Walks with Pubs and Cafes

In and around the Yorkshire Dales

Looking for fantastic Family Walks with Family Friendly Pubs and Cafes?

Then you are in the RIGHT PLACE! This whole page is dedicated to Yorkshire Dales family walks that head to, from or past an excellent pub, cafe or eatery. OR maybe even ALL of the above?! (What IS this wizardry?!)

I felt that it was important that these weren’t just any old pub or cafe walks, but that they featured places that we have been to ourselves and that we rate in terms of a family friendly vibe. We have only included walks with pubs and cafes that we genuinely rate in terms of quality! So hopefully, you’ll find a walk here with a pub or a cafe that you’ll love too!

That’s not to say we’ve visited everywhere! So keep checking back to see what’s added as we continue our culinary tour of the Dales!

This page is structured a little differently to our usual walk pages. Here’s why.

Having lived in the area of the Yorkshire Dales for well over a decade, we have so many tried and tested favourites that we have returned to again and again. Our usual page set up won’t do these lovely places justice, so I’m trying something a little new, for our new page and to showcase some of our favourite spots!

This page has been organised by areas.

  • Swaledale, including Richmond and Muker & Wensleydale including Hawes, Askrigg, Aysgarth and West Burton.

  • Including Ilkley, Skipton, Settle, Ribblesdale, Malham and Wharfedale including Burnsall Grassington, Kettlewell, and Buckden

  • Including the Cumbrian Westmorland Dales, Sedbergh, Dent, Ravenstonedale and Ingleton and Kirkby Lonsdale.

  • Including Nidderdale, Pateley Bridge, Knaresborough, Bedale, and Masham

Walks With Pubs and Cafes

Yorkshire Dales South 

Walks with Pubs and Cafes in the Southern Yorkshire Dales

So many super spots can be found in the South of the Yorkshire Dales, and it is a fantastic hub of top quality places to eat and drink!

We have included the Wharfedale, Malham and Settle areas in our Southern Yorkshire Dales section and so you’ll find LOADS of our tried and tested family friendly favourites (because it’s the bit we live the closest to!)

Burnsall

This bustling village is a hub of activity all year round, and has a thriving pub at its heart. The Red Lion Inn in Burnsall is family friendly, dog friendly and has a welcoming vibe. Located next to the river and Grade II listed bridge, it has a large beer garden, partly covered, overlooking the water making it the perfect spot in the Summer. During the winter? You can cosy up inside next to one of the open fires. There is tasty pub grub on offer too, with child friendly options available.

If pubs are not what you are looking for, then Burnsall has two cafes The Riverbank and Wharfe View Tea Rooms. Both serve light bites and cakes with hot and cold drinks. Both have indoor and outdoor seating areas. They both offer super tasty, carefully created homemade treats, and we love them both. So we’ve mentioned both!

Appletreewick

Situated just down the road from Burnsall and within walking distance (OH YEAH!) You will find Appletreewick. A tiny little village that is so chocolate box in it's aesthetics, it’ll have you checking Right Move in an instant!

The Craven Arms is another fab pub, serving great quality family friendly food and with a family friendly vibe. It also has a fantastic beer garden, is dog friendly and has outdoor huts to sit in and take in the stunning views across the River Wharfe. If you fancy camping here, check out our review of Mason’s Campsite in Appletreewick.

Hebden

The last of the trio! The village of Hebden is also within easy walking distance of Burnsall, and is the home of the Old School Tea Rooms. This super little cafe, serves tasty hot chocolate, hot and cold drinks, top quality light bites and homemade cakes and ice cream.

To top it off, you can find it right next to the teeny tiny play area in Hebden (and they have a mini shop packed with super cute gift ideas).

The Walks that Feature these Pubs and Cafes

Grassington

We love heading to the capital of Wharfedale and there is so much to choose from here! Why not try the The Retreat, which serves tasty top quality light bites and cakes, hot and cold drinks or to The Cake House, for snacks and gorgeous home made cakes as well as amazing hot chocolate. The Cobblestones Cafe is also a great family friendly choice!

Kettlewell

Kettlewell is one of our favourite parts of the Yorkshire Dales, and I have such a soft spot for the Bluebell Inn having stayed there many years ago when I walked the Dales Way.

We have been back several times with the kids and have always found it to be welcoming and family friendly. You can find it located in the centre of the village, next to the beck and it’s a top spot at the end of a walk.

Because we love Kettlewell so much, we have three walks that feature this pub, check them out below!

Hubberholme

The George Inn in Hubberholme is a properly traditional pub with a truly warm welcome! It’s a tiny pub, very quirky and cosy inside and be prepared, it does get busy and booked up with reservations so try to plan ahead. Oh and make sure you meet George the pub dog too! (Which of course means it’s dog friendly too!)

Never fear! There is an outdoor seating area that’s covered up too making it great all year round!

Litton

The Queens Arms in Litton is a beautiful teeny tiny period pub in the equally teeny tiny village of Litton. With a family friendly vibe, we have found this pub to be kid friendly and very welcoming, so well worth taking the detour off the main road from Grassington!

When I say tiny, I mean tiny! So pre-booking we have found to be essential and have made the mistake of not booking in the past! There is also a lovely beer garden outside, so what are you waiting for!

The Walks that Feature these Pubs and Cafes

  • The Trees at Grass Woods in Grassington

    Grass Woods and Ghaistrill's Strid

    This fab little 4 mile circular starts and ends in Grassington and is a great little wander. Stop off in Grassington when you end your walk!

    Tap here to head to the full walk details
  • Paddling in the river at Kettlewell

    Kettlewell to Starbotton Circular

    This lovely little circular walk starts and ends in Kettlewell where you can stop at the Bluebell Inn. The walk offers fab views across Wharfedale and a lovely wander back along the river.

    Tap here to find out the details of the walk
  • Sitting on a rock looking at the view

    Great Whernside

    This walk offers a challnge to a budding explorer and takes you up to the sixth highest peak in the Yorkshire Dales! Luckily there is both ice cream AND a pub at the end!

    Tap here to head to the walk details.
  • stepping on the stepping stones at kettlewell

    Kettlewell Stepping Stones

    This lovely riverside wander is less than two miles, on flat terrain, taking you over the stepping stones at Kettlewell and offers a park, pub and ice cream too!

    Tap here to head to the walk details
  • Child standing in front of a waterfall

    Cray Gill Waterfalls

    This walk has two whole pubs! (And a third if it reopens!) Our family recommendation is the George Inn at Hubberholme, that features half way on this circular walk.

    Tap here to head to the walk.
  • looking through the entrance of Scoska Cave

    Scoska Woods and Cave

    This short circular starts from Litton and takes you to Scoska Woods and stepping stones. The cave is optional! Make sure you head to the Queens Arms in Litton!

    Tap here to head to the walk.

Malham

Malham is a super popular spot with plenty of exciting places to visit and walk to.

Our favourite family friendly pub is the Lister Arms, where you’ll find a warm welcome and a family friendly feel, in a stunningly characterful historic building! There is a huge beer garden (part of it covered) and it is super cosy inside too. Needless to say, we have been here many a time on a Malham visit!

If you’re not looking for a pub, then head over to the Old Barn Tearoom where you’ll find tasty light bites and drinks (both eat in and takeaway) pottery painting (no booking required) cakes and ice cream!

It may get busy, but Malham has got a lot to offer!

Ribblehead

Located right in the midst of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, the Ribblehead Viaduct is a true sight to be seen and the whole area is a walker’s paradise!

Luckily, it also has a super friendly family pub with a beer garden boasting STONKING views across the viaduct to Whernside and beyond. The Station Inn is well worth a stop for some tasty traditional pub food and in my humble opinion, this pub has a soul. It can get busy, but we’ve found that the staff have really worked hard to find space where there looks to be none! And of course, it’s dog friendly.

Clapham

This little village is the perfect place to start a walk…. I mean it has SO MANY! We have two beginning and ending in Clapham and we would thoroughly recommend checking out the Sawmill Cafe at the start of the Ingelborough Estate Nature Trail! It’s perfectly positioned to kick off your walk the right way! (i.e. with coffee and cake!)

The Walks that Feature these Pubs and Cafes

  • Janet's Foss paddling in the water

    Janet's Foss and Gordale Scar

    This super circular takes in two of the Malham gems and heads right past the Lister Arms too!

    Tap here to head to the full walk details
  • The top of Malham Cove on the limestone pavement

    Malham Cove

    This is a super wander to one of the geological wonders of the Yorkshire Dales, taking in the Lister Arms pub too!

    Tap here to find out the details of the walk
  • playing in the waterfall of Force Gill

    Force Gill Waterfall

    Located on the side of Whernside, this little gem of a waterfall is fantastic to go and see. This linear walk starts and ends at the parking area, right near the Station Inn Pub, Ribblehead.

    Tap here to head to the walk details.
  • Whernside in the snow and sunshine

    Whernside

    This is the highest peak in the Yorkshire Dales and is a super achievement for a budding explorer! Check out this walk that starts and ends next to the Station Pub!

    Tap here to head to the walk details
  • Walking towards Ingleborough mountain

    Gaping Gill

    If you feel like Ingleborough itself might be a bit too much of a challenge, why not head to Gaping Gill on the side of it? This walk starts on the Ingleborough Estate Nature trail and Sawmill Cafe.

    Tap here to head to the walk details
  • Standing next to one of the Norber erratic rocks

    The Norber Erratics

    This crazy geological phenomenon is well worth a wander to go and see. The Norber Erratics are a series of giant rocks, balancing precariously on teeny tiny ones. Make sure you check out the Sawmill Cafe too!

    Tap here to head to the walk details

There are so many pubs and cafe walks to choose from in some fantastic Yorkshire Dales locations!

Which one would you choose?

Walks With Pubs and Cafes

Yorkshire Dales West

Welcome to our pub and cafe walks in the Western Yorkshire Dales!

Fun fact (you know I’m full of them), did you know that part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park is actually in Cumbria? Yup. It well and truly blurs the lines between the Dales and the Lake District (except the Lakes part, definitely no Lakes…. other than Semerwater… but that’s in a different part of the Dales and firmly in Yorkshire….. and now I’m wildly off point…)

Ahem.

The Westmorland Dales are at the far Western points of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and there you’ll find the towering Howgills, the stunning village of Dent, Ravenstonedale, Kirkby Stephen and parts of the stunningly remote Mallerstang.

In walk terms, this is a developing area of the website, and an area that we hope to explore more of in 2024. So keep checking back for more personal recommendations, because I have a fair few lined up…. just need to get the walks finalised for them!

Sedbergh

Let’s start with the pretty market town of Sedbergh. We were lucky enough to stay here whilst researching the Westmorland Dales and tried out a fair few of the town’s eateries!

The Black Bull was one of our favourite places to eat and had a top quality children’s menu that was not full of the usual options. Our eldest chose the most delicious chilli and the youngest a burger to die for. Unlike a lot of family friendly pubs, this one is SUPER fancy. So you can all enjoy a little bit of luxury together (they do a tasting menu…. just saying!) and it’s dog friendly too!

Dent

We do love a wander in Dent, and I just wanted to shout out the Dent Heritage Centre for it’s super hot chocolate! It serves light bites and cakes too and it’s all in the museum (you don’t have to go to the museum to eat there).

Ravenstonedale

Little wander to a viaduct anybody? One that starts and ends at the play park?!

Despite being a tiny village, Ravenstonedale has two family friendly pubs. One fancier option, The Black Swan Hotel which features in the tope 100 gastropubs in the country, and one that offers more traditional pub style food, but is a whole lotta awesome too, The Kings Head. Both are great pubs. You’re spoiled for choice!

The walk to Smardale Gill Viaduct is a great way to work up an appetite so why not check out that walk?

(Check out our camping experience at Low Greenside in Ravenstonedale here.

The Walks that Feature these Pubs and Cafes

  • Playing at the foot of a waterfall

    Settlebeck Gill Waterfall

    This fab little circular starts and ends in Sedbergh and takes you to a hidden waterfall, and the park! Make sure to check out the Black Bull too.

    Tap here to head to the full walk details
  • Walking through a gate to a farmstead

    Flintergill Dent

    This brilliant circular walk heads up Flintergill in Dent, taking you past the park and up the historical gill where you’ll find a wishing tree, and tiny museum too!

    Tap here to find out the details of the walk

So where are you going to head?

Walks With Pubs and Cafes

Yorkshire Dales North 

Welcome to the North of the Yorkshire Dales National Park!

This section covers the Swaledale area, including Muker, Reeth, Keld and beyond!

This is one of the more remote parts of the Yorkshire Dales, which means there is STUNNING scenery, rugged moors and epic waterfalls. Here are some ideas of where you can eat with the kids whilst you are there.

And make sure you check out our review of our camping trip to Usha Gap Campsite!

Muker

This little village hub is in the heart of Swaledale and is the home to the Farmers Arms. This welcoming village pub serves pub food done well, is dog friendly and has a good kids menu too.

Plus it also has a beer garden! Happy Days!

Keld

Ok… The Tan Hill Inn isn’t quite Keld, and the walk isn’t quite taking you to the pub (unless you hopped in the car) but with it being the highest pub in England, and with it having a family menu and welcoming vibe (as well as a beer garden with epic views!) I thought it needed a mention. It’s dog friendly and is well worth a visit.

Plus, you can have a fab stroll around Keld before you head there!

Reeth

Ice Cream just hasn’t been mentioned enough so far. So here’s a special mention for the Brymor Ice Cream parlour in Reeth, that also serves hot drinks too!

The Walks that Feature these Pubs and Cafes

  • Paddling in front of Rampsholme Bridge in Muker

    Rampsholme Bridge from Muker

    This little wander has perfect paddle spots and starts and ends in beautiful Muker. Check out the Farmer’s Arms whilst you are there!

    Tap here to head to the full walk details
  • Standing at Wain Wath Waterfalls

    The Keld Waterfalls

    Keld is a positive hub of waterfall action! So many waterfalls in such a short distance! And when you’re done, head up to the Tan Hill Inn!

    Tap here to find out the details of the walk
  • crossing the stepping stones at Reeth

    Reeth Stepping Stones

    This super short wander heads past the play area in Reeth and to the stepping stones. Treat yoursaelf to an ice cream from the parlour on the Reeth Village Green!

    Tap here to head to the walk details

So which ones will you be checking out?

Walks With Pubs and Cafes

Yorkshire Dales East and Central 

Welcome to the East Central Yorkshire Dales!

Here, you’ll find places that are to the East of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, as well as smack bang in the middle. So we’re talking Wensleydale and for the purposes of this page, we’ve also included Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty too!

Askrigg

The Bake-Well in Askrigg is quite simply lush. With eat in and take out options for light bites and super tasty cakes, calling in here is a must for us and we suggest you do too!

Aysgarth Falls

If you’ve ever been to the Yorkshire Dales, you are BOUND to have heard of Aysgarth Falls! Not only has it got associations with Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (you know, that super accurate historic reconstruction of what happened to Robin Hood….) but it has some stunning waterfalls! And of course…. a top cafe! We love the Millrace Teashop for homemake cakes, coffee and tasty handmade light bites! You can find it on the road bridge crossing Aysgarth Falls!

Hawes

This fab little market town is a super spot to stay (check out our Visit Hawes with Kids Guide) and we have always found the White Hart Inn to be very welcoming with a great family friendly vibe too! Great news for our furry friends…. it’s dog friendly too!

The Toft Gate Cafe

Based up in Greenhow near Pateley Bridge, the Toft Gate Cafe is a gem of a cafe needs to get a mention! Not only amazing tasty treats, but it’s a farm shop too! Definitely worth a trip to go and see it!

The Walks that Feature these Pubs and Cafes

So which one are you checking out?

Walks With Pubs and Cafes

Yorkshire Dales: The Outlying Areas 

Not content with just the Yorkshire Dales National Park?

Here are some of our favourites from the outlying areas of the National Park that can’t be left out!

Ilkley

New Brook Street Deli

This is on our permanent must stop list! We love New Brook Street Deli, and it’s perfectly positioned to grab a cake and a coffee before heading to the park or before heading off on one of our Ilkley town based walks! Check those out below.

The Cow and Calf Pub

This is located high up on the side of Ilkley Moor, right next to the Cow and Calf rocks! With a family friendly atmosphere and a view from the beer garden to die for, a trip to the Cow and Calf Pub is a must do when you’re wandering on’t moor!

The Walks that Feature these Pubs and Cafes

Our recommendations for pubs and cafes around the Yorkshire Dales!

There you go!

Remember these are from our personal experiences and following that, we would wholly recommend them to you!

The list is not exhaustive, so should you have a recommendation that you want us to check out, feel free to get in touch on sam@thereluctantexplorers.com.

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