Olde Duncombe House

The flagstones are cool underfoot and the morning sun slants through sash windows older than most of the trees outside — this is Georgian Yorkshire at its quietest.

Olde Duncombe House offers something unusual: you can choose between a proper guest house room under that handsome old roof or a camping pod out in the grounds, making it a flexible spot for couples after a bit of comfort or families who want the camping feel without quite going full tent. It's the kind of place where you might start in the pod and graduate to the four-poster when the October rain sets in. Dogs are welcome by arrangement, so worth a call ahead if you're bringing one.

Campfires need checking on arrival — they'll let you know what's allowed depending on conditions and where you're pitched. It's open year-round, which means you can visit when the Dales are properly quiet and the guest house fire is worth its weight. The vibe leans toward peaceful and old-school hospitable rather than bustling — a good base if you're here to walk, breathe, and come back to something solid and warm.