IT seemed only fitting that two days after the General Election, we were installed in number 10. Not the Downing Street one though; ours was much more scenic and our term of office was more relaxed than we envisage Mr Cameron’s will be.

With our son Jack far enough away doing a practice Duke of Edinburgh expedition, my husband Ian and I headed off to Swaledale to stay overnight at The Punch Bowl Inn at Low Row, just up the road from Reeth.

Built in the 17th century and once a coaching inn, it’s now a gastropub with what must surely be some of the best views in the UK. With the sun shining on miles and miles of vibrant green meadows, dry stone walls and the River Swale, I blinked several times to check the view really was that stunning. And it was.

Check-in is unpretentious at the bar and the third member of our party determined which room we got. Our travel companion Buddy the Border Terrier never turns his nose up at a night away in a nice hotel, so we were settled into number 10, an annexe with its own front door, prefect for those middle-of-the-night toilet breaks (for Buddy, not us) that often find me hurtling through hotels in my pyjamas like a character in a French farce.

While our room seemed dark due to the small windows and dark furniture, it was immaculate with white linen with burgundy accessories on the double bed. There was plenty of room for Buddy’s dog cage, and ample storage space.

Five miles down the road is Reeth, well-loved for its arts and crafts, its many pubs and tea rooms and its ice cream parlour. But while Buddy is partial to a piece of toasted teacake, he likes a good trot and he took us on two fairly short walks around Reeth – the first below Fremington Edge and the second along the river to Grinton.

Back at the ranch, we were booked in for dinner in the bar – our four-legged friends aren’t allowed in the restaurant, which suited us as the bar was lively and informal.

The menu is written on a mirror and when we played our difficult reviewer card and requested a starter that we’d spotted on the lunch menu – mezes of smoked salmon, a Scotch egg, haddock fishcakes and pate – the chef obliged.

Our main courses were a steak pie for me, and loin of lamb for Ian. I’d heard talk of the chef’s amazing pulled pork pies but when none appeared on the menu, I went for the only pie option. The meat was very tender and the lamb was delicious and the main courses came with plenty of veg. We shared a bottle of sauvignon blanc at around £22. With desserts of a huge Eton mess, and a tasty sticky toffee pudding, it was no wonder we didn’t so much stride as waddle back to number 10.

The next day, after a breakfast of kippers for Ian and a delicious full English for me, we headed out once again – this time a five-miler, starting in Low Row, and taking in Feetham Woods and Blades.

We’d only had 24 hours in number 10, but The Punch Bowl gets our vote any day.

TRAVEL FACTS

Rooms at The Punch Bowl Inn are £105 at weekends and £95 during the week. Dogs stay at £20 for the first night, and £10 per subsequent night.
House parties at The Punch Bowl Inn include afternoon tea on arrival, a champagne reception, a three-course dinner, an overnight stay and a full Yorkshire breakfast, and cost £75 per person, based on 22 people staying.
Telephone 03337 000 779 or visit www.punchbowl-swaledale.co.uk

Recommended reading: Walking Country, Swaledale, in the Yorkshire Dales, by Paul Hannon (£6.99, Hillside)