Discover Littondale and Elbeck Barn

Fans of the Yorkshire Dales will just love a trip to Elbeck Barn. It’s located in the small village of Litton in the lesser known Dale of Littondale. Now Littondale may not be as well-known as Wensleydale or Swaledale but I think it deserves to be shouted about. If you are looking for some peace and quiet (and some frankly stunning views) you really can’t get much better.

The owner, Sue Holland first discovered Litton while looking to purchase her first holiday cottage and fell in love with both the village and Elbeck Barn.

‘I have been visiting the Dales for more than 30 years and wanted somewhere that would be a great base for walking. The setting of Elbeck Barn is spectacular and I was sold as soon as I stood at the front door and looked out!’

Here are just some of the great reasons to pay a visit to Elbeck Barn in Littondale.

Walk to the pub

Litton may be small but it still has its own village pub which is just a couple of minutes’ walk from Elbeck Barn. The Queens Arms in Litton (which supplies the wine for the cottage’s welcome hampers) has won an Alistair Sawday’s Pub Award and this traditional 17th century inn has log fires, real ales and traditional home cooked food that is all sourced locally. They even do fish & chips to take away so you can take them back to enjoy at Elbeck Barn, which also dates back to the 17th century.

Explore Littondale and nearby towns and villages

Located off Upper Wharfedale, Littondale is a home to the River Skirfare (which passes by the bottom of the front garden at Elbeck Barn) and the village of Arncliffe (which was once the setting for Emmerdale). The Falcon in Arncliffe is worth a visit for fans of the series – you may recognise it as the original Woolpack! Charles Kingsley (who wrote The Water Babies) was once reverend of the local St Oswald’s Church (he is now buried there) and was inspired by Littondale.

Litton is also close to Kettlewell which has a famous scarecrow festival once a year and was used as the fictional village of Knapely for the Calendar Girls film in 2003. I also recommend paying a visit to Zarina’s Café there which has an excellent selection of homemade food and cakes including gluten free options.

Head out a bit further and Grassington is home to a spa with heated pool, sauna and steam room plus a range of treatment options.

Enjoy the stunning views

One of my favourite things about Elbeck Barn is the fact you get a stunning view from each and every room. The sitting room is located on the first floor and has a window seat to make the most of the location – you have an unspoilt view of the Dales that goes on for miles.

Meanwhile, the master bedroom looks out over the same vista but on the ground floor. A handily-placed chair means you can grab a good book and sit down and relax looking out over the peaceful scenery. It’s the perfect escape from a busy life and I think it really is good for the soul!

Plenty of space to relax

One thing I was particularly impressed with at Elbeck Barn was how big all the rooms are within this two-bedroom property. The master bedroom has a king-size bed, fitted wardrobes and a separate sitting area where you can take in the spectacular views.

The second bedroom comes with two single beds on the main floor plus an additional mezzanine level bed, accessed by a ladder, so can easily sleep up to three people.

Bathrooms are available on both floors and the kitchen, dining hall and sitting room all have plenty of space along with very good quality furnishings.

It’s a good choice for families (although we wouldn’t recommend it if you have more than one toddler) and for small groups of friends.

A walker’s delight

Of course the main attraction of the Yorkshire Dales for many people is walking through this unspoilt landscape. Elbeck Barn itself is at the start of a marked walk and you are in easy reach of Pen-y-ghent if you fancy taking on the challenge of the three peaks.

If you are a regular visitor to the Dales, Littondale offers the chance to try out some new and more lesser known walking routes including a lovely riverside stroll from Litton to Arncliffe.

Elbeck Barn is a family-friendly Yorkshire holiday home that is part of the Gorgeous Cottages collection. View the full range of or Yorkshire Dales Holiday Cottages.