We have many inns and most villages still have a pub at their heart. They are great places to socialise, meet people and enjoy being part of village life. Many have garden areas for the summer with wonderful views over the surrounding countryside. Inside cosy bar areas with log fires and wood-burning stoves are perfect for when the nights draw in.
There is a superb range of places to eat in the Yorkshire Dales from award-winning high quality restaurants to traditional pubs with good hearty meals and well-kept local beers. Many of the pubs specialise in their food and pride themselves on using high quality local produce. They are justifiably popular and you may need to book ahead at busy times.
Below are some suggestions to get you started, drawn from the Michelin Guide and Good Pub Guide.
Wharfedale
Burlington at the Devonshire (Michelin star, 3 AA Rosettes), Bolton Abbey. Elegant, antique-filled hotel dining room hung with impressive oil paintings; sit in the conservatory to overlook the Italian garden.
Brasserie at the Devonshire (AA Rosette), Bolton Abbey. Bright, modern hotel brasserie opposite the kitchen garden. Sit on stripy banquettes in the appealing bar or on red velour chairs in the dining room. Extensive à la carte offers satisfying brasserie classics. Attractive wine cellar.
Devonshire Fell (2 AA Rosettes), Burnsall.
Red Lion, Burnsall. Appealing stone inn on the riverbank with a cosy bar, laid-back lounge and a formally dressed dining room.
Angel Inn (3 AA Rosettes), Hetton. A local institution.
Grassington House (2 AA Rosettes), Grassington. Georgian house with a large bar-lounge, two dining rooms and delightful service.
Craven Arms, Appletreewick. Character creeper-covered 17C beamed pub with up to eight well kept ales.
The New Inn, Appletreewick. Unpretentious warmly welcoming country local with lovely views and six well kept ales including Black Sheep and Daleside.
The Fountaine Inn (Recommended), Linton in Craven. Neatly kept pub in charming village, attractive furnishings, open fires, five real ales and popular food; bedrooms
The Falcon, Arncliffe. Basic no-frills country tavern.
The George Inn, Hubberholme. Small beautifully placed ancient Dales inn with River Wharfe fishing rights.
The Clarendon, Hebden. Pleasant spic and span pub in nice location close to good moorland walks.
Foresters Arms, Grassington. Comfortable opened-up old coaching inn with friendly bustling atmosphere, good reasonably priced generous food and well kept ales.
Queens Arms, Litton. Beautifully placed Dales pub refurbished under newish owner.
The Old Hall Inn, Threshfield. Popular place under newish owners.
The Blue Bell Inn, Kettlewell. Roomy knocked-through 17C coaching inn, well kept Copper Dragon ales, home-made food all day using local ingredients.
White Lion, Cray. The highest pub in Wharfedale. Recently re-opened after extensive refurbishment and set in lovely countryside this pub is popular with walkers.
The Three Peaks area
The Courtyard, Settle. Characterful barn conversion with a cheese shop, a wine merchant's, a gallery and more; all set around a courtyard.
The Traddock (2 AA Rosettes), Austwick.
The Gamecock, Austwick. Quaint civilised place in pretty spot below Three Peaks, good log fire in old-fashioned beamed bare-boards back bar.
Station Inn, Ribblehead. Great spot up on the moors by Ribblehead Viaduct.
The Hill Inn, Chapel le Dale. Former farmhouse with fantastic views to Ingleborough and Whernside.
The Lune Valley
Hipping Hall (3 AA Rosettes), Cowan Bridge Kirkby Lonsdale. Charming part 15th century - a former blacksmith's - named after the stepping (or 'hipping') stones over the beck, which runs past the old washhouse.
The Pheasant, Casterton.
Westmorland Dales
Black Swan, (Recommended) Ravenstonedale. Highly thought of inn for its food and customer service within the conservation village.
King's Head, (Recommended) Ravenstonedale. Whitewashed inn consisting of four 17th century cottages; its smart interior featuring polished timbers, a flagged floor and a wood-burning stove.
Fat Lamb, Ravenstonedale. On the route between Kirkby Stephen and Sedbergh with wonderful views of the surrounding area.
Wensleydale
Stone House, Sedbusk, Hawes.
Yorebridge House (2 AA Rosettes), Bainbridge.
George And Dragon Inn, Aysgarth. Laid-back coaching inn, close to the breathtaking Aysgarth waterfalls.
Aysgarth Falls Hotel, Aysgarth. Completed refurbished in 2012.
Wensleydale Heifer (AA Rosette), West Witton.
Blue Lion, (Recommended) East Witton. Charming, characterful countryside pub.
Sandpiper Inn, (Recommended) Leyburn. Charming 16th century inn just off the square in this busy market town.
Samuels at Swinton Park (3 AA Rosettes), Swinton, Masham. Beautiful, rococo-style dining room with an ornate gold leaf ceiling and garden views; set within a castle.
Vennell's (2 AA Rosettes), Masham. Endearing, personally run restaurant.
Kings Arms, Askrigg. 18th centtury coaching inn (the Drovers in TV's All Creatures Great and Small).
The White Rose, Askrigg. Refurbished 19th century hotel with well presented reasonably priced food.
Cover Bridge Inn, East Witton. Cosy and welcoming 16th century flag-stoned country local.
Black Sheep Brewery (Recommended), Masham. Lively place with friendly staff, unusual décor in big warehouse room.
Swaledale
Punch Bowl Inn, Low Row. A traditional 17th century stone-built inn with views over Swaledale
Charles Bathurst Inn (AA Rosette), Langthwaite. Characterful 18th century hostelry set in a peaceful hillside village, boasting commanding rural views.
The Burgoyne, Reeth.
Bridge Inn (Recommended), Grinton. Bustling pub with traditional, comfortable bars, log fires, several real ales and malt whiskies, and tasty bar food.
Red Lion, Langthwaite. Proper pub dating from 17th century, homely and relaxing, in beguiling Dales village.
Keld Lodge, Keld. Remote former youth hostel now serving as village inn.
Farmers Arms, Muker. Small unpretentious walkers' pub in beautiful valley village.
Tan Hill Inn, Britain's highest pub in wonderful bleak setting on Pennine Way.
The Buck, Reeth. Beamed 18th century coaching inn by village green.
George and Dragon, Hudswell. Popular community pub.
Bolton Arms (Recommended) , Downholme
Malhamdale and Airedale
Lister Arms, (Recommended) Malham. Friendly creeper-clad stone-built inn at lovely spot by river and good walking country.
Sedbergh and Dent
The Three Hares, Sedbergh. (The Good Food Guide, 2017) produces its own bread and cakes as well as great seasonal and locally sourced bistro meals. Selected evening opening.
Red Lion, Sedbergh
George & Dragon, Dent. Two-bar corner pub in cobbled street, the Dent Brewery tap, with their full range kept well plus real cider and perry.
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Nidderdale
Yorke Arms (Michelin star), Ramsgill-in-Nidderdale. Charming, part-17C former shooting lodge overlooking the village green and run in a friendly, professional manner.
Sportsmans Arms, Wath in Nidderdale.
The Crown, Lofthouse.
