Our Yorkshire Dale Pub Safari
Our Yorkshire Dale Pub Safari has been designed to showcase the best of the Yorkshire Dales. We combine the stunning scenery, local history, traditional pubs, games and local food and drink.
Our first stop takes us to the award winning George and Dragon. Perched on the edges of the stunning Swaledale valley The George and Dragon shut its doors back in 2008. Faced with the prospect of their local being sold and ending up as a holiday let the locals banded together, raising the half a million pounds needed to buy and renovate the pub themselves. It became Yorkshires first community run pub and also includes the local shop and library. Since then it has won a raft of awards including National CamRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub of the Year in 2016 and CamRA’s Yorkshire Pub of the Year 2016, 2017 and 2018.
They host a rotating stock of draft and bottled ales, only the best local ales are sold here.
If the weather permits you can enjoy your drink in the beer garden that overlooks Swaledale. Why not arrange to try your hand at a traditional game of Quoits. This traditional Dales game dates back to the ancient Greeks but it was the Romans who introduced it to us game loving English nearly 2000 years ago. It was popularised in the 18th century by the hard working miners and farmers who after a shift down the pits loved nothing more than a beer and chance to relax with their mates. Although its popularity has declined over the years, thanks to opposition from strict religious groups in the area it is still played in local leagues around Yorkshire.
Upon leaving the George and Dragon we will enjoy fantastic views of Swaledale as we head deeper into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Through quaint little villages and over swirling rivers we find ourselves climbing up and over a remote mountain pass before dropping into the little village of Askrigg in Wensleydale. Wensleydale is the most famous Dale in Yorkshire thanks to its beautiful landscape and the world famous Wensleydale Cheese.
Fans of James Herriot and All Creatures Great and Small will recognise Askrigg as Darrowby from the hit TV show and our next pub was Herriot’s local, The Drovers Arms. The Drovers Arms is actually called the Kings Arms and you’ll be drawn in by a roaring open fire and welcoming smiles from the staff.
The original hooks hanging from the ceiling may look like something out of a horror movie but they are testament the Kings Arms former use as historic horse racing stables, the hooks were where the jockeys would hang the saddles after a mornings training session.
Your hosts will serve you a delicious Yorkshire Farmers Platter, full of local produce including Yorkshire ham and Wensleydale cheese alongside a taster tray of 3 local ales (all included in your price).
After our stop at the Kings Arms it is time to head back up and over the stunning landscape of the Yorkshire Dales. Spectacular views await as we head back into Swaledale and onto Arkengarthdale, the Northern most Dale in Yorkshire.
Our last stop is at The Tan Hill Inn, Britain’s highest pub. It stands in a remote location 528m or 1732 feet above sea level and commands expansive views across wild and untamed countryside.
Walking through the door you are again welcomed by a bar full of local beers and cosy open fire.
Try your luck at “The Ring Game” for your chance to win a free pint of local ale, all you have to do is swing a brass ring attached to a string through the air and land it on a hook nailed to the door a few metres away. It seems easy but in order to win free drink you must do it first time.
Your hosts at the Tan Hill Inn will serve you a delicious local pudding and you can choose from a local beer, tea or coffee, all included in your tour price.
The Tan hill is located on a remote hillside at the very top of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, one of the few Dark Sky regions left in Britain, with careful planning, the weather and season on our side we can aim to arrive at the Tan Hill as the sun sets over this stunning landscape. It may be possible to view Milky Way or even a distant Aurora Borealis.
Depending where we are taking you back to we can arrange for another stop for conveniences or a last drink for the road, just speak to us when booking.
Mountain Goat would be delighted to help you design you own ad hoc private group tour, for more tour ideas please click here or to discuss you requirement or to book please call 01904 405341.