If I ever mention The Red Lion in Burnsall in passing, it is always met with a big grin and a simple – “oh gosh, I love it there.”
If you’re from Yorkshire you’re most likely to have parked up near the green, trudged along the river that runs along the hotel and had a picnic and ice cream with your family on a hot, summers day. It’s one of those unspoilt spots in the area and despite being popular, never loses its charm. It’s a firm favourite and a day out that just keeps on giving!
We found ourselves staying over for the night as we had a family wedding in December – it was the perfect opportunity to stay the night and enjoy the Yorkshire Dales (one of our fave spots in the region!)
Charming is a word to describe the room at the Red Lion. It’s quintessentially typical of a countryside inn or B&B. Small yet cosy, it had everything you needed for a relaxing weekend away in the dales. The bed, at first, seemed quite soft, but once settled it was actually very comfy (which is strange for me as I do prefer a firmer bed!) Complete with the traditional “nurses tuck” of the duvet and bed sheets I felt like I was working at an old friends B&B many moons ago.
Our room looked out on to the river, it’s just a shame it was dark when we arrived so we couldn’t really take a moment to appreciate it other than in the morning when we were dashing around trying to make breakfast.
I mentioned the room itself was small, with a big wardrobe, dresser and chair along with the bed made it feel a little more compact but hey, what could you expect of an old 16th century manor house?
My only slight criticism is that the room was incredibly hot. Despite it being December it has been very mild so the cranked up radiators were a little much so we spent the night with our windows wide open.
I was more surprised to see how large the bathroom was though. A very, powerful waterfall shower was needed after a few bevvies the night before and that is what I got. Plus, nice hot water too!
A cute addition was the refillable Molton Brown Products in the bathroom. Good toiletries are always a good sign of a hotels standards – and I also loved the fact they reused the bottles instead of buying new ones and throwing the old ones out! They also don’t sell plastic bottles of water anymore – they offer glass bottles in the bedroom that can be refilled down in the bar. It’s always so great to see how a hotel is trying to be more sustainable, and the Red Lion definitely got points from me for that aspect!
Sadly, we didn’t get to try the evening meal menu (except for some delicious bacon butties that came out at 10pm at the wedding and suffice to say, they were delicious!)
Instead we enjoyed a breakfast in the morning, included in a our £120 room rate.
It was nice to see the traditional style B&B taking a fresh approach to breakfast and offering things you’d more likely see in a hipster joint in the centre of Leeds. I couldn’t face a full English, yet James thought he could (he couldn’t) so sadly he didn’t enjoy his brekkie quite as much as I did. He did say that despite a few beers the night before he still doesn’t think it was the best breakfast he’s ever had but wasn’t the worst.
I on the other hand gobbled up my yummy bacon, poached eggs and guac on sourdough toast. The poached eggs were that perfect kind of runny, the bacon was locally sourced and thick, plus the guacamole had a real lemony zing, so put all the components together it was like a little party in my mouth. I scoffed the lot faster than you could say “I really don’t have a hangover, promise!”
There is a plethora of walks, days out for the young and old and great spots to while away the days. That’s why I heart my beloved Yorkshire so much. It’s never shy of offering something new to see & do, with beautiful scenery to boot – it makes it the perfect place for exploring!
The small village where the B&B itself is definitely a hot spot for a summer’s day out. Take a long walk along the river, around 7 miles of flat ground, and you’ll find yourself in the small but bustling Yorkshire village of Grassington. But, if you’re wanting to stay in Burnsall it has views for days and it’s definitely worth packing a picnic and grabbing a spot by the river to watch the world go by. Fancy a pint? You can pull up a chair at the Red Lion and watch the trickling river meander around the bends.
We spent the day in Skipton before heading to the night do. James’ grandparents lived there and had a fish & chip shop in the centre so it’s always nice for him to feel nostalgic. There’s quite a few places for those who like craft beers too such as the Beer Engine and the Boat House – so the hubby was very happy. I forgot how many lovely shops there are here too, I even stumbled across a discounted Laura Ashley shop and I was in heaven, plus I managed to pick up some sweet little tree decorations and a scented candle from one of the gift shops too.
A firm favourite when it comes to days out in Yorkshire – Bolton Abbey is about 6 miles away from the Red Lion. Here you can walk around the old ruins or join the Bolton Abbey & Embsay steam railway. I love riding on steam trains as it brings back such fond childhood memories! If you fancy spoiling yourself to a spa day, the Devonshire Arms isn’t too far away either. Pricey, but all very worth it so I hear!
If you’re a Potterhead this is a great spot to go to. Famous for its dramatic, limestone cove, you’ll have seen it in the Deathly Hallows – it’s great for walking and if you feel fit enough you can climb to the top for far-reaching views of Yorkshire. Tiring, but oh-so worth it. One of my favourite places in the county and I have been known to opt to spend a day here for a birthday than enjoy a birthday tipple at the local!
Have I convinced you that you need to visit the Red Lion in Burnsall and the surrounding areas? I really hope I have because I’ll be honest, it’s such a special and beautiful part of the world. You’d be daft not to.
Bee
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