Tan Hill Inn - Britain's highest hostelry

The Tan Hill Inn, in the Yorkshire Dales, is the UK’s highest altitude pub at 1,732ft above sea level, and dates from the 17th Century. For many centuries there were shallow coal mines here, resulting in several miners' cottages, and the inn. The cottages have since been demolished, but the Tan Hill Inn remains, providing bed and beer for walkers, travellers and tourists on the Pennine Way between Kendal and Newcastle.

The coal from the Tan Hill mines was of inferior quality and, as transportation improved, it became less desirable and the last mine closed in 1929. However, the development of the motor car provided the pub with new customers as tourism to the area increased.

The pub is on the popular but gruelling long distance footpath The Pennine Way.

In 1995, the Tan Hill Inn became the first public house in the UK to be granted a licence to hold weddings and civil ceremonies, after new laws were established to allow couples to marry in places other than churches or register offices.

The Inn is in a remote and exposed location, and therefore subject to extreme weather conditions. Revellers celebrating New Year's Eve at the pub on 31st December 2009 were unable to leave for three days as they were snowed in.

The Inn has made several media appearances. Its blustery location won it a starring role in Everest double glazing replacement adverts of the 1980s. It has also appeared in television programmes including Vera, The Inspector Lindley Mysteries, Murder in Mind, Top Gear, The Fast Show, Wish You Were Here, All Creatures Great and Small, and Jude the Obscure.

The current owners are reported to be planning a new Icelandic-style spa with rustic features, including an open-air pool, sauna and hot tubs.