George and Dragon, Cumbria

Overview

Part of the Lowther family estate, who also own nearby Askham Hall, this 18th-century coaching inn has been lovingly restored by local craftsmen using a wealth of Cumbrian stone, slate and wood.

With a beautifully designed interior sporting a relaxed, contemporary feel that perfectly complements the period features, the George & Dragon is the perfect Cumbrian bolthole to escape to for a few days. Expect heritage hues, crackling log fires, cosy alcoves, and rugs on stone-flagged floors.

With its own family farm, tenanted farms and a kitchen garden at nearby Askham Hall, the estate supplies the pub with organic free range meats and wild venison, game birds from shoots, and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. The 12 bedrooms have a fresh, modern look and are kitted out in elegant country-house style with paintings and antiques from the Lowther personal collection. Fishing on the Eden and Lowther rivers can be arranged through the inn.

Rooms from

12 doubles: £100

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted
Disabled access
Alfresco dining
Parking available
Secure bike storage & drying room
Dog stay: £10

Dog-friendly
Dogs are welcome in the bar and overnight in all the bedrooms, and dog packs are provided at £10 per stay.

Outdoor adventures
Situated between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, there's plenty of fabulous walking to explore in these parts.

Askham Hall

Take a stroll through the beautiful gardens with views of the River Lowther, enjoy something delicious in the Kitchen Garden Café, or splash out with dinner at the Michelin-starred Allium restaurant. This unique venue is perfect for weddings and there's a Health Barn too.

Rooms

Accessed via ancient stone stairs and in keeping with the contemporary, smart feel in the bar and dining rooms, the twelve refurbished rooms have a fresh, modern look.

Being a 17th-century farmhouse, some rooms are on the cosy side, but all are beautifully furnished in elegant country-house style. Expect paintings and antiques from the Lowther family's personal collection at Askham Hall, quality wool carpets and rich fabrics, crisp Egyptian cotton on hand-made beds, and very comfortable slate-floored ensuite bathrooms with powers showers or roll-top baths and fluffy bathrobes. Room 5 has a roll-top bath tucked away in an alcove - perfect for relaxing with a glass of bubbly.

Restaurant & bar

With the pub supplied by all sorts of goodies from the estate, including organic meats, game birds and fruit and vegetables from the walled kitchen gardens at Askham Hall, it's no surprise that the menu focuses on sustainability, simplicity and taste.

The menu makes full use of seasonal, delicous and local produce - and what isn't reared or grown on the estate is sourced from local artisan suppliers and farmers within 20 miles of the pub. Expect superb 30-day aged Shorthorn beef, Rough Fell lamb, rare breed pork sausages or delicious game dishes on the monthly menus and daily chalkboard specials - Askham Hall garden salad, quinoa and pickled beetroot; Shorthorn beef, horseradish fondant potato, pickled mushroom, beef and bone marrow jus.

Behind the bar, there's three cask ales on handpump that include regular beers from Cumbrian micro-breweries. Wines are sourced from Frank Stainton, Kendal's famed wine merchant, with a focus on independent and small-scale producers. The list runs to over 70 and includes some half bottles and magnums, 17 by the glass, and some outstanding French options from the owner's own cellar.

Things to do

Close to both the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, this part of the world prove a fabulous place for walking. There are plenty of suggested routes, long and short, on both websites and the long-distance walker is spoilt for choice.

For those searching for a little local history, take a drive to the Dales Countryside Museum. Housed in an imaginative conversion of the Hawes railway station in Wensleydale, this fascinating museum tells the story of the people and landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, as well as the social and industrial history of the area.

Sizergh Castle & Garden is a gorgeous family home near Kendal that represents 700 years of history. Still occupied by the Strickland family, the house has gorgeous gardens and an impressive 1,600-acre estate.

Finally, treat yourself to a proper brew at Farrer's Tea and Coffee House in Kendal. From 1819, when John Farrer started a family business of specialist tea and coffee merchant at Stricklandgate, the tantalizing aroma of roasting coffee became a feature of daily life in the market town of Kendal. Visit the tearoom to sample the great range of teas and coffees available while enjoying fresh cakes and maybe an exhibition of local art.