We think that you might be interested in how other people have fared here before selecting the Wheatsheaf for your visit.

In this section we present a selection of perspectives on the Wheatsheaf from a very long time ago, then also those from just after we took over in 1998 and also you can see two pages from this year’s guestbook by clicking on the image above, thus bringing us nicely up to date.

The purpose is to show that the quintessential qualities that are the key to guests experiencing complete relaxation in the countryside are indeed timeless.

In Jan 1899 a Fred Kitchener stationed in the Sudan (we think a likely tale) writes

“Down by the riverside they stayed
In search of grayling so they said
At Palmer Flatt they through their flies
And returning home they quickly lied”

We find this interesting because it matches nicely  our own experience in that most guests come up to engage in local interests and many, refreshed by being in Wensleydale all day, do retire quite early following a wholesome meal and a relaxing quaff.

Later that same year we have

“Four boys arrived from different parts
and amused themselves with various arts
by music fishing and photography
and altho’ remiss in their geography
they can’t forget their host at Carperby”

Romance too…… “the waitress” writes in August 1899

“Too sweet in the August weather
were the bright brief hours we passed
too soon on our first days together
followed swift winged our last”

and

“The scenery and the cooking are splendid
I very much regret my holiday is ended
Ta Ta so long I must depart
My “nom de plum” is Gus E Levant”

Finally, a John Dawe wrote in August 1903

“who e’er has travelled life’s full round
where e’er his stages may have been
must sigh to think that he has found
his warmest welcome at an inn”

At some point the poetic comments dwindled and by the time that we took on the stewardship of the Wheatsheaf in Wensleydale in 1998 there was no space for guests to comment in the visitors book.

On rectifying this we were pleased that our first comment was……..

“wonderful time see you again soon” and that our fourth was

“a good cure after Cambodia”

then “ a great second honeymoon”

“just so cosy and friendly”

“Best tradition of Dales hospitality. Had a lovely stay, good staff, good food, good drink, thanks”

“Lovely and welcoming thanks for the dog hospitality”

“great food great accommodation great weather thank you”

“As happy as James Herriot was”

“Nicest inn that I have stayed in wonderful food lovely people”

and, one of our favourites

“I proposed to my wife at the lower Falls and have enjoyed our stay here 50 years later”

Very many kind thoughts have been posted over the last 10 years and we include a couple of recent representative pages from April 2007. (click on the image at the top of this page, or click here)

Inevitably but very rarely there may be a dissenting comment and where this is the case we look underneath adverse emotions to see what the real fault was, if there was one, and treat this  as a positive learning experience too.