Hi everyone! We (3 adults) will be going to Yorkshire in May and will have a car to explore the area. We decided to rent a cottage and concentrate our sightseeing in day trips from there. We are considering a weekly cottage near Lofthouse and am wondering if anyone can tell me if the Nidderdale area is worth staying in. What are the pros and cons of this area. You don't hear much about this area in the guidebooks. There are so many cottages to choose from and I do not want to make the mistake of choosing the wrong area. Mostly, we want to be in an area of outstanding beauty with fairly easy access to York, Richmond and Harrogate. We want to stay in the countryside. This seems to be a central location. Also, if you know drive times around these areas of the Dales, it would be very helpful. Thank you.

Hi
I live in Nidderdale and will try and answer your questions. Lofthouse is tiny although it does have a pub. It;s picturesuqe but very much a back water. I would suggest it's a great place if you love walking and the countryside. If you want the bright lights - forget it! Lofthouse is about 40 mins drive from Harrogate which has good shopping, restaurants etc. Betty's Tearooms in Harrogate are an essential spot. Also Leeds has SUPERB shopping and isn't too far. Nidderdale is stunning but is much quieter than the better known Dales such as Wensleydale. May will be a fairly quiet time and a good time to visit. Drive times are dificult becuase you are on single roads - you might get stuck behind farm vehicles! Nidderdale is in reach of Fountains Abbey, a world heritage site. Brimham Rocks are close by. Some superb restaurants are the Yorke Arms at Ramsgill and the Sportsmans Arms at Wath - a few miles from Lofthouse. Do visit Scarhouse Reservoir - stunning. I am sure all these places will throw up loads of info on a search engine. I'd say - come and visit Nidderdale - I am sure you'll love it.
M

Thanks Morgana! Your information has been very helpful. I did want to mention that 2 out of the 3 of us are vegetarians so we will probably be eating in most of the time, however, if you can recommend good vegetarian pubs in the area it would be helpful. We will be on a huge budget (the exchange rate is terrible) so I think the Yorke Arms would be way out of our range pricewise although I would love to try it if I could afford it. Can you recommend any good budget pubs or restaurants? How about grocery stores? Also, are Richmond and the North Dales accessible from Lofthouse? Thanks again.

Hi again
I'll have a think about the vegetarian aspect - you won't get vegetarian restaurants as such out there but you may get places with lots of veggie choices. I'll do some research and post back over the weekend - I'm knackered after a long week at work and am not thinking too sharply!!
Pateley Bridge is your nearest place to get groceries but don't expect a supermarket! They have a Spar (8 till late and quite pricey) and newsagents, pubs etc.I've just checked this with my husband - he reckons your nearest big supermarkets would be in Harrogate - they have a Sainsbury's (excellent), Morrisons and Safeways. You would find all you wanted in any of those 3. Plus Marks and Spencers in the middle of Harrogate does a great range of chilled dishes including lots of vegetarian ones. Richmond and all the other Dales are within an hour or so's drive. If you do decide to visit and are keen walkers then write to me at my email address ([email protected]) and I'll send you by email plenty of walking routes. I'll write more over the weekend about food.
M

Me again.
I can't think of any purely vegetarian places but Rajput in Harrogate does superb Indian food and is famous for its vegetable curries. It is very reasonably priced.Another place to visit would be Bolton Abbey - so photogenic. Grassington is nice too.
One thing is concerning me - you mention the exchange rate - are you coming from America? I have to warn you that this is a VERY rural area. Lofthouse itself is tiny - it's just a handful of stone cottages and a pub. Most people living roundabouts will own jeeps and range rovers, as it gets cut off in winter. I have a feeling your cottage wil be pretty isolated - I'd love it but others might not! It has your requirements of being beautiful etc but you have at least a 40 minute drive to do any sort of proper grocery shopping for instance (although you will get the basics in Pateley Bridge). And the roads around Lofthouse are NOT fast - they can be narrow and very twisty and you won't get anywhere in a hurry. Hope I haven't put you off - it is gorgeous - but I have tried to be objective and give you the cons as well as the pros. It will look beautiful in May!!! Just by Lofthouse is Scar House reservoir - I love this place! An image search on Google should throw up some pix of Scar House or Nidderdale itself - might help you decide!
M

In addition to the other large grocery stores Morgana mentioned, Harrogate also has another large grocery/little bit of everything store called ASDA.

Morgana also mentioned a lot of the wonderful sights and places to visit in the Dales area, and I'm sure you will not want for things to do, while you're here.

As far as vegetarian places to eat, although I'm not a vegetarian, I second Rajput in Harrogate as a great restaurant. The food is DELICIOUS.

Some vegetarian restaurants in Yorkshire:

Wild Ginger Vegetarian Bistro
5 Station Parade
Harrogate
HG1 1UF
Tel: 01423 566122
www.veganvillage.co.uk/wildginger

The Blake Head Vegetarian Cafe
104 Micklegate
York
Tel: 01904 623767
Website: www.blakeheadcafe.co.uk

Yorkshire vegetarian contacts:

http://www.vegsoc.org/network/yorkshire.html

http://www.vegetarianvisitor.co.uk/ntheast.html

Vegetarian B&B:

Cornmill Lodge Vegetarian Guest House

120 Haxby Road, York, Yorkshire YO31 8JP - England, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1904 620566
www.cornmillyork.co.uk

This is a really beautiful area, and I know you will have a wonderful time!

I travel to Yorkshire Dales every spring. Nidderdale is beautiful. If you're in to hiking be sure to do the trail starting at Middlesmoor that leads uphill to Scar House Reservoir, cross the reservoir & return to Middlesmoor or Lofthouse via Limley Farm. It's fantastic! Also be sure to check out Littondale if you like remote areas.