Hi, Middleham is really lovely, I'm sure you will have a great time.

I know the area well and eat out a lot too! I absolutely love the Wensleydale Heifer in West Witton. Looks like an ordinary village pub from the outside, but it certainly isn't ordinary when you get inside and taste the food. It specialises in fish and their fish and chips is famous! Served on a china plate that looks like newspaper wrapping. Here's the website - do book if this appeals to you because this place might be out in the sticks but it has a superb reputation.

www.wensleydaleheifer.co.uk

I also love the Blue Lion in East Witton - again great food.

www.thebluelion.co.uk

Don't miss going to Jervaulx Abbey close by. They have very good tearooms across the road once you have explored the abbey (free entry).

www.jervaulxabbey.com

The Black Sheep Brewery in Masham also does nice food.

www.blacksheepbrewery.com/Default.aspx

Sorry, but don't have anywhere to recommend in Middleham itself, although there are plenty of pubs.

Hope the weather stays fine for you - it is beautiful up here right now. The sun shines every day and the sky is mediterranean blue , although there is often a frost at night. I was walking in the area on Sunday, in a T shirt! The leaves are all golden brown too and everywhere looks so gorgeous. Have a great time!

By the way, did you mean The Yorke Arms as the Michelin restaurant? It's totally fab by the way!

Hi,

Middleham has four pubs and a couple of nice restaurants. The White Swan has a nice bistro, and a good wine list. There is a good, traditional stone flagged bar area. The owners also have the Blue Lion at East Witton.

http://www.whiteswanhotel.co.uk/

There is a very good restaurant: "The Castle", it has a very seasonal menu. It is located opposite the square from the White Swan, & just down from The Richard the Third Pub, which serves more traditional "Pub Grub". Middleham is not a big place, and you will navigate it very easily.

If you venture into Leyburn, you should make a point of trying The Sandpiper, on the right as you enter the town from Middleham. Very, very good food and again a good wine list.

As Morgana says, The Wensleydale Heiffer at West Witton, has an excellent restaurant, winning "Fish Pub" of the year. We visited it many times, and would always eat in the rear bar area, but we feel (sadly) that it has lost much of the "Traditional Dales" atmosphere it once had.

Further along the dale you could also try The George & Dragon at Aysgarth, which again serves very good food, and, a big plus, the best pint of Black Sheep Ale!

Enjoy your stay!

I miss Yorkshire....:(

Thankyou so much for all the replies,yes I did mean the Yorke Arms,but unfortunately it is a long drive according to the route plan,unless I got it wrong !!

The suggestions look great.Do you know anywhere in Middleham that does English breakfast ? Thankyou.

Kalalam,

There is a tearoom in front of the castle. They may do a "Full English". In Leyburn (about 2km) there are several cafes that will serve you a complete English breakfast. However, if you visit Leyburn, go to the butcher's off the market square, "The Dales Meat & Pie Company" and buy some of your own ingredients - bacon, sausage, black pudding, eggs, from this marvelous butchers!

Best wishes

Sounds great ,thanks

I think the Yorke Arms would take much more than 30 mins as you say. Ramsgill is pretty isolated. It's probably my favourite restaurant though - I get taken there on my birthday, and once (Valentines Day) stayed the night. The breakfast was delicious too, and it was the only place where the teabags appeared to be made of silk!

I take the point about the Wensleydale Heifer maybe losing some of its charm, but to be honest I do think the owners should be congratulated for making such a success of the place in a tough industry. To run a wildly successful fish restaurant in the landlocked Dales is some achievement and I have nothing but admiration for them. It is winning every award going and receiving glowing reports in the national press. We found the food delicious - the sort of place where you scrape every last morsel because you don't want to waste a thing!

Hi Morgana,

I couldn't agree more with the sentiments you express. Our last meal at the Heiffer just a few weeks ago was very good indeed, and quality investment of this type in the Dales must be welcomed. It keeps other, more established restaurants on their toes! But like I say I also appreciate traditional Dales hospitality and on our last three visits found this to be somewhat lacking.

BTW, if you enjoy really good, seafood and you are ever in the Newcastle area, could I make a recommendation for The Fisherman's Lodge, in Jesmond Dene. We have been fortunate enough to have visited several good seafood restaurants in the UK and abroad, and still say that the seafood at this restaurant cannot be beaten!

Best wishes

Hi kalalam

We are off to Middleham for a weekend in February and was about to post a question similar to yours. How did your weekend go? Have you got any recommendations for good pub food or restaurants. Many thanks.