Food & Drink
Where to eat & drink in the North York Moors
Half the pleasure of a day on the Moors is the pub at the end of it. From a refurbished village inn at the gate of the National Park to one of England's highest pubs on a windswept ridge, here are the places worth planning a drive — or a walk — around.
Placeholder photograph — real imagery to follow.
The North York Moors keeps its best tables in plain sight: old coaching inns on market squares, beck-side village pubs, and free houses stranded on the high moor where the weather writes the menu. These three are the ones we send people to first — and each pairs neatly with a walk or a drive.
The Cayley Arms, Allerston
Right on the A170 at the gate to the Moors, four miles east of Pickering, the recently refurbished Cayley Arms is Allerston's own inn: a big, comfortable bar with handmade oak, leather armchairs and log fires, a separate restaurant, and rooms to stay. It's named after the Cayley family of nearby Brompton — home of Sir George Cayley, the aviation pioneer. The natural first and last stop if you're based in the village, and the local for Allerston Cottage.
The Fox & Rabbit Inn, Lockton
A short hop north on the A169 towards Whitby, the Fox & Rabbit is a traditional country inn on the edge of Dalby Forest, parts of it dating to the late 18th century. Run by the Wood brothers since 2004, it's known for genuinely panoramic moorland views, well-kept ales and a seasonal menu of local produce — a favourite lunch stop on the way to the Hole of Horcum or the coast.
The Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge
For the full high-moor experience, few places beat the Lion Inn: a 16th-century free house marooned on Blakey Ridge at 1,325 feet, one of the highest pubs in England, with vast views over Rosedale and Farndale. Log fires, hearty food, real ales and centuries of atmosphere (it's famous for the odd snowed-in "lock-in"). Booking is wise for meals; walkers on the Coast to Coast pass the door.
More moorland inns & village pubs
- The Horseshoe Inn, Levisham — a 19th-century family-run inn on the green of a quiet dead-end village, with home-cooked food and rooms; arrive by steam train and walk up to Levisham.
- The New Inn, Thornton-le-Dale — a traditional pub in one of Yorkshire's prettiest villages, handy after a Dalby walk.
- The White Swan, Pickering — a historic coaching inn on the market place with a well-regarded restaurant and rooms.
- The Grapes Inn, Ebberston, and The Coachman Inn, Snainton — friendly stops along the A170 between Pickering and Scarborough.
- Esk Valley pubs — the villages of Egton, Egton Bridge, Glaisdale, Lealholm and Danby each have a pub or tea room, perfect for a valley pootle.
Dining destinations
- The Star Inn at Harome, near Helmsley — long one of Yorkshire's most celebrated thatched dining inns; book well ahead.
- The Black Swan and The Feathers, Helmsley — handsome coaching inns on the Helmsley market square.
- Malton — "Yorkshire's food town," a short drive south, with a monthly food market, delis and well-regarded restaurants.
Before you set off
Opening hours and menus vary by season, and remote inns can be weather-affected, so it's always worth checking ahead and booking a table for food. Base yourself in the villages and it all gets easier — Allerston Cottage is minutes from the Cayley Arms, and a sensible starting point for the routes in Classic Car Country.