Lake District lesser restaurants/gastropubs

Andrew is being very modest. A hunt on the web will find his website and blog, and twitter feed, which is full of useful info for someone heading north of Watford.

Not the lakes, but anyone heading there from the south and driving past Clitheroe needs their head examined, so a stop at the Freemasons Arms in Wiswell ( a short drive from Clitheroe) is still very much worthwhile ( with the proviso we were last there is 2019).
 
If I was in the Lake District, I'd be inclined to try the Woolpack Inn, in Eskdale, because:

- Its wine list looks a lot more interesting than most Lake District inns, and I think this reflects the owner's interest in wine: Wine - Woolpack Inn and Cafe and I suspect the interest in wine is likely matched by good food

- I think Eskdale is so very beautiful, but many people overlook it as it's hard to get to from Keswick - the views up from the valley to Harter Fell are wonderful, the Great Moss/Upper Esk area is stunning, Wasdale is v nearby

- There's an outdoor centre there, which does family activities, run by an old friend who has a lovely, encouraging manner in doing such things (including paddle boarding, gorge walks, etc) West Lakes Adventure | Lake District Activities, Ghyll Scrambling, Canoeing, Climbing, Mountain Biking
 
This is a long shot I know, but driving from Padstow to Ambleside on the last portion of our holiday in a couple of weeks, google says 7 hrs, so we will need a decent stop and meal somewhere just south or north of Birmingham, but without too much deviation away from the motorway.
 
Tom Cannavan said:
This is a long shot I know, but driving from Padstow to Ambleside on the last portion of our holiday in a couple of weeks, google says 7 hrs, so we will need a decent stop and meal somewhere just south or north of Birmingham, but without too much deviation away from the motorway.
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The Drawing Board in Leamington Spa may be too much of a detour? But it's really nice and Leamington pleasant to wander around.
 
Stephen Pickles said:
Not the lakes, but anyone heading there from the south and driving past Clitheroe needs their head examined, so a stop at the Freemasons Arms in Wiswell ( a short drive from Clitheroe) is still very much worthwhile ( with the proviso we were last there is 2019).
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I wonder if we might be able to engineer that as a route back home... I know that on the way up, we will have had a big breakfast and there won't be demand for lunch, and we will also probably be going via Scotch Corner.
Tom Cannavan said:
This is a long shot I know, but driving from Padstow to Ambleside on the last portion of our holiday in a couple of weeks, google says 7 hrs, so we will need a decent stop and meal somewhere just south or north of Birmingham, but without too much deviation away from the motorway.
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I can certainly recommend Prithvi in Cheltenham - a bit different.... Mind you, if the traffic is anything like last week, would come to 45 mins or so of deviation.
 
Tom Cannavan said:
This is a long shot I know, but driving from Padstow to Ambleside on the last portion of our holiday in a couple of weeks, google says 7 hrs, so we will need a decent stop and meal somewhere just south or north of Birmingham, but without too much deviation away from the motorway.
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As I recall, there's not much on the M6 corridor between Birmingham and Preston, so you're probably looking for somewhere off the northern stretches of the M5. Cheltenham isn't far off the M5, I think, and there are a few options there.
 
Last night we tried turning up in Ambleside to arrive at a 'no reservations' place at opening time - massive queue already. Called in at or phoned c. ten other places before finding a spot in an average pub only because someone walked out as we arrived.

Tonight we again tried turning up to a place that doesn't take bookings, this time even earlier, only to be told that they weren't serving food because couldn't find enough chefs. Went to two other places in Grasmere to be told the same thing - no staff, drinks only. Ended up going to the chippie.

I have read this evening of the same thing happening in Northumberland and Cornwall - lack of staff meaning lack of restaurant capacity. At least the weather has been good this week, but frankly combining the eating out situation with the lack of phone reception, messing around with pay n display everywhere you go, traffic jams (took 1h50 to drive from Borrowdale to Windermere the other day) and having to buy food in the Co-op or the Spar - I am really looking forward to a foreign holiday.
 
Nick Amis said:
Last night we tried turning up in Ambleside to arrive at a 'no reservations' place at opening time - massive queue already. Called in at or phoned c. ten other places before finding a spot in an average pub only because someone walked out as we arrived.

Tonight we again tried turning up to a place that doesn't take bookings, this time even earlier, only to be told that they weren't serving food because couldn't find enough chefs. Went to two other places in Grasmere to be told the same thing - no staff, drinks only. Ended up going to the chippie.

I have read this evening of the same thing happening in Northumberland and Cornwall - lack of staff meaning lack of restaurant capacity. At least the weather has been good this week, but frankly combining the eating out situation with the lack of phone reception, messing around with pay n display everywhere you go, traffic jams (took 1h50 to drive from Borrowdale to Windermere the other day) and having to buy food in the Co-op or the Spar - I am really looking forward to a foreign holiday.
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Indeed - and it seemed only yesterday that so many hospitality staff were being laid off. A pub in Newport Pembrokeshire where we dined (excellent food, staff run off their feet) had a board outside saying "staff wanted - Dead or Alive". Same with places in St Ives. Bet the unemployment figures will still be high. Perhaps a case of jobseekers in the wrong place, as BTL holiday homes has priced them out of the market. Some restaurants are providing accommodation, but this sounds like guestworkers.... The sustainable solution is to put prices up and pay them a proper wage?
 
Nick Amis said:
traffic jams (took 1h50 to drive from Borrowdale to Windermere the other day) and having to buy food in the Co-op or the Spar
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Just a note that may be of help to some... If you are passing through Windermere and want a convenient place to park and buy food, forget the Co-op and Spar, and go to Booths - a food-oriented supermarket sometimes dubbed waitrose-of-the-north. The one in Windermere is particularly good.

Also, if you need to choose between services on the M6, use Tebay if it is one of the viable options
 
Am just drawing up plans for a UK break with a potential flying visit to the Lakes likely staying in Lancaster (late July / early August). Any tips on parking for an ascent on Scafell? Drive from Lancaster to Wasdale appears to be 01:40 even with empty roads. National Trust site says, "if the car park is full try another day" - something with a little more certainty appeals. Climbing from any other point with parking also an option.
 
We made use of this website re car parking, after spending Sunday driving up and down Borrowdale failing to find anywhere https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/car-park-status

We went somewhere quieter on Monday (Patterdale).

I think the Wasdale and Langdale car parks are nearly always busy but you might find easier parking in Eskdale.

I did see the Booths in Windermere on the map, but we were in Ambleside when doing our food shopping (trying to go to the deli mentioned above). I'm not claiming Co-op and Spar are terrible (although the fruit, veg and bread weren't good quality), but usually we would eat well on holiday, rather than less well than at home.
 
Nick Amis said:
I have read this evening of the same thing happening in Northumberland and Cornwall - lack of staff meaning lack of restaurant capacity. At least the weather has been good this week, but frankly combining the eating out situation with the lack of phone reception, messing around with pay n display everywhere you go, traffic jams (took 1h50 to drive from Borrowdale to Windermere the other day) and having to buy food in the Co-op or the Spar - I am really looking forward to a foreign holiday.
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Le Gavroche has announced that it is no longer opening at lunch for the foreseeable future due to staff shortages.

You would have done much better by going to Booths in Windermere or Keswick for food shopping. But the best food shopping in the Lake District is always at farmers' markets.
 
Andrew Stevenson said:
Le Gavroche has announced that it is no longer opening at lunch for the foreseeable future due to staff shortages.
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Oh, what a great shame!
Andrew Stevenson said:
You would have done much better by going to Booths in Windermere or Keswick for food shopping. But the best food shopping in the Lake District is always at farmers' markets.
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Any particular markets you can recomend that are perhaps good but less crowded? I do like Booths!
 
Neil Holland said:
Am just drawing up plans for a UK break with a potential flying visit to the Lakes likely staying in Lancaster (late July / early August). Any tips on parking for an ascent on Scafell? Drive from Lancaster to Wasdale appears to be 01:40 even with empty roads. National Trust site says, "if the car park is full try another day" - something with a little more certainty appeals. Climbing from any other point with parking also an option.
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There was an item on Granada Reports (the local ITV news) last night about the problems being caused for emergency services by people parking illegally (or just not sensibly) because the car parks are full. Think it was a firefighter who said that if, despite progressing at slow walking pace guided through by members of the crew, they ding a parked car, they have to stop, abandon the people whose house is burning down, and take photos, fill in forms etc.

Obviously, no forumite would park like that.
 
Alex Lake said:
Any particular markets you can recomend that are perhaps good but less crowded? I do like Booths!
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Orton (2nd Saturday of the month?) is one of the best. Kendal (last Friday) is good. There are a good few others, but I've not been to them.

Cartmel is the one I go to most: 3rd Friday of the month. But before covid it was starting to struggle a bit unfortunately, but still had the mainstays of Deer N Dexter, Kitridding Farm and David Knipe chickens (vg long life free range chicken from below the heart wood near Tebay) - assuming it's survived covid, if you're planning a trip to L'Enclume or Rogan & Co, it'd be worth timing it for the 3rd Friday of the month.
 
Neil, I'd go up from Eskdale as I think Wasdale will be absolutely heaving - and horrible, and is basically a cul de sac. And you could spend loads of time trying to find parking - that said, this could be the same in Eskdale.

Re routes, I'd consider going up via Great Moss, as to my mind it's by far the most beautiful way, and especially as the other routes will be horribly busy, though there'll be a little bit of scrambling and route-finding required. (to all - don't try doing this if you're not used to mountain walking, know what you're doing, suitably experienced, etc, etc...)

However, I do fear that amid lockdown it's all going to be incredibly busy, and I'd personally consider other options.

West Lakes Adventure's ghyll scramble will be really good fun - the place where they do it is awesome, with the cleanest freshest water, jumps into it, etc. And they're great people. And they presumably have parking.

If it's walks you want to do, or a bit of a challenge, then from Lancaster I'd consider Blencathra (zip up motorway to Penrith, then across). Or - better idea - you could do Pillar from Ennerdale (bit of a walk in, but flat for much of it) - as I reckon it will be far, far less busy.

I'd personally be more inclined to go cycling, and around the Lake District's southern and eastern fringes.
 
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Tom Cannavan said:
This is a long shot I know, but driving from Padstow to Ambleside on the last portion of our holiday in a couple of weeks, google says 7 hrs, so we will need a decent stop and meal somewhere just south or north of Birmingham, but without too much deviation away from the motorway.
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As GFG is being closed, I bought a copy of the last volume, 2020. It lists an Italian in Pershore called Belle House that sounds as though it has at least been good in the past!
 
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GuyD'nis said:
Neil, I'd go up from Eskdale as I think Wasdale will be absolutely heaving - and horrible, and is basically a cul de sac. And you could spend loads of time trying to find parking - that said, this could be the same in Eskdale.

Re routes, I'd consider going up via Great Moss, as to my mind it's by far the most beautiful way, and especially as the other routes will be horribly busy, though there'll be a little bit of scrambling and route-finding required. (to all - don't try doing this if you're not used to mountain walking, know what you're doing, suitably experienced, etc, etc...)

However, I do fear that amid lockdown it's all going to be incredibly busy, and I'd personally consider other options.

West Lakes Adventure's ghyll scramble will be really good fun - the place where they do it is awesome, with the cleanest freshest water, jumps into it, etc. And they're great people. And they presumably have parking.

If it's walks you want to do, or a bit of a challenge, then from Lancaster I'd consider Blencathra (zip up motorway to Penrith, then across). Or - better idea - you could do Pillar from Ennerdale (bit of a walk in, but flat for much of it) - as I reckon it will be far, far less busy.

I'd personally be more inclined to go cycling, and around the Lake District's southern and eastern fringes.
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I was going to recommend a similar route. If Eskdale's busy, you can also approach Great Moss from Cockley Beck at the head of the Duddon Valley. Almost guaranteed to find roadside parking. If it's busy though, don't try going via either Wrynose or Harnknott passes! If you've got the time and the legs, you can do either or both of Scafell, Scafell Pike and continue as far as you chose around the skyline - Ill Crag, Esk Pike, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags and return to Cockley Beck. Serious walking though (especially if you're trying to link Scafell and Scafell Pike), and only recommended if you're experienced and willing to research the route a little.

The Langdale approach is nice walking (Rossett Gill, Esk Hause etc), but parking will likely be very difficult. I strongly recommend avoiding Wasdale at all costs!

Another potentially quiet(er) option with relatively easy M6 access would be the Kentmere horseshoe.

Good luck!
 
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