Tan Hill Inn in Swaledale, the highest pub in the UK

Have you ever been to the Tan Hill Inn? Britain’s highest public house at 1,732 feet above sea level? Now quite a remote place but it was not always so as when it first came into being it would be surrounded by miners’ cottages as there was some mining going on there perhaps from 12^th century if not before. The coal being quite inferior the mines were closed and the cottages demolished but the pub remained, and to this day. It can look quite a forlorn place, but don’t worry, now it’s a thriving hostelry with welcoming fire, events, bands, bed and breakfast rooms, meals and the opening of the Pennine Way, Britain’s first long distance footpath in 1965, brings walkers right past the door. The inn was even the first pub to obtain a licence to hold wedding ceremonies and you may even have seen it on television on a double glazing advert and one for mobile phones.

Tan Hill is about four and a half miles from Keld in Swaledale, south, and just over eleven miles from Kirkby Stephen to the west. The building has had its ups and downs, and of course different owners over the years but has always been a pub and always been open, sometimes in dire need of repair, sometimes with few customers with the closing of the mines but a different clientele then appearing with farmers calling in and the onset of the motor car brought more people to the site. A welcoming site on a winters night when the road becomes hazardous but gloriously sunny on a good day.

I can remember going as a little girl, a sunny day I feel it was, and I was fascinated as to how friendly the sheep were. Probably used to so many visitors calling. I have been since but feel a visit is long overdue and feel the need for another reconnoitre.

If staying in any of our lovely Country Hideaways holiday cottages a visit to Tan Hill Inn would make a wonderful day out or even walk from Keld along the Pennine Way call for lunch and walk back, about nine miles. Or an even longer walk round to Ravenseat, I feel another walk coming on! Watch this space!! Call me Nadine or my daughter Joanne on 01969 663559 to book a cottage over the telephone and for friendly help and advice or do book online on our Country Hideaways website if you prefer.

See you soon!