About the Swinton Estate

20,000 acres of Yorkshire beauty

Swinton Estate is one of the largest privately owned estates in England and has been in the ownership of the Cunliffe-Lister family since the 1880s.

Situated close to the market town of Masham, the Swinton Estate comprises 20,000 acres of North Yorkshire countryside – extending from the River Ure and across the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, through to the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

As a working rural estate, about two thirds of the land consists of active forestry and farmland, and one third open moorland. These are carefully managed for retention, biodiversity and conservation to enhance the natural habitats and restore the original peatland landscape of the moors.

The Swinton Estate also owns upwards of 90 properties, including farms and residential houses situated both within the nearby market town of Masham and the surrounding countryside.

As well as being a desirable location to live, the Swinton Estate is a fabulous place to stay and visit. It includes the Swinton Park Hotel, Swinton Park Hotel, Swinton Cookery School, Swinton Bivouac glamping site and café, and Swinton Country Club – all operated by the Cunliffe-Lister family.

Our history

The Swinton Estate dates back to the late 1600s and has been in the ownership of the Cunliffe-Lister family since the 1880s.

Our Enviroment

Our commitment to minimising our impact on the environment, reducing emissions and improving biodiversity.

Living on the Estate

Swinton Estate rents a number of residential properties across North Yorkshire; from small character cottages to large detached houses and farms.

Agriculture

Swinton Estate works with upwards of 25 farm tenants who farm various types of holdings on the Estate, from fully equipped farms to bare land holdings and annual grazing licences.

Woodland Management

Forestry management helps to improve biodiversity and carbon capture across the Estate. This is achieved by regular thinning of the trees to allow sunlight through to the forest floor and a mix of natural regeneration and replanting where required after felling. The Estate is working towards management with continual cover canopy.

Rivers

We manage the rivers Ure and Burn that flow through the Estate in conjunction with the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water. Together we invest to improve the water quality and habitat by taking out redundant weirs that block fish movement, planting up banksides and fencing off stock to stop erosion. The Northern Fishing School and their associated charity Cancer and Pisces bring wellbeing to many new and established anglers.

Swinton Foundation

The Swinton Foundation is a charitable trust that supports charities, artists, entrepreneurs and communities in the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding area, helping regenerate the rural landscape and with the Swinton Estate providing a base as a catalyst for further enterprise and development.

Swinton Nourish

Further your business’s sustainability goals, with our Nourish Partnership programme – delivering positive environmental impact in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

From biodiversity net gain and carbon credits, to hands-on education opportunities – Swinton Nourish can help you move forwards in your sustainability journey.