The Inn at South Stainley, North Yorkshire

Overview

With fantastic seafood and a cracking location between Harrogate and Ripon, prepare to relax at this gorgeous timbered roadside pub. A stylish inn with a smart contemporary look in the open-plan bar and adjoining dining rooms, as well as 12 comfortable bedrooms split between The Inn and the revamped lodge in the garden. Expect chic grey painted wall panelling, chunk dining tables and wood-burning stoves.

The Inn is a comfortable base for exploring the surrounding area. Whether enjoying some retail therapy in Harrogate, a day at Ripon Races, visiting the ruins of nearby Fountains Abbey, the glorious gardens at RHS Harlow Carr, and walking or cycling in the Yorkshire Dales, you're really spoilt for choice.

Rooms from

Doubles and twins: £85

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted
Disabled access
Parking available
Alfresco and private dining

Family favourite
Kids are very welcome throughout the pub and will love the wood-fired pizzas.

Dog-friendly
Expect a big welcome for your canine companion with dog beds, treats and water bowls in the bar.

A touch of culture
From the atmospheric ruins of Fountains Abbey to the glorious gardens at RHS Harlow Carr, there's plenty to keep you busy in this part of the world.

Rooms

The 12 rooms are split between The Inn and the converted barn in the garden, where they blend traditional and contemporary furnishings whilst ensuring high levels of comfort and excellent facilities to enhance your stay. Inn rooms offer oodles of space - expect to find beautiful bed linen, luxurious textiles and calm, soothing colours.

Bathrooms are big and glamorous; some boast stunning free-standing baths and huge walk-in showers. The eight garden rooms are smaller and similar in décor and style with a distinct cabin feel with plank walls, decadent fabrics and French doors leading out onto a small terrace - all are dog friendly. Gun cabinets can be found in each room - this is a big shooting area.

Restaurant & bar

Ranging from delicious freshly caught fish to handmade pizza hot out of the wood-fired pizza oven, The Inn at South Stainley boasts fabulous food. Order the magnificent fish platter and feast on chilli and lime marinated hake, langoustine, Singapore seafood laksa and harissa monkfish - or opt for the American pizza: BBQ pulled pork, pepperoni, caramelised red onion and mozzarella.

The monthly menus make good use of local produce, from locally grown asparagus to venison, duck eggs or tomatoes. The 28-day dry-aged Lancashire rib-eye steak is a firm favourite, best tackled after a bracing Dales walk. At the bar, choose from Saltaire Blonde or Timothy Taylor Landlord on tap, peruse the gin and cocktail list and be tempted by premium wines served by the glass thanks to the excellent Coravin system.

Private dining

The two spacious dining rooms can become a private function area with its own bar - weddings are popular at The Inn.

Things to do

As you might expect, the Yorkshire Dales is a fabulous place to walk and explore. The long-distance walker is spoiled for choice: the Dales Way starts at Ilkley and finishes at Bowness-in-Windermere in the Lake District, following riverside routes as far as possible. The challenging Yorkshire Three Peaks takes in the summits of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. Lady Anne's Way runs 100 miles from Skipton to Penrith, while the Pennine Way is 270 miles of dramatic and beautiful scenery - in short, this is definitely a walkers' paradise.

Literary lovers shouldn't miss the Bronte parsonage, he former home of the Bronte sisters which opened as a museum in 1928. This is where Bronte fans get a feel for the daily lives of these extraordinary sisters and how they applied themselves as writers. If you feel like a walk while you're there, trek across the Pennines to Top Withins, thought to be the inspiration for Wuthering Heights