With the warmer weather (finally) arriving, nothing beats a walk in the Harrogate district’s beautiful countryside with your four-legged friend.

We are truly spoilt for dog walks in the area – from the peaceful Nidd Gorge to the rolling hills of Nidderdale.

But all that rambling is guaranteed to work up a thirst.

To help quench it, we have put together a list of four dog-friendly pubs in the Harrogate district.

Obviously there are too many to possibly mention, so get in touch with your favourites and send your photos to nina@thestrayferret.co.uk

The Knox – Bilton, Harrogate

The Knox often crops up as a dog-friendly favourite, with furry companions being considered very much part of the family.

The pub’s website says:

“Dogs are more than welcome at The Knox, and if you ask one of our team members, they’ll be more than happy to bring your four-legged friend a fresh bowl of water. From time-to-time, we may even have treats available to keep your dog occupied and happy, just be sure to ask one of our team.

“We’re an extremely busy pub and we want your furry friends to feel relaxed, safe, and happy at all times during your visit.”

Sportsman’s Arms, Wath, Nidderdale

The quaint hamlet of Wath is in a wonderful area for walking; the circular route from Pateley Bridge is particularly good, four miles out along the northern fellside and back along the river.

Once you have stretched your legs, you can enjoy a refreshing pint and a spot of lunch in the bar area of this family-run 17th-century country inn, while your dog curls up under your seat.

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The Royal Oak, Staveley, Knaresborough

Landlady Catherine Audsley outside The Royal Oak in Staveley.

Staveley is actually home to a nature reserve, which takes you on a lone walk that stretches beyond the village. It has many wild and rare species of flowers and wildlife and is perfect for a summer dog walk (they are permitted on leads).

Once you have admired the otters, of which there are regular sightings, head to Royal Oak, a traditional country pub that reviewers on Trip Advisor have described as “the most dog-friendly place I have ever been to”.

The pub’s website says:

“A selection of local ales and various seating areas offer somewhere for everyone – even the four-legged friend.”

The huge beer garden is also very impressive if you want to catch some rays.

The Royal Oak, Ripon

Another Royal Oak, this time located in Ripon’s historic Kirkgate, this renovated 18th century coaching inn is a firm favourite with dog owners.

Enjoy a walk at nearby Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden and then head into Ripon for a wander.

The pub’s city centre location is a great base to explore this fabulous part of the district.

Dogs are allowed in the bar area and there is even a selection of dog-friendly tables in the restaurant if you have worked up an appetite.

According to government statistics, there has not been a single new covid infection for at least 10 days in Pateley Bridge and nearby Nidd Valley.

Yet it seems many pubs in the Nidderdale town, which were hoping for a pre-Christmas boost after a dire year, are set to stay shut on Wednesday when lockdown ends.

Dan Elliot, general manager of the Royal Oak, sums up the frustration:

“Unless we go into tier 1 we will stay shut.

“The rules don’t suit small businesses like us. It seems they are making it viable for big chain pubs but the rules absolutely don’t work for your little country pub like us.”

The Royal Oak, which has four staff, serves meals so could open. But social distancing guidelines make it pointless, says Mr Elliot.

“There’s no way whatsoever to make it profitable.

“We’ve always had a good food trade but it’s more of a drinkers’ pub. For a pub that relies predominantly on locals and drinkers you have no hope.

“Unless you have space for loads of tables, or try and cheat the rules by doing cheap substantial meals, it’s just not viable.”

Read more:

• Just 23 covid infections today as R number falls to 0.8
• Pateley Bridge maintains Christingle tradition for charity

The pub, which spent £300 putting up plastic screens in the bar and also erected sheltering to encourage customers to go outdoors, is a key part of the community.

Takeaway meals served at weekends during lockdown have been a lifeline to many older people.

It plans to continue selling weekend takeaways as well as providing £8 oven-ready Christmas Day meals.

But nobody knows when it will welcome locals, cyclists and walkers back through its doors — and this isn’t easy to accept in a place where there has not been a single new infection for almost two weeks. Mr Elliot says:

“We’ve done test and trace and we have not had any cases yet. I believe only one pub or restaurant in Pateley has had a case and it shut straight away and did a deep clean.

“It does feel a little bit like the blanket restrictions just don’t seem to fit pubs like us.”

Mr Elliot says he isn’t aware of any Pateley pubs that are re-opening.

“Covid had already taken all the enjoyment out of running a pub because we spend more time telling customers off for doing wrong things rather than asking how their day is. Now it’s taken the profitability out of it.

“Eat Out to Help Out was really good but since then it’s just slowly dwindled.

“If we go to tier 1 we could be OK because we could have up to six people at a table so we could have 36 people inside and 36 outside.

“We are expecting a bit of a backlash for not opening when we could but I don’t think people realise it isn’t financially viable.”

The Stray Ferret asked Julian Smith, whose Skipton and Ripon constituency includes Pateley Bridge, what his message was for small businesses struggling in tier two and whether he supported the government approach. He had not replied by time of publication.