Best Pubs in the Yorkshire Dales: 12 Country Inns Worth the Walk
The Yorkshire Dales has some of the best pubs in England, and the best of them do more than serve a pint. They sit beside waterfalls, in remote moorland, in villages that hardly seem to have changed, and at the end of some of the Dales’ finest walks.
This guide picks 12 of them, from the highest inn in the British Isles to a community-owned pub that reopened in 2024. Each entry says where it is, what makes it worth the journey and the practical points you should check before you go. For restaurants, tearooms and cheese makers, see our guide to where to eat in the Yorkshire Dales.
The Best Pubs in the Yorkshire Dales at a Glance
| Pub | Village or area | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tan Hill Inn | Swaledale | A moorland stop at 1,732 feet |
| The Lister Arms | Malham | A meal after Malham Cove; dogs welcome |
| The Craven Arms | Appletreewick | A beer garden and a thatched cruck barn |
| The Blue Lion | East Witton | A Wensleydale dinner and a stay |
| The Green Dragon | Hardraw | Access to Hardraw Force |
| The George Inn | Hubberholme | History and atmosphere |
| The Farmers Arms | Muker | A community-owned village pub |
| The Kings Arms | Askrigg | All Creatures Great and Small fans |
| The Buck Inn | Buckden | Walks up Buckden Pike |
| The Station Inn | Ribblehead | Three Peaks and the viaduct |
| The Fountaine Inn | Linton | A relaxed village lunch |
| The Angel at Hetton | Hetton | A special-occasion meal |
See also: Best Places to Eat in the Yorkshire Dales: Pubs, Restaurants, Tearooms and Local Food · Best Bakeries & Cupcake Shops in Yorkshire: 16 Brilliant Places for Bread, Cakes and Sweet Treats
1. Tan Hill Inn, Swaledale – Best for a Wild Moorland Stop
Where: Tan Hill, in the Swaledale parish of Muker
Best for: A big-sky stop, Pennine Way walkers and a story to tell
Start with the headline fact. At 1,732 feet (528 metres), Tan Hill Inn is described by Wikipedia as the highest inn in the British Isles, and the Guinness Book of World Records lists it as slightly higher than the Cat and Fiddle in the Peak District, which sits at 1,690 feet. It is a Grade II listed building, built in the early to mid-18th century as a hostelry for coal pit workers and originally known as The Kings Pit.
The last mine closed in 1929, and the pub stayed open thanks to local farmers and passing motorists. Today it is a destination in its own right. It was the first pub in the UK licensed to host weddings, in 1995, and it has a reputation for being cut off by snow: revellers were stranded for three days at New Year 2009, and in January 2025 six staff and 23 guests were rescued after a five-day stay.
That history is a good reason to treat the weather seriously. Check the forecast and road conditions before you set out, and bring a warm layer even in summer. The photo below shows the approach on the Pennine Way from the south, which is the way many walkers arrive.
2. The Lister Arms, Malham – Best for a Pub After the Cove
Where: Malham, near Skipton (BD23 4DB)
Best for: Walkers, dog owners and a pub meal after Malham Cove
Malham is one of the busiest walking bases in the Dales, and the village has a National Park Information Centre, a large car park and the Pennine Way passing through. The Lister Arms describes itself as a boutique Yorkshire Dales inn, and says its kitchen makes home-cooked food from scratch. The website also says dogs are always welcome, which is useful news after a day on the limestone.
The classic outing from here takes in Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss, and the waterfall at Janet’s Foss was used for scenes in All Creatures Great and Small, according to Wikipedia’s page on Malham. Finish at the pub with a table and a menu, and you have a very Dales day. The inn also has bedrooms if you would rather not drive home.
3. The Craven Arms, Appletreewick – Best for a Beer Garden with a View
Where: Appletreewick, about seven miles north-east of Skipton
Best for: A drink outside, real ale and a bit of village history
Appletreewick sits on the River Wharfe in Wharfedale, and its pub is the sort of place that has outlasted trends. The Craven Arms has a heather-thatched cruck barn, and Wikipedia says it displays much of the village’s history. The barn was built in 2006–07 using traditional methods and materials, according to a CAMRA newsletter, and it overlooks the beer garden, which listings describe as having views across the dale.
Pub guides describe the building as a 16th-century farmhouse. The village’s most famous figure is Sir William Craven, a former Sheriff and Lord Mayor of London who restored High Hall and is known locally as Appletreewick’s own Dick Whittington.
4. The Blue Lion, East Witton – Best for a Wensleydale Dinner
Where: East Witton, near Leyburn (DL8 4SN)
Best for: A proper dinner, a stay and Wensleydale scenery
East Witton is a village in Wensleydale at the mouth of Coverdale, and its village green has three village taps, according to Wikipedia. The ruins of Jervaulx Abbey are about 1.8 miles away, which makes this a good place to combine a walk and a meal.
The Blue Lion is a pub with rooms and a restaurant, and published reviews describe it as a dining pub with a long wine list and ales from Black Sheep, the brewery in nearby Masham. The menu changes, so check what is on before you set your heart on a dish, and book if you are visiting at the weekend. The village also appears in All Creatures Great and Small, in the episode “The Prodigal Returns”.
5. The Green Dragon, Hardraw – Best for a Pub with a Waterfall
Where: Hardraw, near Hawes
Best for: Combining a drink with England’s highest unbroken waterfall
You cannot reach Hardraw Force without going through the Green Dragon. The falls are on private land, and visitors walk through the pub to a turnstile at the back and pay a small admission charge (Wikipedia gives £4 for adults at the time of writing, so check the price on the day). Access behind the falls is not permitted.
The reward is a single drop of about 100 feet (30 metres) from a rocky overhang, which is claimed to be the highest unbroken waterfall above ground in England. The Pennine Way passes close by, and the village hosts the Hardraw Scar Brass Band Contest on the second Sunday of September. Leave a little time before or after the walk for a drink, because the pub is the obvious place to take a break.
6. The George Inn, Hubberholme – Best for Old-Fashioned Atmosphere
Where: Hubberholme, where Langstrothdale meets Upper Wharfedale
Best for: Atmosphere, history and a very quiet corner of the Dales
Few pubs have as strong a sense of place as The George Inn. It was originally the vicarage and stands opposite the small Norman church of St Michael and All Angels, most of which dates from the 12th century. J. B. Priestley called Hubberholme the “smallest, pleasantest place in the world”, and his ashes rest in the churchyard across from the inn.
There is a tradition worth knowing about. A lit candle on the bar shows the pub is open, and it is linked to land and grazing auctions that are still held in the inn, where the last bid before the candle goes out wins. The George opens year-round, and the nearest alternatives are the White Lion at Cray and the Buck Inn at Buckden. If you are walking the Dales Way, note that no pub lies between the George and the Sportsman Inn at Cowgill in Cumbria.
7. The Farmers Arms, Muker – Best for a Community-Owned Pub
Where: Muker, Upper Swaledale
Best for: Supporting a village pub and walking the hay meadows
Muker is a small Swaledale village with a church dating from around 1580 and flower-rich hay meadows of international importance. The Farmers Arms is its only pub, and it has a recent story to tell: it closed in the early 2020s and reopened in September 2024 as a community-owned venture.
That makes it a pub worth supporting, and the village is a popular starting point for walks through Upper Swaledale. Muker Show takes place on the first Wednesday in September, and Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France passed through the village. As with many small pubs, opening hours can change with the seasons, so check before you plan a meal.
8. The Kings Arms, Askrigg – Best for All Creatures Fans
Where: Askrigg, Upper Wensleydale, about five miles east of Hawes
Best for: Television fans and a classic coaching inn
The Kings Arms was built in 1767 as a coaching inn by John Pratt, a former jockey and racehorse breeder. If it looks familiar, that may be because it doubled as the Drovers Arms in the BBC’s All Creatures Great and Small, which ran from 1978 to 1990, and Askrigg itself stood in for the fictional Darrowby. Wikipedia’s page on Askrigg says the 2020 Channel 5 series was filmed in Grassington rather than here.
It is a very good example of the Dales coaching inn, and the village is easy to combine with a drive along Wensleydale. The setting is the main draw for fans, though you should check whether the hotel is serving food on the day you visit.
9. The Buck Inn, Buckden – Best for Walkers in Upper Wharfedale
Where: Buckden, on the east bank of the River Wharfe
Best for: Walkers heading up Buckden Pike or along the Dales Way
Buckden sits where Buckden Gill, rising on Buckden Pike, joins the River Wharfe. A footpath runs north-east from the village to the summit of the Pike (702 metres), and the Dales Way runs along the opposite bank of the river. The Pennine Journey and Lady Anne’s Way also cross Buckden Bridge and pass through the village.
The Buck Inn is the village pub, alongside a shop and an outdoor education centre. It has a small piece of political trivia: the former Chancellor Denis Healey said he spent his honeymoon in a converted stable next to it. It is also the nearest alternative to the George Inn at Hubberholme, so it makes sense to visit both on a walk up the valley.
10. The Station Inn, Ribblehead – Best for Three Peaks and Railway Views
Where: Ribblehead, near Ingleton
Best for: The Three Peaks, the Settle–Carlisle line and the viaduct
The Station Inn stands close to Ribblehead station and the Ribblehead Viaduct. The viaduct was built between 1870 and 1874 by the Midland Railway as part of the Settle–Carlisle line, and Ribblehead is a point on the Yorkshire Three Peaks route, with Ingleborough and Whernside visible from the area, according to Wikipedia.
It is a traditional country pub, with a menu of familiar British dishes, so it suits walkers and railway fans. Summer Sunday DalesBus routes 830, 831 and 832 have stopped at Ribblehead station, which can make a car-free day out possible, but check the timetable first.
11. The Fountaine Inn, Linton – Best for a Relaxed Village Lunch
Where: Linton-in-Craven, near Grassington
Best for: A quieter alternative to Grassington
Linton is one of Wharfedale’s prettiest villages, and the Fountaine Inn offers a calmer choice than the busier streets of Grassington. The inn describes its approach as aiming for high-quality food without unnecessary formality, which is a fair summary of what many people want from a village pub.
The menu includes lunch, dinner, Sunday dining and desserts, and the inn is well placed if you are walking in the area and want a proper meal at the end of it.
12. The Angel at Hetton – Best for a Special Occasion
Where: Hetton, near Skipton
Best for: A special-occasion meal in a historic inn
The Angel at Hetton began life as an inn and is now one of the area’s best-known destination restaurants. According to Wikipedia, it has been awarded a Michelin star and is described as the only restaurant in North Yorkshire with five AA rosettes, with the claim backed by a Yorkshire Post article from September 2024.
Think of it as a restaurant first and a pub second. Rather than a conventional pub menu, it is set up for a carefully planned dining experience, so book ahead and check what is currently on offer before you travel.
Pub Walks in the Yorkshire Dales
The Dales are walking country, and the best pubs are often the reward at the end of a route. A few pairings work well, based on the facts above.
- Malham: Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss are all close to the village, with the Lister Arms to finish.
- Upper Wharfedale: The Buck Inn at Buckden is the start of a footpath to the summit of Buckden Pike (702 metres), and the George Inn at Hubberholme is the nearest alternative up the valley.
- Hardraw: The Pennine Way passes close to Hardraw, and the waterfall is reached through the pub.
- Ribblehead: The Station Inn is a natural stop after exploring the viaduct or tackling Whernside or Ingleborough.
- Swaledale: Muker is a popular starting point for walks through Upper Swaledale, and the Farmers Arms is its village pub.
Whatever you choose, take an Ordnance Survey map, check the weather and tell someone where you are going. Dales weather changes quickly, and mobile signal can disappear in the valleys.
Practical Tips for Visiting Dales Pubs
- Check opening times. Rural pubs often change their hours with the seasons, and a pub that was open last year may not be open now. Check the pub’s own website or social media before you travel.
- Book for meals. Popular pubs fill quickly at weekends, and some kitchens close in the afternoon.
- Ask about dogs. The Lister Arms says dogs are always welcome. Policies vary elsewhere, so check before you bring yours.
- Plan your transport. Many of these pubs are far from main roads, and public transport is limited. Summer Sunday DalesBus routes have served Ribblehead, but timetables change.
- Pace the drinking. If you are driving, plan a designated driver or a taxi, and remember that lanes in the Dales can be narrow and unlit.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pubs in the Yorkshire Dales
What is the highest pub in the Yorkshire Dales?
Tan Hill Inn, at 1,732 feet (528 metres). Wikipedia describes it as the highest inn in the British Isles, and the Guinness Book of World Records lists it as slightly higher than the Cat and Fiddle in the Peak District.
Which Dales pub has a waterfall?
The Green Dragon at Hardraw. Hardraw Force is on private land and visitors walk through the pub to reach it, paying an admission charge.
Which Dales pub was used in All Creatures Great and Small?
The Kings Arms at Askrigg doubled as the Drovers Arms in the BBC series that ran from 1978 to 1990. The 2020 Channel 5 series was filmed in Grassington rather than Askrigg.
Are there dog-friendly pubs in the Yorkshire Dales?
Yes. The Lister Arms in Malham says dogs are always welcome. Policies differ between pubs, so check before you visit.
Which Dales pub is best for fine dining?
The Angel at Hetton, which Wikipedia says has been awarded a Michelin star. Book ahead and check the current menu.
Which pub is best for walkers?
It depends on your route. The Buck Inn at Buckden suits walks up Buckden Pike, the Lister Arms suits Malham Cove and the Station Inn suits the Three Peaks.
Final Thoughts: Choosing a Dales Pub
The best Dales pub is the one that fits your day. Choose Tan Hill for the drama, the Green Dragon for the waterfall, the George for the atmosphere and the Angel for the occasion. Check opening times, book if you can and leave room in your plans for the weather. For more ideas on where to eat, see our Yorkshire Dales food guide, and our guides to fine dining in Harrogate and afternoon tea in York.
