We just spent two days at this lovely guest house in Askrigg. Arriving in pouring rain, we were given a warm welcome, and, after Geoff carried our bag upstairs, he hurried down to prepare tea and cake which we took in front of a warming fire in the lounge. Sylvia joined us after a while to complete the registration formalities (should that be informalities?) and then gave us the benefit of their extensive local knowledge, whilst Geoff checked the weather forecast for the following day on the internet.
We took their advice on in which of the local hostelries we should take a light meal that evening, and were delighted to hear Sylvia recommend we eat at The Wensleydale Heifer the next evening, as we had already made a dinner reservation there!
A glass of wine with our hosts before we braved the short walk to The Crown certainly helped us to relax!
Next morning we readied ourselves for what promised to be an outstanding breakfast experience, and so it proved. The full English breakfast was superb - no pre-cooked and re-heated sausages on this plate, as one sometimes finds. My wife's roasted butternut squash on home-made, organic sun-dried tomato bread was equally good. But before that, we had been treated to Sylvia's hot starter (OK, own up, did you ever have a hot starter for breakfast in a B&B before?), which was fruits stewed in elderberry juiceand topped with Greek yoghurt . Delicious! And cereals were also available if desired. After the main course was served, fresh toast made with Sylvia's home made bread was served, accompanied by butter and jams served in small dishes, not in horrible plastic cartons. And then fresh fruit to finish.
And as much tea and fresh filter coffee as we could drink.
As we then prepared to go walking, waterproofs were offered in case we didn't have any, and, as we had forgotten to bring our small rucksack and map case, these were produced, along with local maps to highlight our way to Mill Gill, a waterfall in full flow after the recent heavy rains. Our walk got us back to the Crown for a lunchtime beer before we headed off to Aysgarth falls and the Wensleydale museum at Hawes - both well worth a visit. When we got back, Sylvia treated us to a glass of mulled wine to start the evening off well, and even acted as seamstress when my wife had a problem with her dress.
The next day's breakfast was equally good as the first -this time my wife had a warm goats' cheese, honey and pinenuts dish, whilst I revelled in the full English again. Who needs lunch after such an experience? I hardly had room for toast!
Our room was exceptionally comfortable with crisp sheets and fluffy towels in the spacious bathroom. And quiet, which is a "must".
By the time we checked out, it felt like we had known Geoff and Sylvia for years, so friendly were they both. They tell us that many of their guests come back time after time, which we certainly intend to do. The Apothecary's house is a rare gem - the room was lovely, breakfasts outstanding, but, most of all, it is run by a couple whose middle name must be "hospitality-personified".

We have just returned from a few days walking in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. We were very lucky in that the weather was kind to us so it made our daily 5-hour walks far more pleasant. The scenery is spectacular and, although we live in Scotland and enjoy some beautiful scenery anyway, some of the hilltop views took our breath away.

The Apocothery's House is a real gem in the centre of Askrigg Sylvia and Geoff really do go the extra mile to make you feel welcome. Both very friendly and approachable and a font of local knowledge.

The breakfasts were the best you could get outside of a 5* hotel. Imaginative as well as traditional, well cooked and presented.

We booked the "beamed room" as shown in their website This is a spotless, tastefully decorated room (beams over the bed) with large shower room off. Fantastic king size carved wooden bed with beautiful bed linen and lovely matching furniture.

Couple of minor gripes....Breakfast was 1 sitting at 8.30am but as we don't like to eat a big meal too early after rising (and there is lots to eat if you choose to do so) it would have been nice to have had the flexbiliity of going down a little later (say up to 9.30am)

The diningroom is very very quiet and during breakfast a little background music would have be welcome.

We would definitely recommend this Guest House. Syliva did say that they prefer not to run it as a business but as a life style choosing to open or close when they wanted rather than because they had to, and their genuine fondness for meeting guests and greeting comes across.

Askrigg is a fantastic location to base yourself during a trip to the dales. The village itself has several lovely eating establishments, traditional pubs and the locals couldn't be friendlier. The Apothecary house is an amazing place and I can guarantee you won't find a choice of breakfasts like it anywhere else. The room we stayed in is known as the "beamed room". It's incredibly clean, the bedsheets were crisp and white and the towels lovely and fluffy. The owners were very welcoming and made sure that we were comfertable through out our stay. We're definately going to be going back soon