If you are heading north towards the Lake District or the Yorkshire Dales, there are countless cafés and roadside stops you could choose along the way. Yet every so often you stumble across a place that feels less like a quick stop and more like part of the journey itself. The Old Sawmill Café in the village of Clapham is exactly that sort of place.
Tucked away in one of the prettiest corners of the Yorkshire Dales National Park – The Old Sawmill Café sits beside the river in a building with a long history. What was once part of a working sawmill has been carefully restored and repurposed into a welcoming café, while elements of the original tools and features remain visible inside. The building dates back to the nineteenth century and historically formed part of the local estate’s forestry operations before eventually being restored and brought back into use as a café.
Today the building serves a very different purpose, welcoming walkers, cyclists, motorcycle riders and travellers passing through one of the most scenic villages in the Yorkshire Dales. My friends and I stopped in for breakfast on our way home from the Adventure Motorcycle Film Festival in Kendal, keen to see for ourselves if it could cut it (excuse the pun).
A Warm Welcome
From the moment you walk in, the café has a relaxed and friendly feel. The welcome is genuine rather than rehearsed, which always makes a difference when you have been on the road for a while.
Inside, the character of the old building has been preserved. Industrial tools and saw blades from the building’s previous life have been incorporated into the décor, creating a reminder of its heritage. It feels authentic, informal and very much part of the village rather than a tourist stop.
On warmer days there is also seating outside beside the river, making it a pleasant place to sit for a while before continuing your journey.
The Breakfast Test
Of course, none of that really matters if the food does not deliver. Fortunately, the breakfast here more than holds its own, it certainly can cut it!
Allow me to expand – On this particular visit I was with a friend who has something of a reputation when it comes to breakfast. He is notoriously difficult to impress and rarely rates a café breakfast higher than an eight out of ten.
That morning, however, something unusual happened.
He gave it ten out of ten.
For anyone who knows him, that score is unheard of. The ingredients were clearly good quality, the portions generous, and everything cooked properly rather than rushed out of the kitchen. Exactly the sort of breakfast you want before a long day on the road or a walk into the hills.
Clapham – A Village Worth Slowing Down For
After breakfast, we took a walk around the village – Traditional stone cottages line quiet streets, the river runs through the centre, and just beside the café you can hear the steady rush of water tumbling over the nearby waterfall and the bells ringing at the village church.
Clapham village is also the starting point for the well-known Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail, which leads through woodland and limestone scenery towards Ingleborough Cave. Because of this, there are usually walkers and families passing through the village, many stopping for coffee or breakfast too before heading off into the hills.
Doing Our Bit as Motorcyclists
Clapham is the sort of village that makes you instinctively roll off the throttle and enjoy the view. So if you do arrive on a motorcycle, it is worth remembering that this is a peaceful place. Riding gently through the village is not just courteous to the locals but sensible too, given the number of pedestrians and walkers around. Inconsiderate parking, loud revving engines and excessive speed are unlikely to win many friends here. Take it easy on the way in and you will appreciate the village atmosphere all the more.
Final Thoughts – A Perfect Stop on the Way North
Whether you are travelling up from Manchester, the Midlands or further south, Clapham sits in an ideal spot to break the journey before heading deeper into the Yorkshire Dales or continuing towards the Lake District.
The Old Sawmill Café offers more than just coffee and breakfast. It provides a chance to pause, stretch your legs, listen to the water flowing through the village and enjoy a genuinely welcoming place before getting back on the road.
Sometimes the best discoveries on a journey are the ones you did not plan. If your route takes you anywhere near the Yorkshire Dales, this is one stop that is well worth making.
Useful Information
- Location: The Old Sawmill Café, Riverside, Clapham, Lancaster, UK, LA2 8DS (What3Words: justifies.newlyweds.this)
- Directions: Clapham is located just off the A65 Leeds – Skipton – Kendal trunk road, and offers ample parking in the Yorkshire Dales National Car Park. From the car park, travel on foot and follow the signed route to Ingleborough Cave and Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail.
(Sat nav for Car Park: LA2 8EA) - Telephone: +44 (0)15242 37788
- Email: info@oldsawmillcafe.co.uk
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored or paid review. We visited the café independently and paid for our own breakfast. The opinions shared in this article are based entirely on our personal experience during that visit and reflect our honest impressions of the food, service and setting. No payment, incentives or hospitality were offered in exchange for this write-up.
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