A break in Yorkshire’s Lakeland

I have a distant memory of a walk around the Washburn reservoirs some twenty years ago, followed by a visit to nearby pub. I vaguely remember a brightly-lit bar, with Formica tables and a lady serving pints and pork pies.

This was the legendary Timble Inn, whose rather eccentric landlady sadly passed away in 2004.

The pub then closed and it looked destined for “residential use”, but then Marie Cooper and Paul Radcliffe stepped in and completely renovated it to create an outstanding country inn, which opened its doors once again in 2009.

They had actually been looking for a B&B, as they’d had spent too many nights in average hotels and thought that they’d have a crack themselves, with the simple concept of offering good food, a relaxing atmosphere and a comfortable bed; somewhere where they would like to stay. They hit on the right place with the Timble Inn, for this pub oozes character, with a heritage as a coaching inn that stretches back to the 17th Century, with foundations as far back as the 13th Century.

It is said that the famed highwayman Dick Turpin once stayed at the Timble Inn during a mad-dash ride from London to York in order to gain an alibi after a robbery.

After a crisp and cold two-hour winter’s walk through the pine forests around Swinsty Reservoir, I called into the Timble Inn with my two children.

I didn’t need an alibi, just Sunday lunch. The Washburn Valley is often overlooked for neighbouring Wharfedale, possibly as it lies just outside the national park boundary.

But this valley is very much part of the Dales, with its vernacular stone farmhouses, drystone walls and sweeping hillside. And the four reservoirs add to the landscape, making this Yorkshire’s Lakeland.

The outside of the pub has an attractive stone frontage with very distinctive windows, each with a trio of mullions, a building style I have seen nowhere else that really gives the pub a unique appearance.

Inside, the Formica tables have gone (thankfully), and there is an abundance of stonework, dark wood and antique mirrors, with stone-flagged floors and a cast-iron stove in the dining room.

The welcome was very warm and genuine. The tables were dressed with crisp white tablecloths, candles and fresh flowers, although midweek lunchtimes are less formal.

It was almost full at just gone midday; a good sign. I ordered their roast beef Sunday lunch, while my children had roast turkey.

The beef, sourced from Nidderdale, was tender and medium rare, and the huge Yorkshire pudding was particularly good – and I do love a good Yorkshire! Washed down with a pint of Hetton Pale Ale (£3.20), I was soon starting to thaw out. Plate clean, I threw caution to the wind and ordered pudding; well, I had burned around 300 calories on my walk. The Eton Mess was fruity with not too much cream, and my children shared a sticky toffee pudding, which had the most delicious toffee sauce I’d ever snaffled!

The pub itself has an extensive menu that includes locally sourced ingredients wherever possible, including Traditional Roast Sirloin of Beef (£14:95), Roasted Rump of Nidderdale Lamb (£16:95) and Wild Mushroom, Spinach and Stilton Strudel (£11:95). A selection of Real Ales including Hambleton Stud, Copper Dragon Golden Pippin and Hetton Pale Ale, is also available.

For me, walking and pubs go hand in hand like love and marriage, and there really is nowhere better to rest and recuperate than a great Yorkshire country pub.

Sometimes it’s nice for us walkers to have a treat, and the Timble Inn certainly is that.

The Timble Inn

Address: Timble Inn, Timble, Washburn Valley

www.thetimbleinn.com

Contact: 01943 880530

Opening Hours: Wednesday evening to Sunday evening; closed Monday and Tuesday.

Accommodation: Nine en-suite ‘5 Star’ rooms from £170 per room, including three-course dinner and breakfast.