Inspiration

Over hills and dales: Yorkshire’s best pub walks

Guest Expert

5 min read

We’re firm believers that every walk should wind up at a pub. Somewhere with a garden or terrace for sun-drenched days, somewhere with a roaring fire and cosy seating for chillier times. A place with a friendly welcome for humans and dogs, locally sourced food, a decent ale or clever wine list is always worth the extra mile. So, we’ve chosen five of our favourite pubs with walks from the door in Yorkshire, a region that calls out for striding its green dales and dramatic coastline, brooding North York Moors and rippling hills.

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Stroll through Beverley to the Beverley Arms

Beverley is a sophisticated market town; shoppers, foodies and history buffs will find plenty to enjoy here. Try a gentle stroll starting from the fine Gothic church of Beverley Minster that leads you to the vast expanse of Westwood, a popular green space for dog-walking, picnics and flying kites. Walk towards the windmill, through the golf club and towards the racecourse before turning back to town where you can pitch up at this 17th-century coaching inn. It’s a buzzy place full of ladies who lunch, deeply efficient staff and excellent food from fine dining to a home cooked pie and good local ale at the bar. There are plenty of places to unwind – lounges with comfy seating areas and blazing fires, a restaurant in the conservatory, a terrace with a fire pit, and two bars – one for champagne, the other cosy and overlooking the lovely St Mary’s church.

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The Crayke Estate Walk with a start or finish at The Durham Ox

The 3.5-mile Crayke Estate Circular Walk is well signposted and starts and ends from the door of The Durham Ox. It takes you across the Howardian Hills, through beautiful woodland and wide open commons, over the river Foss and past views of Crayke Castle. Settling in after your walk at this award-winning village pub is a joy. Find happy staff and delicious well-sourced food. There’s a lot of space to enjoy – sit outside in the beer garden, sample one of their locally brewed gins in the bar with a board-game or cosy up in front of the roaring log burner. Food is excellent and locally sourced, with maybe queenie scallops followed by cauliflower and cumin fritters with roasted monkfish. Rich sunken chocolate tart makes an irresistible pudding, Sunday roasts are inevitably popular and there’s plenty for vegans too. Bring your dog.

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The Staveley Nature Reserve near The Punch Bowl Inn

Just over three miles from The Staveley Nature Reserve, The Punch Bowl Inn is an utterly charming pub, sporting a gleaming white washed coat, a stylish suntrap courtyard and a light lofty bar with a stunning cruck-barn ceiling telling of 16th-century origins. There’s a very pleasing mix of oak settles and smart velvet chairs, open fires, polished wood floors and ruby-red walls. A super spot for a delicious lunch, perhaps twice-baked blue cheese soufflé with cauliflower purée, confit shoulder of lamb, or autumn field mushroom risotto, after a walk around the lovely nature reserve. On your stroll you’ll discover a series of lakes and watercourses where you can look for all sorts of wildlife including otters and water birds. Look up for red kites hovering above and down for rare orchids and wildflowers galore.

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The Calderdale Way and The Old Bridge Inn

The Calderdale Way passes by the front door of this happy little pub. The 50-mile route is a haven for walkers who want to explore the surrounding hills, moors and valleys and has plenty of options to tackle it in short stages. Stroll part of the route that encircles Hebden Bridge, following old packhorse trails, through the medieval hillside settlement of Heptonstall and part way along the banks of the River Calder. Back at the pub, get comfy on old oak settles and rush-seated chairs in the small green-walled snug, order a pint in the atmospheric bar, cosy with wood burner, order a buffet lunch, or stay for an evening meal of pan seared hake or pie of the day with dripping chips. Finish with a fine selection of Yorkshire cheeses.

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Janet’s Foss waterfall walk from The Lister Arms at Malham

From the door of The Lister Arms, this is a 3.5-mile circular route that takes you to Janet’s Foss waterfall and Malham Cove. Begin by taking the footpath along the east side of Malham Beck, continuing along the river and through a woodland, carpeted by bluebells and wild garlic in spring, until you see the sign for Janet’s Foss. Legend tells that Janet, or Jennett, Queen of the Fairies, lived behind the waterfall. From here you can follow the river upstream to Gordale Scar and the top of Malham Cove for spectacular views over the Dales. Back at the 17th-century coaching inn, settle in front of the wood burner and tuck into local produce, perhaps game galantine, prawn and salmon stroganoff and a rum soaked apple and sultana crumble to finish.

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Carmen McCormack

Guest Expert

Carmen is a freelance writer specialising in travel. She once lived in a bus in north Wales, skipped off to study in Barcelona, and now calls Bristol home. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she can be found reading (a lot), lake swimming (a little), and pottering on the allotment with husband and two kiddos. She’s currently dreaming about cold cerveza and torta in Mexico.

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