Food & Drink
Sunday lunch in the North York Moors
Roast beef, a Yorkshire pudding the size of the plate and a walk either side of it. Here's how to plan Sunday lunch on the moors, where to look, when to book and what to do with the rest of the day.
Sunday lunch is the moors' big social meal, and the one service where booking really matters. The good news is that almost every village has somewhere serving it, the choice is really about setting: market-square coaching inn, beck-side village pub, or a free house on the high moor with the wind at the windows.
Where to look, by area
- The A170 corridor (Pickering, Thornton-le-Dale, Allerston, Ebberston, Snainton), the easiest run of choices, and the shortest drive if you are based in the southern villages. The Cayley Arms at Allerston has a separate restaurant alongside the bar.
- Helmsley and Harome, the market square coaching inns, plus the celebrated dining inns around Harome. This is the area to choose when lunch is the occasion rather than the interval; book well ahead.
- The high moor, the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge does big, hearty Sunday food with the best view of any table on the moors. See pubs with a view.
- Esk Valley and Goathland, village inns strung along the valley at Egton Bridge, Glaisdale, Lealholm and Danby, easily combined with a railway day.
- The coast, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay and Staithes serve roasts alongside the fish; expect the longest waits of anywhere in high summer.
Booking, timing and the practical bits
- Ring midweek for the coming Sunday; in August and over bank holidays, ring earlier.
- Service is typically noon to around 3pm, and popular roasts sell out before the kitchen closes, early sittings are easier to get.
- Ask about dogs when you book if you want to bring one to the table (see our dog-friendly guide).
- Winter hours shrink, especially at remote inns. Confirm rather than assume.
- Village parking is tight on a Sunday; arrive a little early or walk in.
Build the day around it
An hour's walk before lunch beats a long one after it. Good short options: the beck and field circuit at Thornton-le-Dale, the green and bank at Levisham, the waterfall path to Mallyan Spout, or a forest loop in Dalby. If you would rather drive, the moors driving routes all pass a Sunday-lunch pub somewhere along the way.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need to book Sunday lunch in the North York Moors?
- Yes. Sunday lunch is the busiest service of the week across the moors, and popular inns are often fully booked several days ahead in summer and over bank holidays.
- What time is Sunday lunch usually served?
- Most moors pubs serve from around noon to 3pm on a Sunday, with the last sittings going early when they sell out. Remote inns can finish sooner in winter.
- Where can I get Sunday lunch near Pickering?
- Pickering itself has coaching inns on the market place, and the villages along the A170. Thornton-le-Dale, Allerston, Ebberston and Snainton. All serve Sunday lunch within ten minutes' drive.
- Which walk goes well with Sunday lunch?
- Short circuits work best before a roast: Thornton-le-Dale's beck-and-field loop, the Levisham green circuit, or an hour in Dalby Forest before heading to the A169.
Menus, prices and serving times are set by each pub and change seasonally, always check when you book. More options in the food and drink guide.