Looking for a Good Stop Off

[Spindle]

Hi

I will be travelling South in the near future and would like to break my journey somewhere in the Lake District, preferably not too far from the M6. Looking for a nice trditional place with good food and real ale, can anyone recommend a nice Pub / Hotel that fits the bill?

Regards Mick

 

[Fishandchips]

Don't know if you watched the tv series with Steve cougan and rob Brydon called the trip?

This website list the pubs and restaurants they stopped at. Food looked good!

Might get a bit pricey mind.

http://soberingconclusion.com/movies/2011/the-trip/

 

[Chrispy]

Scarthwaite Country House Hotel at Lancaster

We stopped off here on the way up earlier this year, a bit run down but very friendly staff and lovely walking along the river Lune.

 

[whiskywill]

Try the Good Pub guide. http://www.thegoodpubguide.co.uk/

I've never found a bad pub when visiting one of the listed pubs.

 

[AndyT]

The Tebay motorway services is the only one like it - family run with a proper farm shop, excellent food and a refreshing freedom from the corporate grimness of all the other motorway services!

It's between J38 and J39 on the M6.

 

[Eric The Viking]

+1 for Tebay services. It's not cheap compared to the others, but I think that's because they pay fair prices for their food and pay the staff properly, too.

The southbound side IMHO is a bit nicer than the other, with a pond right next to the restaurant, usually with at least one Mallard family in residence. When the weather's good there are pretty spectacular views eastwards, IIRC across Kielder forest. The other side also has views but not quite as nice.

E.

PS: The family that run it were in the process of building another services complex north of Bristol on the M5. I haven't seen anything recently in the local media, so I'm not sure if it's still happening, given the recession.

 

[AndyT]

Don't worry Eric the building site on the M5 is now clearly visible and the new services is due to open in 2014.

More here http://www.westmorland.com/gloucester-services-0

 

[mseries]

... IIRC across Kielder forest. The other side also has views but not quite as nice.

Not Keilder Forest, maybe Forest of Bowland though

 

[Eric The Viking]

... IIRC across Kielder forest. The other side also has views but not quite as nice.

Not Keilder Forest, maybe Forest of Bowland though

Yup. Sorry - geography a bit rough.

 

[Jacob]

http://www.odg.co.uk/home/index.cfm?id=1 is top notch but a bit pricey. You get what you pay for!
I stayed there once. Usually camp.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Sharrow Bay Hotel...where Paul McCartney married the witch! Awesome...you'll need a big wallet though.

 

[dickm]

Not Keilder Forest, maybe Forest of Bowland though

Too far north for Bowland. It's the Howgills - like a " troop of sleeping elephants", to quote Wainwright. The M6 through the Lune Gorge south of Tebay is one of the nicest stretches of motorwy in the UK, IMHO.
And another vote for Tebay services. Otherwise, it's a bit further off the motorway, but the Shepherds Inn (or is it the Drovers?) in Melmerby is excellent. Especially coupled with a visit to the Village Bakery just across the road from the pub.