Nestled near the riverbank of the River Wharfe in the picture-postcard village of Burnsall is The Red Lion – truly a destination for all seasons.

Dating back to the 16th century, this charming coaching inn is the perfect place to enjoy a countryside getaway, a tasty meal or simply a pint of their award-winning ale at whatever time of year you visit.

It was a chilly, dull and drab late autumn day when we arrived at The Red Lion, but the moment we walked through the door, a warm welcome awaited us.

My partner, born within the sounds of Bow Bells, had been impressed by the beauty of the countryside as we made our way through the Yorkshire Dales National Park to Burnsall and was equally as impressed by the ambience and setting of The Red Lion.

A former coaching inn, this pub with rooms offers a range of accommodation for every taste, and it's also dog-friendly, so Fido can come along too. There are cosy, newly refurbished rooms upstairs in the pub and five riverside cottages, if you need to base yourself here to explore the area, located next to the pub.

But the jewel in the Red Lion’s crown is the recently refurbished Manor House, which is around a few minutes' walk away. This historic house boasts eight spacious bedrooms, all with comfy beds and luxurious bathrooms to soak away the day’s adventures in.

The Manor House was to be our home from home for the night and has its own car park. Our room was on the top floor and was one of the best planned, designed and cosiest rooms I have stayed in for a very long time – and I’ve stayed in literally hundreds. Top marks for the talented interior designer.

Although the room was compact, real thought had gone into the planning of its décor and design. The room featured a modern countryside aesthetic, complemented by a hint of Scandi style, characterised by clean lines, minimalistic design, and a connection to nature through the use of natural materials. I loved the combination of rustic oak furniture with pops of colour, which gave its furnishings an eclectic feel.

There was lots of lighting, plenty of mirrors and a comfy couch where I could sit and catch up with the news. Our bathrooms had a deep tub and lots of space with robes and a heated towel rail.

We walked down to the pub for dinner – although the lovely, friendly staff did offer us a lift if we needed it, as I think they spied my little ankle injury I had sustained during the week – but we did take advantage of a lift back after dinner.

Dinner at The Red Lion is a great experience. You can either take advantage of dining in the bar in front of a crackling open fire or dine in one of the many breakout areas around the pub. There’s also a wonderful lounge to relax in with a drink after dinner if you want to get stuck in your book, play a board game, write a letter, or just make plans for the next day.

We ate in the dining room that had an ultra-rustic feel. The pine floor, large retro tables, comfortable dining chairs, a fireplace, and the prints on the wall gave it a very country feel.

The restaurant prides itself on its home-cooked food, made with ingredients from local farmers, fishmongers, and makers who really know their craft.

In addition to the dishes on the menu, there are specials on the blackboard, which our lovely server explained to us in detail.

For our starters, we selected dishes from the blackboard offerings. My partner chose the French onion soup; it was ultra-tasty and just as it should be—hot and tasty with melted cheese and a smooth, cracked pepper taste. Prompting him to remark the overall taste of the soup was “excellent” and one of the best he had ever tasted. That’s praise indeed from someone whose job takes him worldwide.

My choice of scampi, which our server recommended and confided was her favourite, was literally perfection on a plate. The batter was light and crispy and contained sea-salt granules. The overly large portion of the lemon and garlic mayonnaise that accompanied it was obviously homemade and simply delicious.

The Yorkshire salt-aged sirloin was my partner's choice. It came cooked exactly as requested, with a loaded plate filled with chips, watercress, roasted vine tomatoes, portobello mushrooms, and peppercorn sauce. The steak was flavourful and succulent.

I chose the Old Spot pork belly served with burnt apple and cider sauce. The piece of pork was tender and perfectly cooked. The apple sauces were tart, just as they needed to be to complement the meat. I loved the cabbage and bacon that accompanied the pork—something my grandmother also serves with any pork meal— plus a brilliant potato rosti.

We were, I must say, tempted by the puddings. My partner enjoyed the bread and butter pudding served with whisky sauce – but this was no ordinary bread and butter pudding, as it had a clever twist and was made with apricots, which gave it a subtle flavour, making it a pudding to remember.

I opted for the Pear Tarte Tatin but without the toffee sauce and vanilla cream. The pastry was wonderfully light, and the whole dish had a great tang to it.

After coffee in the lounge and a session with our respective Kindles, we were ready to go to our home from home for the night, chauffeur-driven by the hotel staff.

The next morning we walked down to the pub for a hearty Yorkshire breakfast in the bar and afterwards discovered the venue's immense extension, which makes up a conference and events area and is always in demand for parties and weddings, and it's little wonder.

The whole new wing has views over the River Wharfe and the Burnsall Valley. It also features an outdoor bar with numerous seating options that becomes operational during busy times and can accommodate up to 500 people. Yes, it really gets busy in Burnsall on bank holidays and in summer—often the village is closed because it's so full.

Our visit to The Red Lion was nearly over, but I found time to educate my partner in the beauty of God’s Own County, and on his next leave, he cannot wait to come back to discover more!

The beauty about The Red Lion is that it can be exactly what you want it to be, from the ideal place for a chill-out or romantic weekend to a walking or family staycation.

The Red Lion, By the Bridge at Burnsall, near Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 6BU
Phone: 01756 634543. Website:www.redlion.co.uk

Things to do in the area:
The riverside village of Burnsall is surrounded by breathtaking fells.
Skipton, Malham, Bolton Abbey, and Nidderdale are all close by.
The spa town of Harrogate is just over 20 miles to the east down the A59.
In Burnsall, you can explore the village, take scenic walks along the River Wharfe, or visit nearby attractions like Bolton Abbey and Malham Cove.