I'VE always thought that, lovely as it is, Littondale is a bit laid back in comparison with its neighbours.

From the Strid onwards, there is much in Wharfedale to stir the walker's blood: Great Whernside, Conistone Dib and Buckden Pike. Malham has the jaw dropping grandeur of the Cove and Gordale and Ribblesdale boasts the challenge of the Three Peaks.

Whilst Littondale might claim Penyghent as one of its own, that fine mountain flaunts its rocky charms at the Ribble and turns its dull back end towards Halton Gill.

Even when I walk over the tops from Kettlewell or Buckden, I feel that Littondale is a place for pottering about. I doubt if anyone ever got over-excited about Littondale.

My old English teacher always fiercely warned us to avoid the word nice, but I think that it is appropriate here. Littondale is a very nice place, and so too is the Queen's Arms.

In the past, I've popped into the Queen's after walking over aforementioned tops: time it right and you'll just get there for lunchtime opening.

But one evening recently we drove up the dale and arrived as the doors opened at seven: first in meant we got the seats by the fire. The bar is snug and friendly and as the darkness gathered outside we felt - well, a bit laid back.

We chose from a wide selection of starters, most of which were priced at just over a fiver. My wife had tiger prawns which were very tasty and I had black pudding with apple This latter was fine, plenty of the pud, though not enough apple to go with it, and not the most imaginative way to serve black pudding.

For mains, we were rather looking forward to breast of pheasant but it wasn't available. Odd that, given the number of stupid birds we could have mown down on the way: we should have bumped one off and presented our road kill to the chef.

Anyway, we settled for venison haunch with black pudding and port wine jus at £12. 95, and smoked bacon chops with apple and sage and onion sauce at £9.90.

Portions were hearty: the venison looked as if most of Bambi's mother had expired onto the plate. The bacon chops were pleasant enough, though the accompanying vegetables had been a bit blitzed in the microwave.

The chips - ah yes, the chips! - the chips were perfectly acceptable.

The selection of sweets is limited, but it didn't really matter as we were too full for one each, so we shared a portion of rhubarb and almond crumble (£4), of which there was plenty for two. And it was, well, very nice.

No visit to the Queen's can be complete without trying the products of its own microbrewery, Litton Ales.

The two beers on offer were pleasant and quaffable; both were 3.8 per cent abv, which suggested to me that strong ale might be, well, a bit too exciting for Litton.

Without drinks, our meal came to just over £38, which is very reasonable. All in all we had a nice time in a nice place and no doubt you will too if you venture out that way. Just don't expect to get your pulses racing.

Reviewed by: Paul Wilson