Dale Head Farm Tea Garden, Rosedale

If ‘hidden gem’ is an overused phrase, we promise you, this one is well deserved. The very last farm, two miles along a narrow lane on the eastern side of the Rosedale valley sits Dale Head Farm Tea Garden.

On the working family farm Maggie Barraclough has created an enchanting tea garden – picnic tables, sun umbrellas even a ‘shooting butt’ to keep the wind off  the visitors sipping their tea from vintage china cups.

She has recently added a wooden shelter to the side of the farmhouse. It’s more shabby than chic – in a good way – filled with country furniture, leather sofas, handmade bunting and a wood burning stove.

Maggie serves soup, sandwiches, egg and bacon pie and is big on cakes: lemon drizzle, scones with jam and cream, traditional Yorkshire cakes like Moggy, Scripture cake and funeral biscuits. Tea is proper leaf tea from Taylor’s and soft drinks include her own elderflower cordial.

You can drive to Dale Head following the sign to Rosedale East, better still make this part of a walk along the disused railway that served the Victorian ironstone industry and drops down through the woods to this special spot.

Summer opening times (May to Sep) 11-4pm Closed Mon/Tue except for Bank Hols.

Winter (Oct-Apr) 11am-3pm  Fri-Sun