“I visited Wensleydale Creamery - the afternoon tea where everything comes with cheese”

Located in Hawes, the creamery is a working factory in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. I’d visited before, but I’d never reserved a table at its adjoining Calvert’s Restaurant.

Last weekend, though, an Instagram reel caught my eye. Calvert’s Restaurant was serving a Cheesy Afternoon Tea.

Instead of scones and strawberry jam, the experience revolves entirely around cheese.

Arriving at Wensleydale Creamery at 1pm on an overcast Sunday, the car park was already full and the gift shop overflowing.

The restaurant accepts walk-ins, but a few people were turned away, so on weekends, it's probably wise to make reservations.

I ordered a Cheesy Afternoon Tea for one, priced at £19.50, with an add-on baked Wensleydale blue cheese for £6. I was given the option of tea or coffee, and a filter coffee arrived shortly afterwards.

The atmosphere was family-friendly, and the interior design was modern. An elderly couple sat nearby, while opposite, a family of nine shared tiers of Cheesy Afternoon Teas.

As a last-minute booking, we sat near the entrance facing the gift shop. But with extra planning, there were some beautiful window tables overlooking the Yorkshire Dales scenery.

My afternoon tea arrived on a slate board – “it's hot,” the waitress had warned – with an assortment of pots and dishes. It was an eclectic platter with salad, chips, wedges of cheesecake and fruitcake, and melted cheese galore.

Served in a lightly spiced tomato ragout, the baked Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese was the highlight. Dipping the rarebit — a trio of Wensleydale cheeses melted onto a crispy bread bun — into the thick sauce was delicious.

The “tasting journey” was a fun touch: a paper leaflet suggested that diners eat a piece of chocolate, followed by a small chunk of cheese. It was an unusual pairing, but definitely worked.

The only slight controversy was the ginger cheesecake. Sneaking a taste, my partner found the ginger overwhelming. While I agreed the flavour was strong and unexpectedly savoury, I still went back for another spoonful.

He had ordered gammon and chips, worried that the afternoon tea wouldn’t be as filling.

However, I was pleasantly surprised at how generous the portion sizes were – and after stealing a few tasters of mine, he sheepishly admitted he’d order a Cheesy Afternoon Tea next time. Obviously the gingery cheesecake wasn’t too much of a concern.

Totalling £25.50, my order felt good value for money: portions were generous, flavours were strong, and dishes were creative.

Calvert’s Restaurant also slotted neatly into a day trip.

For those who haven’t filled their cheese quota, creamery tours start at £5.95. Visitors learn about Wensleydale's 1000 years of heritage, watch cheesemaking demonstrations, and taste different products.

Personally, I’d eaten enough dairy to last a week, so decided to explore Hawes instead. Milling around its antique stores, window-shopping tweed jackets, and visiting its Market House craft fair was an enjoyable finale.

I’ll be recommending an afternoon tea at Wensleydale Creamery to friends and family. And if I’m ever craving cheese, I know where I’ll be heading.