Guardian reporter and photographer snowed in for four days at Tan Hill Inn

A Guardian reporter and photographer Gary Calton were snowed in for four days at The Tan Hill Inn, described in the account as Britain’s highest pub, on the northern edge of the Yorkshire Dales national park during early January when the Met Office had issued severe warnings for snow.

The pair arrived as heavy snow began and found the pub filling with locked-in customers as drinks flowed and laughter resumed. They were told at 8pm that the road to the pub was about to be closed and anyone not intending to stay should attempt a swift exit; by then the reporter and photographer had the last two beds.

Over the next days the group ate, played games, held a mass snowball fight and a disco, and mixed with people from around the world — one man described it as "one of the best times of my entire life" — while the reporter tried to file copy amid the constant bustle. On the morning of day four they were told a snowplough was coming and dug their car out to follow a chain of vehicles.

The harsh wind was drifting snow back over cleared roads; the car skidded and came to rest on a snow bank after a dull crunch, the reporter realising they had left the snow shovel at the pub. Using gloved hands and a camera tripod they freed the car over about an hour and reached gritted roads and civilisation.

Key Topics

Culture, Tan Hill Inn, Gary Calton, Met Office, Yorkshire Dales, Snow Plough