The Dartmoor Inn at Lydford

It’s an unspoken rule that all walks on Dartmoor must be marked with a hearty pub lunch and a local tipple and this 16th century inn, a short detour from some of the National Park’s best trails, ensures the long-held tradition continues.

New owners Jay, Tess, Andrew and Jo took over in July 2019 and wasted no time in making their mark on the oak-beamed, slate-floored coaching inn. While the family are slowly rolling out contemporary updates to the bar, dining spaces and trio of B&B rooms, head chef Jay got stuck straight in to his menu revamp.

The new line-up changes daily depending on what the local producers have in season, though Jay’s dishes tend to centre around tried-and-tested flavour pairings such as glazed pork cheek with apple and sage, and whipped goat’s cheese with beetroot and hazelnut.

Puddings are of the hunker-down-for-winter variety – think unctuous sticky toffee pud, decadent dark chocolate mousse and boards brimming with local cheeses.

And it’s not just ramblers who make the trek to this corner of the mighty moor to refuel and relax. The friendly staff, crowd-pleasing food and easy-going atmosphere make it a popular dinner destination with Lydford locals, and visitors staying the night in one of the cosy bedrooms upstairs.