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The Fauconberg Arms - Coxwold

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Cosy, firelit inn between the Yorkshire Moors and Dales

You can’t get more traditional than this gorgeous Yorkshire inn. With its beautiful village setting on the very edge of the Yorkshire Moors National Park, cosy bar, roaring open fires and friendly staff, it’s the perfect place to wind down and enjoy a locally-brewed pint… or four.

Following in that traditional vein, you might expect the bedrooms at The Fauconberg Arms to be verging on the chintzy side, but the inn’s new owners, Helen, Simon, Harriet and Jonathan have kept the accommodation fresh and airy, with simple décor and comfy beds. The food is great too – perfect for a big scoff after you’ve been out walking all day. Traditionally British, but beautifully-cooked, stodge-free and with some nice modern twists, meals are served in the cosy restaurant section of the inn, and the set menus are great value.

The Fauconberg Arms is a perfect winter stopover, but really comes into its own during the summer, when the inn’s stunning garden reveals one of the best views from any Yorkshire place to stay.

Where is it?

Nestling at the very bottom of the North Yorkshire Moors, and on the cusp of the Yorkshire Dales, the little village of Coxwold, is blessed with a stunning, undulating backdrop. Its most famous resident was Laurence Stern, author of ‘Tristram Shandy’, who lived in Coxwold in the late eighteenth century (at Shandy Hall… obviously). Otherwise, the village’s main attraction is the village itself – a cluster of houses made from classic York stone (think ‘All Creatures Great and Small’) and a pretty village church.

Close by are the magical ruins of Bylands Abbey and Rievaulx Abbey – both great places to aim for on walks. The Hogwarts-like Ampleforth College is just down the road, and the bustling market town of Thirsk (home to the real-life James Herriot) is just 10 minutes’ drive away. For a break from the rural idyll, the beautiful city of York is just a half hour’s drive.

Where can I eat?

The Fauconberg Arms is an obvious choice. But for alternative culinary options, there is a major local draw – The Star Inn at Harome, near Helmsley (www.thestaratharome.co.uk Tel: 01439 770397). This Michelin-starred legend, that has London restaurant critics speeding up the M1, is just 10 miles from Coxwold, and is a real treat. Amazing British dishes are served in a cosy, candlelit restaurant that used to be a cowshed, while the bar offers an even more relaxing atmosphere, along with a great lunch menu.

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You can’t get more traditional than this gorgeous Yorkshire inn, with its beautiful village setting. Cosy bar, roaring open fires and friendly staff, it’s the perfect place to wind down and enjoy a locally-brewed pint… or four.