14 Best Pubs in the Yorkshire Dales You NEED a Drink At

Want to kick back in the best pubs in the Yorkshire Dales? Whether you need a room for the night or just a place to rest your legs after a day of hiking, these Yorkshire Dales pubs have you covered. 

Without a doubt, the Yorkshire Dales is one of England’s most beautiful national parks, home to picturesque valleys, fells, fields and moors that attract hikers and ramblers in their droves. 

After hours of hiking across the Yorkshire Dales, you’ll need a place to rest your feet and dig into some tasty, quintessentially British grub. You could track down one of England’s most scenic picnic spots, or you could treat yourself to a local ale and a Sunday roast at one of the best pubs in the Yorkshire Dales. 

The region’s most inviting pubs tend to occupy historical buildings in quaint villages surrounded by some of the best views in the Dales. So, let’s dive into a few of our favourites. 

Best Pubs in the Yorkshire Dales 

Whether you want to grab a table in a former coaching inn or a terraced beer garden with countryside views, one of these amazing pubs in the Yorkshire Dales is perfect for you. 

1. Tan Hill Inn, Richmond  

Situated inside a 17^th-century inn, the Tan Hill Inn is brimming with rural charm. At an elevation of 1,732 feet (523 metres), it’s also the highest pub in England. 

Inside this quintessentially Yorkshire Dales pub, you’ll see welcoming fires, stone-flagged floors and traditional wooden tables below ceilings with exposed beams. Out in the garden, you can dine in clear domes and soak up the surrounds. The Tan Hill Inn is also a hotspot for live music – it’s previously hosted acts including Mark Ronson and Arctic Monkeys. 

You’ll find plenty of tasty British pub grub plus a host of beers on the pub’s menu. You can also book a room here if you want to explore the stunning region of Swaledale. 

2. The Lister Arms, Malham  

The Lister Arms occupies a former coaching inn that dates back to 1723, just a stone’s throw from the otherworldly rock formations at Malham Cove. 

Inside this ivy-clad pub in the Yorkshire Dales, you can dig into British treats such as beer-battered fish with homemade chips and a superb traditional roast dinner. On top of AA Rosette-awarded food, there are plenty of wines, beers and spirits on the menu – it’s well-known with the locals for its range of Thwaites ales. 

When the weather allows, you can enjoy your food and drinks in the sage-green lawned garden. Feel free to bring your furry family member – The Lister Arms is one of the best dog-friendly pubs in the Yorkshire Dales. 

3. Craven Arms Pub & Cruck Barn, Appletreewick  

If you fancy a pint and a pie in a 16^th-century former farmhouse complete with a thatched roof, we recommend grabbing a table at the Craven Arms Pub & Cruck Barn. 

Inside this historical barn-turned-alehouse, you’ll see traditional interiors with gaslighting, oak trusswork, stone-flagged floors and lots of iron-clad touches. To dine with views across Wharfedale, head out to the terraced beer garden, where you can see as far as the Simon’s Seat gritstone crags on a clear day. 

As you’d expect from one of the most popular pubs in the Yorkshire Dales, the Craven Arms serves top-notch food and a range of local ales that include Hetton Pale and Theakston’s Old Peculiar.  

Reserve a room here if you want to stay at a great jumping off point for walks across the Yorkshire Dales. It’s a popular hotel with those attempting the Three Peaks Challenge. If climbing’s your thing, find out about England’s highest mountains. 

4. The Fountaine Inn, Linton  

One of the best-known pubs near Grassington is The Fountaine Inn, which is set inside a charming stone cottage that overlooks Linton Beck. 

On a cool day, we love filling up on bites such as fish and chips and Sunday roasts by the warming fireplace. When the sun is shining, grab one of the benches in the lawned garden, where you can take in the view of the beck and the bridges and stepping stones that cross it. 

5. Aysgarth Falls Hotel & Restaurant, Leyburn 

The Aysgarth Falls Hotel & Restaurant is situated inside an 18^th-century building on the site of a medieval hospice. Inside, you’ll notice the renovated décor combines the old with the new, particularly if you choose to stay for a night in one of this hotel’s 11 rooms. 

From this Yorkshire Dales pub’s rear terrace, you can take in views as far as Carperby Moor in the beautiful region of Wensleydale (a fantastic place to visit on day trips from Sheffield). When you want to explore the surrounding area, we recommend visiting the triple-flight cascade at the Aysgarth Falls. 

6. The Red Lion, Burnsall  

The Red Lion is set right beside a 17^th-century five-arch stone bridge that crosses the River Wharfe, making it the perfect pub to visit in the Yorkshire Dales if you want to stroll alongside one of England’s most interesting rivers. 

Inside this former coaching inn, you’ll see a well-stocked bar with a vast choice of beers, wines, ciders and Thwaites cask ales. The food menu consists of hearty pub classics, such as pies, fish and chips, and roast dinners. 

For views of green fields and heather-clad fells beyond the river in Wharfedale, take your drinks outside to The Red Lion’s riverside terrace. The postcard-perfect villages of Appletreewick and Grassington are just a short walk away. 

7. The White Hart Inn, Hawes 

Located in the centre of Hawes (a charming village that’s easy to reach on a day out from Liverpool), The White Hart Inn offers a high-end dining experience complete with well-dressed waiting staff and a diverse menu of local and international delights. 

Despite holding onto traditional touches such as a roaring fire and oak décor, the 16^th-century White Hart Inn boasts a contemporary design, giving it a sophisticated ambience. On top of drinkers and diners from far and wide, this Yorkshire Dales pub is popular with locals who enjoy a spot of dominoes. 

8. The King’s Head, Kettlewell 

If you fancy sampling homemade dishes with a Yorkshire theme, head over to The King’s Head in Kettlewell. 

Besides tasty food, The King’s Head offers plenty of local and regional beers and a number of comfortable rooms, perfect for if you want to explore Upper Wharfedale. 

9. The Bull Inn, West Tanfield  

Situated inside an 18^th-century ferryman’s cottage by the Ure, The Bull Inn is one of the finest riverside pubs in the Yorkshire Dales. 

From the beer garden, you can take in the moors and fells of Wensleydale as well as the Vale of Mowbray. You’ll also see a stone-arched bridge crossing the river. Just upstream lies the 15^th-century Marmion Tower, which was a gatehouse to the site’s former manor. 

Our favourite cask ales at The Bull Inn include Black Sheep and Theakston’s, both of which hail from the nearby village of Masham. 

10. Black Horse Hotel, Grassington  

You’ll find the Black Horse Hotel inside a 17^th-century coaching inn on the cobbled streets of Grassington, which is an excellent base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales. 

The bar serves a host of real ales and tasty bites, which you can enjoy while relaxing by the open fire. If you want to stay in the Yorkshire Dales, the Black Horse Hotel is a solid chose – it’s home to 15 individually decorated en-suite guest rooms. 

11. The Buck Inn, Buckden  

The Buck Inn is one of the best pubs in the Yorkshire Dales along Lady Anne’s Way, which is a 100-km hiking route that connects Skipton in North Yorkshire to Penrith in Cumbria. 

The pub occupies a Georgian coaching inn below the Buckden Pike, surrounded by the picturesque scenery of the Upper Wharfedale region. After a long closure, The Buck Inn reopened in 2018, making it one of the Yorkshire Dales’ best new pubs, though the building has retained many of its heritage features. 

If you’re interested in following Lade Anne’s Way to Cumbria, don’t forget to check out some of the best things to do in the Lake District. You might also want to find out about some of England’s best National Trails. 

12. The Blue Lion Inn, East Witton 

Being situated inside a Grade II listed building certainly makes The Blue Lion Inn nice to look at, but this pub’s main draw is its delectable food. 

This Yorkshire Dales pub has won many accolades in its time. In 2017, the Good Food Guide named The Blue Lion Inn the number one pub in North Yorkshire.  

Besides food, The Blue Lion Inn offers a carefully selected range of beer and wine, perfect for those who fancy a cheeky tipple while exploring the Yorkshire Dales. 

13. King’s Arms Hotel, Reeth  

The King’s Arms Hotel is one of the most legendary pubs in the Yorkshire Dales. For starters, it’s well over 700 years old. It also featured as the Drovers Arms in the 70’s BBC Drama ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. 

This famous Yorkshire Dales pub has a warm and welcoming interior, complete with photos taken of the building during its time on screen. On tap are a range of Theakston’s cask ales from the brewery in nearby Masham. For food, we recommend the fillet of sea bass or the steak and ale pie, though everything on the menu goes down great. 

14. The Falcon Inn, Arncliffe 

The Falcon Inn is another one of the most recognisable pubs in the Yorkshire Dales thanks to having made appearances on TV (Emmerdale). 

While this pub’s interior is just as charming as you’d expect from a historic pub in the Dales, it’s the outdoors that keeps us coming back. The views of the Littondale valley framed by limestone crags from the pub’s garden, right on the village green of Arncliffe, are awe-inspiring. 

What are your favourite pubs in the Yorkshire Dales? 

Of course, the list of pubs in the Yorkshire Dales could go on forever, but we hope those listed above have given you a few ideas on where to head for dinner and a real ale during your visit to the region. After a day of exploring the countryside, you certainly deserve to treat yourself to a beer on tap and a proper British pie. 

Are there any Yorkshire Dales pubs that you’d like to see featured on our list? Let us know in the comments below. 

Quick list of best pubs in the Yorkshire Dales 

1. Tan Hill Inn, Richmond  
2. The Lister Arms, Malham  
3. Craven Arms Pub & Cruck Barn, Appletreewick  
4. The Fountaine Inn, Linton
5. Aysgarth Falls Hotel & Restaurant, Leyburn 
6. The Red Lion, Burnsall
7. The White Hart Inn, Hawes 
8. The King’s Head, Kettlewell 
9. The Bull Inn, West Tanfield  
10. Black Horse Hotel, Grassington  
11. The Buck Inn, Buckden  
12. The Blue Lion Inn, East Witton 
13. King’s Arms Hotel, Reeth  
14. The Falcon Inn, Arncliffe 

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Josh Saunders

Midlands and North Content Manager at Day Out in England

Josh has worked for many different travel brands, gaining the experience that’s allowed him to fly high with Day Out in England –writing some excellent content for the site. His knowledge of Yorkshire is like no other, given that its proudly his homeland.

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