The C&TH Guide To Yorkshire’s Best Routes and Restaurants

Foodies should consider a tour of Yorkshire for their next trip…

The heather-covered moors and picturesque valleys of Yorkshire have inspired writers, artists and poets for centuries, and the landscape is characterised by stunning stone villages and ancient towns, nestled in the rolling hills and dales. Here’s what you didn’t know about Yorkshire: the county’s cuisine extends beyond a good brew and some parkin cake.

Outside of London, Yorkshire boasts more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else in the UK, making it the ideal destination for exceptional dining and beautiful driving routes. Here’s our guide to some of the best Michelin-starred restaurants and driving routes Yorkshire has to offer, to help you plan your next country escape…

1. The Box Tree, Ilkley

Ilkley is located in the Wharfe Valley, home to the one-starred Michelin restaurant, The Box Tree. Formerly a farmhouse in the 1700s, The Box Tree is renowned for its French cuisine and impressive collection of fine arts. Head Chef Simon Gueller offers a classic French menu with exceptionally distinctive flavours that will leave you wanting to come back for more. A short drive from Ilkley Moor, intrepid explorers can climb the Ilkley Quarry, site of the popular rock formation ‘Cow and Calf’. A favourite with trekkers, the site is famed for its stunning panoramic views.

2. The Yorke Arms, Pateley Bridge

In the charming Nidderdale Valley, The Yorke Arms was previously an 18th-century shooting lodge, headed up by pioneering Head Chef Frances Atkins, who uses locally grown produce to craft her seasonal menu with a continental twist. Head there for a fantastic feast. Onwards from the Yorke Arms to Pateley Bridge offers beautiful views for over 50 miles. Expect famous Yorkshire attractions you’ll be blown away by – the natural rock formations at Brimham Rocks and spectacular Thruscross Reservoir, the perfect spot for a leisurely post-lunch stroll.

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3. The Pipe and Glass Inn, South Dalton

The Pipe and Glass has forged a reputation as one of the most respected pubs in the North, holding its Michelin star since 2010. Run James and Kate Mackenzie for over a decade, Michelin inspectors have commended the restaurant for its generously proportioned yet impeccably flavoursome food, with locally sourced ingredients. Look out for the Barbecued rump of Yorkshire lamb, it’s certainly not worth missing. The Pipe and Glass also offers five luxurious rooms; why not give room service a go? The area of South Dalton surrounding the Inn offers miles of winding and unspoiled roads that lead onto Pocklington, where you can join the A166 towards the Wolds, which on an Autumn day offers stunning views of the picturesque towns of Nafferton and Driffield.

4. Black Swan, Oldstead

If you’re in search of a beautifully traditional restaurant, look no further than the Black Swan. Run for generations by the Banks family, expect an exceptional tasting menu and quality in food – with a homely touch. Head Chef Tommy Banks creates English dishes made from home-grown produce farmed by the family on over two acres of land on the peak of the North York Moors near Thirsk. After your supper, there are eight bedrooms in the main house on offer, or stay close by in the pretty town of Thirsk, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park.

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“England’s biggest county is incredibly diverse in almost every way. The landscape ranges from impressively desolate uplands, through rolling hillsides to the coast and all points in between. Yorkshire also has a rich social and economic tapestry, with traditional towns and villages as well as modern, multi-cultural cities like Leeds and Sheffield. All this diversity is reflected in the fantastic ingredients produced locally and the varied food offer across the county. The large expanses of beautiful countryside not only produce some exceptional ingredients, they also host some great driving roads – an ideal combination for the Michelin inspectors.” – Rebecca Burr, Editor of the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland

Michelin has partnered with Supercar Driver to create an exceptional drive across the Yorkshire Dales – see the full video below.

Find out more about Michelin here.

Looking for the best place to stay during your trip? Check out our Great British Hotels guide here.