We just spent two days at this lovely guest house in Askrigg. Arriving in pouring rain, we were given a warm welcome, and, after Geoff carried our bag upstairs, he hurried down to prepare tea and cake which we took in front of a warming fire in the lounge. Sylvia joined us after a while to complete the registration formalities (should that be informalities?) and then gave us the benefit of their extensive local knowledge, whilst Geoff checked the weather forecast for the following day on the internet.
We took their advice on in which of the local hostelries we should take a light meal that evening, and were delighted to hear Sylvia recommend we eat at The Wensleydale Heifer the next evening, as we had already made a dinner reservation there!
A glass of wine with our hosts before we braved the short walk to The Crown certainly helped us to relax!
Next morning we readied ourselves for what promised to be an outstanding breakfast experience, and so it proved. The full English breakfast was superb - no pre-cooked and re-heated sausages on this plate, as one sometimes finds. My wife's roasted butternut squash on home-made, organic sun-dried tomato bread was equally good. But before that, we had been treated to Sylvia's hot starter (OK, own up, did you ever have a hot starter for breakfast in a B&B before?), which was fruits stewed in elderberry juice and topped with Greek yoghurt . Delicious! And cereals were also available if desired. After the main course was served, fresh toast made with Sylvia's home made bread was served, accompanied by butter and jams served in small dishes, not in horrible plastic cartons. And then fresh fruit to finish.
And as much tea and fresh filter coffee as we could drink.
As we then prepared to go walking, waterproofs were offered in case we didn't have any, and, as we had forgotten to bring our small rucksack and map case, these were produced, along with local maps to highlight our way to Mill Gill, a waterfall in full flow after the recent heavy rains. Our walk got us back to the Crown for a lunchtime beer before we headed off to Aysgarth falls and the Wensleydale museum at Hawes - both well worth a visit. When we got back, Sylvia treated us to a glass of mulled wine to start the evening off well, and even acted as seamstress when my wife had a problem with her dress.
The next day's breakfast was equally good as the first -this time my wife had a warm goats' cheese, honey and pinenuts dish, whilst I revelled in the full English again. Who needs lunch after such an experience? I hardly had room for toast!
Our room was exceptionally comfortable with crisp sheets and fluffy towels in the spacious bathroom. And quiet, which is a "must".
By the time we checked out, it felt like we had known Geoff and Sylvia for years, so friendly were they both. They tell us that many of their guests come back time after time, which we certainly intend to do. The Apothecary's house is a rare gem - the room was lovely, breakfasts outstanding, but, most of all, it is run by a couple whose middle name must be "hospitality-personified".
