors and soft furnishings, along with external signs, have been upgraded and Jessica hopes to include a further five or six-bedroom cottage, games room and farm shop in the near future.

What makes the stay particularly special is Jessica’s personal touch and attention to detail, informed by professional training.

She ensures local tourist information is up to date, includes a list of ten rainy day things to do in Yorkshire in each cottage, and she will prepare the cottages with decorations for special events or shopping from the nearby Spring House Farm Shop.

Jessica, who is also vice-chair of the Herriot Country Tourism Group and runs the Flavour of Herriot Awards, also cultivates strong relationships in the local industry, including with the Joe Cornish gallery, hanging work by the award-winning photographer on the walls of Thief Hole Cottages for guests to view and buy.