Kirkstone Pass Inn - AMBLESIDE

This pub is an great location at the top of The Struggles, the road down from the Kirkstone Pass to Ambleside. There are great views from here and good walking from the carpark. The pub itself is cosy, welcoming and traditional. It's not too busy or too empty and children will be kept entertained while you're drinking your pint or hot chocolate by the collection of decorative objects and curiosities which is more bizarre than most pubs and has obviously been worked on over many years.

We visited this place again this week, five years after our last stay, and found that not much had changed, which isn't surprising given how long it has been around. During our previous visit, the room was comfortable, and the owner, John, was very welcoming. I recently saw him on a documentary about the lakes on TV. The pub doesn’t have main electric or gas, but the lights never flickered, which was impressive. There's a large parking area that walkers use to access the hills. The pub is said to be haunted, but we didn't encounter anything unusual, even though it was Halloween during our stay!

I can't vouch for the food, but we stopped here during a long road trip and enjoyed a beer. This pub has an incredible authentic atmosphere—the bar dates back to 1496, there's a peat fire crackling, and Union Jacks are waving. It was the ideal place to stop on a chilly afternoon.

I often stopped by this bar for a drink on the way back to our accommodation, and my partner had no idea I had set the GPS to take this route every day—LOL! How could I resist a pint of Thirkstone Black? The outdoor seating offers a lovely view, perfect for watching cars navigate the Struggle to Ambleside and back. We didn't dine here, so I can't comment on the food, but judging by what others were being served, it looked delicious. Service can be a bit slow during peak times (yes, I know, it’s at the top of the pass), but that’s to be expected in a small bar. I really loved this place and will definitely return on our next trip to the Lakes.

It was a wonderful trip!