Eating Out: Cafe 1756 at the Dudley Arms, Ingleby Greenhow

Happily it was the kind of crisp, winter's day that makes weeks-worth of dull, soggy ones fade into distant memory, and a brisk three-mile walk in the foothills of the North York Moors was enough to lift the spirits and work up an appetite for lunch.

Most of the population North Yorkshire and Teesside seemingly had the same brilliant idea, and we were glad to be slightly off the beaten track below Clay Bank, rather than on the busy slopes of Roseberry Topping or the trek up to Captain Cook's Monument.

Walk done, my sister Claire and I called into the Dudley Arms at Ingleby Greenhow for lunch, or more accurately, Cafe 1756 at the Dudley Arms.

The pub is a historic coaching inn in the picturesque village between Great Broughton and Great Ayton. As well as evening dining, it has relatively recently rebranded its daytime offering as Cafe 1756, serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea from 9am to 5pm.

Given the popularity of the area with walkers, and the cycling boom that shows no sign of coming to an end, this is a smart move – many people do just want a quick pit-stop for a cuppa and a cake during the day and it was busy throughout our visit with family groups and walking parties.

The pub entrance splits with the cafe on the right and a more traditional lounge-bar on the left, and we chose a table by the fire in the lounge, glad of the warmth after the chilly moorland air.

Inside the Dudley Arms at Ingleby Greenhow

The lunch menu, served from 12pm to 2.30pm, has plenty of choice, ranging from quiche of the day with chips and salad (£8), to soup (£5), to a traditional ploughman's lunch (£10) to the pub's famous crispy flowering onion with BBQ dip (£8).

We were in a sandwichy-type mood, so I went for the steak baguette with fried onions, dressed green salad and chips (£13.20), while Claire picked the BLT in a ciabatta with chips (£8), with a pot of tea each to wash it all down (and warm us up).

No sooner had the tea arrived than our butties did too – usually I find such speedy service signals food which has been sitting around waiting to be ordered, but I was delighted to be entirely wrong on this occasion.

Steak sandwich with chips at the Dudley Arms, Ingleby Greenhow

My baguette could have done with a few less onions, but otherwise was an absolute treat. The strips of steak were tender, and juicy, while the hot baguette was light and not too overwhelming for a recovering flu patient. The chips were excellent.

Claire's BLT contained two slices of thick, good quality bacon, and was terrifically satisfying as a light lunch option. She agreed about the high quality chips.

BLT in a ciabatta and chips at the Dudley Arms, Ingleby Greenhow

A crucial element for any cafe experience is the hot drinks, and the tea was spot on – staying piping hot while we finished off the sandwiches.

The bill came to £25.60, which felt like decent value at this moment in time for good-sized portions of hearty, home-cooked food. Service was professional, without being particularly noteworthy, but the young waiting staff were doing a good job of managing the differing dining areas, and answering questions about the menu and specials.

Having never had an evening dining experience at the Dudley Arms, the taster of what's on offer provided by Cafe 1756 during our lunchtime stop-off will certainly tempt us back – although a slightly longer walk might be in order if we are to generate the appetite for a few more courses.

Cafe 1756 at the Dudley Arms

Ingleby Greenhow, Great Ayton, TS9 6LL

Telephone: 01642 722526

Email: contact@dudleyarms.co.uk

Website: www.dudleyarms.co.uk/

Ratings (out of ten): Food quality 7 Surroundings 7 Service 7 Value for money 7