The Blue Lion Guidebook
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Contents
Page 2 Welcome to The Blue Lion
Page 3 On our doorstep
Page 5 24 hours in East Witton
Page 7 Discover a taste of Wensleydale
Page 8 Explore on foot
Page 9 Fly fishing
Page 10 Drive through the Dales
Page 11 Discover more Great Inns of Britain
1 Welcome to The Blue Lion
Hello! We are Paul and Helen Klein, and we are the proud owners of The Blue Lion in East Witton. We took over The Blue Lion in 1990 and before that it was in the same family for three generations from 1856 to 1989.
Whilst there have been alterations and refurbishments over the years, keeping the character and history of a Dales inn has been at the forefront of our minds. The name ‘The Blue Lion’ was given to the pub when it was built. When you arrive, you’ll notice that we still have the original pub sign on the front of the hotel. Whilst it's not that easy to maintain, it's such an important part of the history of our inn, that we couldn't replace it!
Our favourite thing about the inn is its fantastic location and the wonderful things to do on our doorstep. We love taking our two dogs, Lola and Pepper, for long walks in the countryside and there is some fascinating history to be discovered in the area. We hope you enjoy your time at The Blue Lion... Paul, Helen, Lola and Pepper!
2 On our doorstep A stones throw away Jervaulx Abbey 3 minutes
The Forbidden Corner 10 minutes
Middleham Castle 10 minutes
Black Sheep Brewery 10 minutes
Bolton Castle 20 minutes
Aysgarth Falls 20 minutes
The Georgian Theatre 25 minutes
3 On our doorstep
Middleham Castle Bolton Castle
Jervaulx Abbey
4 24 hours in Wensleydale
Breakfast Start off your day with a hearty full English breakfast here at The Blue Lion, ready for a day of walking and exploring the Yorkshire Dales.
Wensleydale Walks Spend the morning walking in the beautiful Wensleydale countryside. We have a number of circular walks from the inn (find out more on page. 8) and we can make you a tasty packed lunch to take with you.
Jervaulx Abbey Just a three-minute drive from The Blue Lion is Jervaulx Abbey & Tearoom, an 11th Century Cistercian Abbey. Now run by the Burdon family, the abbey is open from dawn 'til dusk for visitors to explore. There is also a tearoom onsite that serves freshly baked pastries, scones and cakes.
5 24 hours in Wensleydale
The Forbidden Corner Head over to The Forbidden Corner in the afternoon, a unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and surprises created within a four acre garden in the heart of Tupgill Park. This is a great one if you are visiting with kids!
Market Towns Alternatively, why not take a trip to one of the nearby market towns and spend the afternoon browsing the local shops. Both Leyburn and Masham have plenty of independent shops selling quirky and unusual items.
Dinner at The Blue Lion After a busy day in Wensleydale, head back to The Blue Lion for a delicious evening meal. The real ale bar with its cosy log-fire and sturdy oak tables provides a welcoming English pub setting for you to sit back, relax and enjoy our famous cuisine.
6 Discover a taste of Wensleydale
A trip to Wensleydale wouldn't be complete without sampling some of the iconic Wensleydale cheese! The Wensleydale Creamery, based at Hawes in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, is the home of the famous crumbly Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese and a popular Visitor Centre.
Head over to the creamery where they have an interactive visitor experience that will take you on a journey through the art of cheese-making. You can also watch Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese being handcrafted by their team of master cheese-makers from the Viewing Gallery.
If you are looking for something a little closer to the inn, head to the nearby town of Leyburn where most of the local food shops will have a selection of Wensleydale cheeses for you to choose from.
7 Explore on foot
Explore on foot The Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of the most breathtaking areas of northern England, and we have a number of fantastic walks on our doorstep. Please ask Reception to provide you with a local walking route map for guidance straight from our front door.
If you’d like to ‘bag a peak’, but stay off the Three Peaks ‘super-highway’, then consider Buckden Pike or one of the Dales 30, that’s 30 peaks over 2,000 feet (610m) high across the Yorkshire and Cumbrian Dales. Alternatively, you can combine your hike with a train journey over the famous Ribblesdale Viaduct.
Another favourite hiking area for us is Nidderdale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or a little further afield is the beautiful North York Moors National Park – all are wonderful areas to walk and within easy reach of the inn.
8 Salmon Fishing
Explore on foot The River Ure is one of North Yorkshire’s best kept secrets as a premier salmon river!
This is a magical river, meandering through the iconic rolling hills of Wensleydale in the stunning Yorkshire Dales. The Blue Lion Inn is just a short distance away, making it the perfect location for all standards of fishermen.
Here at The Blue Lion we are able to offer a day on the river at a fraction of the cost that is charged to fish on Scottish rivers and provide our guests with an excellent day’s fishing. There are some lovely deep holding pools, tempting runs and glides.
Click here to find out more about fishing at The Blue Lion!
9 Discover more Great Inns of Britain
Explore on foot
11 Discover more Great Inns of Britain
The Great Inns of Britain is aE cxollpecltoionr eof otrandit ifoonaol ctoaching inns and small luxury hotels; our hand-picked properties are located in Britain’s best countryside and coastal regions – we can’t wait for you to visit them.
Find your perfect inn...
Scotland The Selkirk Arms, Dumfries & Galloway
Northern England The Rose & Crown, County Durham The Blue Lion, North Yorkshire The Boar’s Head, North Yorkshire Shibden Mill Inn, West Yorkshire The Inn at Whitewell, Lancashire
Central England The Peacock at Rowsley, Derbyshire The Hundred House Hotel, Shropshire
Southern England The King’s Head Inn, The Cotswolds The Bell Inn, Essex The Lamb Inn, East Sussex
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