A 'very handsome country inn with food that punches well above its weight', this long, low, whitewashed pub near the busy A6 may not have the best setting, but inside, it's a happy mix of pub informality and country-house comforts, says a Guide insider. It is part of the Lowther Estate (see Askham Hall, Penrith), ‘so you can expect an experienced designer’s eye and top-notch food sourcing’. Revamped after a fire in 2022, its smartly refurbished interiors are 'big on colour: juicy green wallpaper in the bar, rich teal in the dining room, proper upholstered dining chairs, polished wood tables, squishy old leather sofa in the flagged hall, Lowther portraits on the walls’. Bedrooms are compact, apart from two family rooms, but ‘really charming in a country-cottage sort of way’. Chef Paul Mckinnon makes almost everything from scratch, with ingredients sourced from the estate, and dishes such as Lowther venison ragu with pappardelle pasta or classic fish pie with wilted seasonal greens. Expect 'restaurant quality rather than gastropub dishes'. On Friday and Saturday nights, there is a seafood menu.