As June gets well under way, it's time for us to look back on the May feature for our 'Dog Friendly UK' Calendar, North Yorkshire...
After driving through picturesque country lanes in the heart of the moors, we arrived at our destination of Chop Gate. This small village is home to The Buck Inn, a country pub offering food and accommodation, and also our stop for the night. Located in the heart of the moorlands, it's the perfect stop for bikers, dog walkers and hikers.
In keeping with its name, the pub is decorated with a deer theme throughout. They have an antler lamp, deer placemats and our toilet seat even had a buck painted on it!
Something else that makes this pub stand out is that one of the owners is German and they've brought their food, drink and culture to the pub. So not only can you get traditional real ale and Sunday lunches, but there's also classic German dishes and, of course, beer! The week after our visit, they were holding a German/English beer and food festival with live music, an outdoor barbecue and, naturally, beer!
Having had a long drive up, we decided to freshen up in our room before grabbing some dinner. The rooms are to the back of the pub and are all equipped with flat screen TVs as well as tea and coffee making facilities. Dogs are only allowed in certain rooms so make sure to mention you'll be bringing your pup before booking.
If you fancy letting your wild side out, they also have a field to the back of the pub where they offer camping pitches overlooking the beautiful North Yorkshire moors. This summer, they're launching their new summer garden houses too!
After relaxing in our room, we decided to head to the pub for dinner. Well, we had to try what was on offer! We were pleased to see that not only did they have German dishes like schnitzel and goulash, but they also offered vegetarian versions of them. We decided to have dinner and a pint, both German of course!
The whole of the pub is dog friendly with treats and water bowls on offer too. If you're lucky, you may get to meet pub dogs, River and Tilly, who feature in a pub dog book! They also have a pet bird who can sometimes be seen wandering around the garden.
After finishing our mouthwatering meal, we decided to hit the hay as we had a big day filled with lots of adventures ahead of us...
We had a peaceful night's sleep with nothing but the sound of birds to rouse us and awoke bright and early ready for a busy day of exploring the North Yorkshire moors! It was great news then that a full Yorkshire breakfast was on the menu...
There's plenty of great choices for everyone from cooked breakfasts and toast to cereals and porridge. Walkers are able to order breakfast the night before so you can wake up nice and early and fill yourself before setting off on a hike. The pub owners also run a free pick up and drop off service so you're able to get a good rest halfway through your climb and start again in the morning. They even offer to make up sandwiches for your lunch if you ask!
All set for another day of exploring, we headed off to the market town of Knaresborough ready to visit England's oldest tourist attraction...
Next to the River Nidd lies the birthplace of a famous prophetess, Mother Shipton's Cave. The story of Mother Shipton is an interesting one, she is said to have predicted many tragic events including the great fire of London. Allegedly, she lived in this cave next to the nearby petrifying well. Teddy bears and crockery are left hanging from it so you can see the process of petrification for yourself.
Once you're finished, you can make a wish in the wishing well. Lots of visitors have left coins there for good luck and some even say their wishes have come true!
Then make your way into the cave where Mother Shipton supposedly lived. There's a museum to visit afterwards where you can see a variety of petrified items left by celebrities. The most famous of which is a shoe left by Queen Mary on her visit in 1923!
There's lots of other things to see around the park including a playground for the kids and a gift shop where you can buy bottles of the wishing well water. Dogs are allowed on leads in all areas of the site except for the playground for obvious reasons.
Once you've finished exploring, take a short walk over the bridge to a lovely little place called the Riverside Cafe. It's so close you can actually see it on the other side of the river from Mother Shipton's Cave.
This cafe welcomes cyclists and dogs inside, and they even have a tin of treats for the pups!
They serve everything from hot drinks and ice creams to breakfasts, lunches and main meals. So whether you're after a coffee or a bite to eat then it's the perfect place to go!
As it was a nice sunny day, the cafe was bustling when we arrived but we managed to find a table inside. There's also lots of outdoor seating available right by the river - perfect for enjoying an ice cream and watching the world go by...
Still feeling full from my schnitzel the night before, I fancied something a bit more healthy for breakfast so I had a big bowl of porridge. Feeling a bit more peckish when we arrived at the cafe, I was ready for a nice home-cooked lunch. Having had a cooked breakfast, Mr. WildPaws wasn't feeling too hungry so just opted for a coffee instead. He couldn't resist ordering a slice of their homemade raspberry and coconut cake though....
After resting our legs and fuelling up, we left the cafe and went for a stroll along the river before setting off for home...
We hope you enjoyed reading our blog all about our Dog Friendly trip to North Yorkshire. Thanks to Mother Shipton's Cave, The Buck Inn and Riverside Cafe for our visit. We loved it!
If you visit any of our recommendations then please do share your photos with us on Facebook, we love seeing them. Our 'Dog Friendly UK' Calendar 2019 is still available to purchase here if you haven't got your paws on a copy yet.
We'll be back next month with a blog all about our Dog Friendly trip to Norfolk!
Until then...
Love, nose licks & waggy tails,
From the WildPaws team x
