Restaurant at The Coniston Hotel

Whilst primarily a place for groups looking for action-packed days in the country, the excellent restaurant is open to all and well worth paying a visit. The fact that you might subsequently be tempted into something a little more lively than toying with an excellent steak is neither here nor there.

The à la carte menu offers five attractive starters including scallops with angels on horseback served with tomato vierge sauce, or seared carpaccio of beef, creamed horseradish, watercress and Parmesan shavings.

The hotel is owned and run by the Bannister family within whose estate it is located. Home reared produce is employed wherever possible, so expect to see Coniston Estate rack of lamb served with sliver skin onions and broadbean cassoulette and mini Hassle back potatoes. In season game will often be available, and fresh red snapper served with Mrs B's homemade chutney served on a bed of parsley sautéed potatoes and white wine sauce is also very popular.

In September when wild duck are plentiful you could find birds that have fed well on the stubble served with braised spring onions and asparagus, smoked bacon mash and sloe gin sauce. Follow with apple charlotte and custard, or a platter of fine dining cheeses served with homemade Dundee cake, apple, cinnamon chutney, grapes, celery and biscuits.

This is a highly attractive place to visit, just for the day, or longer to let the relaxing vibes of the Yorkshire Dales iron out the creases.