Dog-Friendly Stay at Famous Tan Hill Inn | Yorkshire Dales

The highest Inn in Britain

For February half term we booked ourselves a dog-friendly stay at the famous Tan Hill Inn near Richmond, North Yorkshire. The Inn, which is famous for being the highest Inn in Britain standing at 1,732 feet (528m) above sea level, stands proudly in the remoteness of the scenic Yorkshire Dales. Just the drive up to it is enough to stir excitement and the feeling of being on top of the world! Our stay there was definitely worthy of making it on to our website.

The History of The Tan Hill Inn

The history of the Inn dates back to the 12th century and possibly earlier when the area was used for mining. In each room there is a copy of the Tan Hill book where you can read the history for yourself. Copies are available to purchase from the bar too. If you’d like a little insight, you can read about it here.

Dog Friendly rooms

We booked one of their dog-friendly, double rooms for two nights. Both dogs were welcome at a cost of £10 per night. The room had its own en-suite with walk-in rainfall shower, as well as coffee, tea, biscuits and bottles of water which were replenished the following day. There was also a TV with Freeview, free wi-fi and towels were provided. I asked for fresh towels the following day and it was no problem at all. The second morning we woke up to a lovely surprise of dog treats left for the spaniels outside the door – a nice little touch! The rooms blend in well with the beauty of the Dales with their exposed wooden beams and rustic decor.

Breakfast is included in the room rate and you can enjoy a hearty Yorkshire, full English breakfast with toast, tea/coffee, cereals and juice. Fill your boots before heading out to explore the Yorkshire Dales.

Yorkshire Scran

If there is one thing I love, it’s my scran, and after a long hike along the Pennine Way, you really work up an appetite. We made sure we pre-booked a table both nights before we arrived, as that is what was advised – it can get a bit busy – however during our visit, it wasn’t too crowded. Although the menu was limited, the portions certainly weren’t. I enjoyed the Chef’s own homemade Yorkshire pud, filled with creamy mash and beef accompanied by seasonal vegetables & red onion gravy, while Norman chose the lamb hot-pot. Both excellent choices and we would recommend these dishes if you ever visit. The second night we opted for the fish cakes and gammon. The dogs weren’t forgotten about either with their own menu and staff even popped round the bar with slices of steak much to Bobby’s delight! I also indulged in a choc orange, hot chocolate from the drinks menu, topped with a jaffa cake which I enjoyed by one of their cosy open fires.

The Pennine Way

We parked up on that first day and didn’t drive anywhere else. We just enjoyed the peace and quiet, explored the area and it was just beautiful. The panoramic views are simply stunning. From the doorstep of the Inn, we walked to Keld along the Pennine Way. Be aware of ground nesting birds and sheep – luckily for us, the sheep were elsewhere when we visited, meaning the spaniels got to enjoy being off-lead for most of the walk.

Top Tips……….

Definitely bring waterproofs and sensible walking shoes. The terrain was uneven in some parts and boggy.

Plenty of towels for the dogs are essential – they will get dirty. There is an outdoor tap which we used to rinse the spaniels off.

Check the weather before you travel as it has been known for visitors to be stranded there if it snows. It gets that bad they even have their own snow plough.

Last but not least try and bag a seat next to the open fire!