THE spectacular beauty spot of Farndale may boast some of North Yorkshire's finest scenery, but this year has seen major worries for its businesses because tourists have given it the cold shoulder owing to foot-and-mouth disease.

Now, however, there are signs of a recovery with two of its best known tourist enterprises, the Daffy Caf and the Feversham Arms, beginning to win back business from visitors seeking to enjoy the late autumn weather.

Mr George Loggie, who runs the Daffy Caf with his partner, Miss Joanne Marshall, has been given special permission by the North York Moors national park authority to open throughout the winter to help compensate for the dramatic loss of income the caf has suffered since February.

Normally the caf can only open from February to October, said Mr Loggie. "Now we have been told we can serve customers through the autumn and winter which will be a big help. Last year we were hit hard by the terrible summer weather then by foot-and-mouth disease this year".

With news that the park's footpaths are once again open, walkers in particular are finding their way back to Farndale.

"People now realise they can enjoy the many walks in the dale and we are geared up to cater for them," said Mr Loggie.

The FMD outbreak spelled a personal blow for caf partners. Miss Marshall had to take a job in Helmsley to help supplement the family income.

"We had planned to get married this year but we had to postpone it because it would have meant guests arriving by car having to use a farm entrance to turn round next to the church which could have posed a risk of bringing the disease into the dale."

Now, the couple's wedding plans are being made for the coming year.

Meanwhile, at the 200-year-old Feversham Arms, in the Church Houses area of Farndale, owner Mrs Frances Debenham is also seeing trade return, with groups of walkers and shooting parties heading for her cosy bar and its blazing log fire.

"I went three weeks with a single customer and in another week I took just £2.08 during the peak season when the schools are on holiday. It has been a dreadful time," she said.

With no Farndale Show, no village cricket matches and no tourists, the 36-cover restaurant and bars have been deserted.

The village hall where Farndale people run teas for the visitors enjoying Farndale's daffodils displays has seen its income drop, and the nearby chapel has also been hit because it has not had the support of tourists. "We get about 50,000 tourists when the daffodils are out. This year we had none," said Mrs Debenham. "We have gone for days on end and never seen a tourist".

But with Christmas and the New Year ahead, she is confident that people will again find their way back to Farndale. "It is beautiful at this time of the year with the marvellous autumn colours".

Mr Mike Pratt, head of information for the national park authority, said: "People have the idea that Farndale is only to be visited in the spring for its famous daffodils but there is so much more to it, with its amazing network of footpaths by the river and down the dale.

"The shows of bluebells and wood anemones are marvellous and the wildlife and views are there to be enjoyed throughout the year.

"We are hopeful of seeing more tourists heading for Farndale this winter."