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Special feature: The Wensleydale Heifer, Yorkshire Dales

This was our second stay at The Wensleydale Heifer in the peaceful village of West Witton in the Yorkshire Dales.   Last time we made the mistake of having both lunch and dinner here (and ended up being uncomfortably full!) so this time we opted for just dinner, after a brief stop for a light lunch at Swaledale’s unique Tan Hill Inn. We stayed in The Wensleydale Junior Suite which, with its own separate lounge area, is considerably more spacious than the Racing Room we previously stayed in.   Each room at The Wensleydale Heifer has its own theme and the Wensleydale Junior Suite has numerous Wallace and Gromit touches to remind you where in the country you are. The room also an ultra-comfortable bed, a flat screen TV and DVD player (with a selection of DVDs available at no extra charge from reception), complimentary sherry and en suite bathroom with a powerful shower, a bath and Molton Brown toiletries.   Perhaps not the largest room you’ll find in your travels, but offering ample space nonetheless. Dinner at The Wensleydale Heiffer is the highlight.   When a pub that is so centrally positioned within the country –  a considerable distance from the nearest stretch of coastline – is declared as England‘s Seafood Pub of the Year by the AA (2007), you have to sit up and take notice.   That’s down to co-owner and chef David Moss, formerly of Longueville Manor and The Crab At Chieveley. At dinner, I opted for duck spring rolls with hoisin sauce, followed by a fish stew teeming with scallops, prawns, mussels and more.   Both were excellence and, although enough in their own right, it would have been rude not to  sample the chocolate terrine with poached pear and butterscotch ice cream (pictured). Go for the ‘Sumptuous Sunday’ offer to get the best value from the Heifer. £140 for two people includes a night in one of the themed rooms, evening meal in the restaurant, and breakfast the next morning.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.

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