A KEIGHLEY holiday home converted from derelict outbuildings has been named Best In Yorkshire.

The Old Piggery at Hainworth picked up a gold award in a national travel awards competition run by holiday rental firm Sykes Holiday Cottages.

Owners Stuart and Joanne Currie had lived in Keighley for 35 years before discovering the three outbuildings while looking for a new home.

They decided to develop the buildings as holiday lets, undertaking work in the evenings and weekends alongside their day jobs to build and care manager.

After two years of hard work the property had been transformed into a three-bedroom accommodation for holiday bookings.

The Curries say the bedroom holiday let is an ideal getaway for extended family and friends, with many walking trails to explore and a hot tub to relax in under the stars.

The Sykes Gem Awards celebrate the best in holiday cottage accommodation across the UK, and are judged by industry experts including David Shields from the Yorkshire tourism board.

Now in their second year, the awards received thousands of entries from across the country.

Judges were impressed by the style and facilities on offer at The Old Piggery, along with its occupancy rate and guest feedback on cleanliness, comfort, location and value for money.

Mr Currie said: “We’re over the moon to have been named as the best holiday home in Yorkshire as there’s definitely some tough competition.

“The whole project was definitely a labour of love, as Joanne and I did all the work ourselves – while working our day jobs! This award justifies all of the effort we’ve put into it, we’re so pleased people love visiting.

“We really enjoy holiday letting as it’s given us the chance to maximise the use of our properties and share the spectacular view with guests. It’s a huge boost when you read the wonderful messages guests write in the visitors’ book, but this award is the cherry on top.”

Graham Donoghue, CEO at Sykes Holiday Cottages, said that over the past year the company had seen bookings to Yorkshire increase as more travellers  chose ‘staycations’ over holidays abroad.

He said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for those in the area with a second home or money to invest, and I’d just encourage anyone thinking about holiday letting to get in touch.”

The Old Piggery is among six Yorkshire holiday homes to make the Sykes Gems shortlist.

The Sykes Gems we’re launched in 2017 to celebrate excellence amongst Sykes Holiday Cottages’ holiday home owners.

This year there were 25 categories, including Best for Pets, Best for Walking and Most Unique Property, alongside regional winners.

Sykes Holiday Cottages, based in Chester, offers 11,000 holiday homes across the UK and Ireland, from cottages for two to larger properties that sleep 20 or more.