Foodie
Factor
20
E xploring the
W ensle y dale H ei f er at Yor k shire Dales
T
he Wensleydale Heifer has long been a favourite of Natural Retreats Yorkshire Dales guests. Renowned for its amazing location, superb service
and delicious dishes, the restaurant comes highly recommended by the Natural Retreats Concierge team. Built in 1631, “The Heifer,” as it is
affectionately known by the locals, is situated in a truly spectacular location. Nestled in the picturesque village of West Witton in the heart of the
Wensleydale and in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, this corner of Yorkshire is untouched and unspoilt. We caught up with proprietor and executive
head chef David Moss to talk about Yorkshire, food and family.
What makes the Wensleydale Heifer special?
The Wensleydale Heifer has been a hostelry for over 350 years but we have had the pleasure of running The Heifer for
the last nine years, and in that time we have quickly established the restaurant and hotel as one of the best seafood
restaurants in Yorkshire.
A seafood restaurant in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales does surprise some of our guests. We get daily deliveries
from several different fish suppliers, mostly based on the east coast, so the quality and the freshness of our produce are
second to none. In the kitchen we have a team of eight chefs whose philosophy is to keep things simple, using some of
the very finest ingredients—making the most of the fantastic Yorkshire larder.
“
the yorkshire dales
are an amazing
location, from the
breath-taking views
to all the various
activities. every season
in the dales is different.
What do guests love most?
It is paramount to us to be seen as being family friendly and we love to treat every child that visits us as a VIP. A lot of
fine dining restaurants that I visit with my young family are not as welcoming as they should be, and so it was always
very important to me to create a very high quality product that welcomes everyone—regardless of age.
The Heifer prides itself on friendly but professional service. We want each of our guests to feel special when they visit
us and we have become well known as the main celebration restaurant in the area. The Heifer is also renowned for its
quirkiness—from a fish tank coffee table to a wine list that features a bovine page three model.
”
What do you like most about the Yorkshire Dales?
The Yorkshire Dales are an amazing location, from the breath-taking views to all the various activities that are available
to do in the area. Every season in the Dales is different, so the time of year you visit will make your visit different every
time. Also the quality of the produce is outstanding; as a chef I do feel very lucky to have one of the greatest natural
larders available to me.