THERE is something quite glorious about tootling along country lanes in the sparkle of an early summer’s day, sun twinkling in a blue, blue sky and the trees a riot of green and gold.

And while the trip out to Kelfield is a short one it still makes for a cheery morning’s drive.

This little village lies tucked away between Riccall, Cawood and Stillingfleet, some ten minutes off the A19 York to Selby road.

It is here we find Holly Cottage, sitting in Moor Lane and, on this bright, sunny morning, looking quite enchanting.

Its white-faced frontage shines behind a whirl of wisteria which runs over the top of the peaked front door and all across the front of the house.

We arrive to the sound of silence – broken only by the chirp of birdsong and the rustle of the breeze.

And, while we know we are labouring the point, we really do feel we have arrived in a rural idyll.

So, will Holly Cottage itself live up to our growing expectations?

Absolutely, is the simple answer – and perhaps more so… The sense of arriving at somewhere a little special is reinforced by our first glimpse of the garden.

It is a lovely, private, tranquil spot, with a paved terrace running along the back of the house before widening to a sunny patio seating area, beyond which there is a well manicured lawn, fringed by a host of mature evergreen trees and shrubs.

It is lovely, particularly in view of the fact that it is not overlooked, making it an ideal place to enjoy days like these in the peace and quiet.

It is also from the garden, looking to the back of the house, that you get the first inkling that this “cottage” is going to be something more than it looks from the front.

• Continues from previous page ORIGINALLY two yeoman’s cottages and dating back some 200 years, the building now is one property – and with a really surprising amount of space.

The present owners have extended and improved their home over the 15 years they’ve been in occupancy and with a great deal of skill, too, providing modern conveniences (double glazing, modern bathroom and kitchen) while staying true to the house’s history.

That character shines through in the collection of rooms which snuggle themselves gently across the first floor.

The front reception room, originally two rooms, has been opened up to provide a near 24ft-long sitting area with windows to front and side letting in lots of light and with a log-burning open fire in an exposed brick hearth and grate at its heart.

(That fire came in very useful a couple of nights ago when the weather was not quite so warm as it is today!) From here you step into an L-shaped hallway, off which is the small(ish) but perfectly formed kitchen, nicely presented with high white wall and base units and solid wood work surfaces (and the most wonderful view of the garden from the window to the back).

The owners did at one point consider providing a larger kitchen on the other side of the hall in a room created from what was once a garage and it has been prepared as such with, for instance, mid-height electric points all round.

However, I’m told, once a sofa was placed in the room it became apparent that it would make a super sitting room – and so it does.

There is a nice feel to the room, spacious and yet cosy and comfortable and with a large dresser and table an ideal dining room.

It is not, however, to be my favourite spot. We come to that next… a simply gorgeous garden room at the back of the house.

This is another light, bright and spacious spot, sun dancing in from floor to ceiling windows and a set of French doors from which you can step out onto the patio area.

I am already imagining sitting in that sunshine with a cool drink and a good book and simply letting the afternoon disappear but, more surprises to come, there is the rest of the house to visit.

Tripping up the stairs we come to an airy galleried landing and a large window to the rear which provides views across open rolling farm and pasture land stretching away into the distance.

Off this landing there are four bedrooms, the first of which is set up as an office/den, another “get away from it all” quiet spot.

The other bedrooms are the surprise – they are all big double rooms, belying the Cottage part of the house name… They are lovely bedrooms, too, stylishly presented in easy on the eye colours and the biggest with windows to front and side creating a large, welcoming space.

The house bathroom is a good size and bright and breezy – and also with views across the fields (or you could lie back in the bath and enjoy the waving tops of the trees!) There is a second bedroom, presented in mellow yellow, which also has dual-aspect windows and then comes the fourth bedroom and another reinforcement of the rural situation of Holly Cottage.

This bedroom has a view down Moor End and the nearby farmer’s field where you will on occasion see the cows coming out to graze with their calves.

A wonderful, country retreat, then, but still within easy striking distance of both York and Selby and with the shops and pubs and restaurants of the ever more lively Riccall just five minutes away.

Which takes us back to where we came in – it’s time to tootle off down the country lanes and back to York. Carrying a most enjoyable experience with us…

At a glance

Reception rooms: Three

Bedrooms: Four

Bathrooms: One (plus ground floor WC).

Gardens: Small front garden with off street parking space. Beautiful, private rear garden with terraced and patio areas, lawn and mature evergreen trees and shrubbery.

Wow factor: That garden – and the gorgeous garden room which opens on to it.

Price: Offers in excess of £385,000.

Contact: R M English (Phone: 01904 697900).