Kirkstile Inn at Loweswater and the Bridge Hotel at Buttermere, Cumbria, England

The Lake District is dotted with innumerable attractive pubs, which are well-frequented by the numerous hikers that you see everywhere you go. In fact, in beautiful weather, my friends and I walked around Loweswater and Buttermere lakes, meeting sheep, cows and so many happy dogs on the way – a wonderful experience.

These inns were two pubs we visited on our travels – tasting the local ales which included Hankshead from the Buttermere brewery, Jenning ale and Yates Bitter – all new tastes for me. Beer is a very important part of the local scene and in Whitehaven on the Saturday I arrived there had been a Beer Festival showcasing more than 50 beers from local breweries, which of course we duly attended!

The Kirkstile Inn , set in a very attractive building dating from Tudor times, has won several pub awards. The location is idyllic and they have 11 rooms available, ranging in price from £45 to £55 depending on the season. The menu included local dishes such as Tatie Pot, Steak and Ale Pie and Roast Lamb, as well as usual pub lunch offerings, and most of the food is locally sourced. The prices were reasonable with the main courses between £12 and £15, and we sat outside in the garden in order to enjoy the beautiful views of water, daffodils and the Spring foliage which was just beginning to appear.

The Bridge Hotel, which is between Buttermere and Crummock Water, is another attractive pub, but also a thriving hotel with 21 bedrooms and a more formal dining room in addtion to the pub meals on offer. The price of the rooms range from £65 to £75 for bed and breakfast and £92.50 to £105 if dinner is included. There are also self catering apartments. Here again most of the food comes from local suppliers and the dinner menu is quite sophisticated, though at lunchtime in the bar you can of course get a Ploughman’s lunch or old favourites such as Pasties, Bacon Sandwich and Sausage Rolls.

These two establishments are what everyone imagines English pubs to be, and they are really great places to visit.

Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater
Telephone: 00 44 1900 85219
The Bridge Inn, Buttermere
Telekphone: 00 44 1768 770 252