With beck and village green, bridge and ancient churchyard on its doorstep, country pubs don’t get more perfect than the Blacksmith’s Arms at Lastingham. A handsome stone-built inn (seats outside
for sunny afternoons), it’s stuffed with bric-a-brac (copper pans, paintings, old photographs) – not to mention a village noticeboard and beams hung with pewter tankards or garlands of hops. An
impressive Yorkshire range keeps everything cosy and the dining room ensures everyone is well fed with dishes that are a step up from conventional pub grub. There are usually three guest ales on
offer, including Skipton’s Copper Dragon and Harrogate’s Daleside. Lastingham’s church and 11th-century crypt are opposite the front door, and the inn has three en-suite rooms if you want to stay
over.