This is our first year and the aim is to provide you, our guests, with everything you need to have a wonderful break in the Dales. This includes providing a welcome for your dog, plus all-day care if required. We promise a comfy bed in a stylish room with a fabulous breakfast. There's as much help and information as you want and did we mention the homemade cake? It's a specialty. There are three b
edrooms - two doubles with en-suite showers and one super-king/twin suite with en-suite bathroom and separate shower. You'll find the latest model Mira showers and quality fittings. The bedrooms have a mix of antique and family heirloom furniture. All have gorgeous views of the village. Downstairs is a large dining room/lounge with cosy fire for guests' sole use. It overlooks Clapham Beck and the bridge, and is filled with books, maps and games. There's a fridge for fresh milk and any fresh purchases you may have, such as cheese from the famous Wensleydale Creamery in nearby Hawes. The rear entrance hall has a practical slate floor, a drying room and a cloakroom for your convenience. Feel free to leave your boots and walking tackle there. The back door leads to the fully enclosed back garden which has a patio for afternoon tea. You can park safely at the back or the front of the cottage. The roads are very quiet. Clapham is the starting point for many Three Peaks walks as we are located at the base of Ingleborough. But there are of plenty shorter rambles, too, many with a pub or café included! A favourite half-hour route is past the waterfall and up the lakeside trail to Ingleborough Cave - one of the best show caves in the UK. Further up is world-famous Gaping Gill - an awe-inspiring pothole large enough to house St Paul's dome and England's longest waterfall. Ten minutes' drive away is the picturesque market town of Settle, starting point of the world-famous Settle to Carlisle railway - a highly recommended day out. Fifteen minutes in the opposite direction takes you into Cumbria and beautiful Kirkby Lonsdale with its cobbled back streets, sophisticated bars, cafés and shops, and river views made famous by Turner. Kendal is only another 20 minutes from here, with the next stop, Lake Windermere. Clapham is probably already on the radar of cycling enthusiasts due to its proximity to Le Tour last year, but mountain bikers will also feel at home with trails from the village and in Gisburn Forest nearby. Clapham is a conservation village with much of it being owned by the same family for centuries and that's why it has retained so much character and beauty. Its tree-lined beck complete with stone bridges and ducks is picture-postcard perfect. But it's a working village too, with several farms and businesses making it a lively and thriving community. Don't miss the village church, St James, our community shop (just across the road), the impressively-stocked wool shop and enticing vintage emporium. There's also two cafés, two bars, and a choice of restaurants within walking distance. The renovation of Bridge Cottage took more than a year to complete but now I really do think I am the proud owner of a warm and welcoming B&B. It was a long hard, slog but, oh boy, it was worth it! I hope to see you soon.
