Tan Hill

I have lived in the Yorkshire Dales for around 4 years, and was always a regular visitor before buying the shop, but in all this time never visited Tan Hill. I have read about it, seen pictures, heard people talk about it. When deciding to have a day off I decided I was going to visit. I wasn't sure what to expect and maybe expected too much, you visit the website and read the brochure and it says things like, 'Take a trip on the wild side', 'The friendliest visitor attraction' (sounds a bit like Blackpool) ' The landlady is a little crazy'. The setting is magnificent you feel you are driving for miles in the middle of nowhere you finally arrive at The Tan Hill and the location and views are stunning, in winter must be quite remote. Now when we arrived no fanfare no dancing monkeys or the staff bursting into song, no mad landlady but I suppose it was Friday afternoon and she doesn't come out until night. But my point is the brochure made out it was the best welcome ever and it wasn't ( am I being too harsh) I had a drink and the place was dirty, now some may say that's character, but parts were very grubby and dirty, tables, menu holders, put me off having food, the cheesy signs behind the bar, the out of character and too loud music all add to the atmosphere. I don't like the windows, I know they might have been free from Everest or keep out the harsh wind, but they are PVC, and not in keeping. I really wanted to like The Tan Hill, looking at the notice board they have some good stuff going off, I have heard mentioned they have nudist campers sometimes, now that is brave. It could have been so much more, it did not live up to its claim, it has so much history that it could be really special, I felt a little cheated.