The Black Swan, Cumbria

Overview

You'll find this Victorian, Lakeland-stone inn in peaceful Ravenstonedale on the edge of the dramatic Howgill Fells, yet it's just ten minutes from the M6 (J38) and a mere half-an-hour from Ullswater.

Lovingly restored and managed by Louise Dinnes, the Black Swan makes a useful base for walking and fishing being located midway between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales National Parks. Expect a cosy, welcoming and traditional feel throughout the spick-and-span interior. One of the stone walled bars is very much a locals' bar, while the other has a refined pub air with period features, tartan carpet, upholstered wing chairs, highly polished, copper-topped tables, and roaring log fire - perfect for enjoying morning coffee or cake or perusing the papers with a tip-top pint of Black Sheep Bitter.

Across the road is a delightful, sheltered garden with a small footbridge across the local beck - keep a look out for the resident red squirrels.

Rooms from

Doubles: £105

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted
Alfresco dining
Parking available
Dog stay: £15 (courtyard rooms)

Outdoor adventures
The perfect base for walking the surrounding fells (you can borrow maps and routes) and fishing on the River Eden.

Riverside glamping
In summer book one of the yurts in the riverside garden for a memorable glamping experience.

Scenic and serene
Nestled in a sleepy Cumbrian village, you're a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life here.

Rooms

Rooms ramble across two floors and the handy annexe extension. All are individually designed, some traditionally furnished with old pine and rich floral fabrics and wall coverings, while others have a more contemporary feel.

The refurbished suites have comfortable lounge areas with sofa beds and enjoy peaceful garden or mountain views. The grand four-poster suite has a vast bathroom with roll-top tub and walk-in shower and a log burning stove in the stone fireplace.

Three beautiful, romantic yurts are situated right on the banks of the babbling beck in the private forest garden. Unique in design, all are fully furnished with king-size beds, antique furniture, quirky country-style touchs, and have access to a shared outdoor shower and toilet facility. Click here to view >

Restaurant & bar

Head chef Scott Fairweather has firmly established the Black Swan on Cumbria's culinary map, producing consistent, attractive modern pub food that has been reconised with 2 AA Rosettes for quality cooking.

Scott's menus are driven by seasonality and they champion some of Cumbria's best producers, including pheasant from High Holbeck shoot; meat from Lakes Speciality Food; and fish and seafood from Neves of Fleetwood. This may translate to venison tartar, truffle mayonnaise, mushrooms and hazelnuts; hake, artichoke mash, olive vinaigrette and crispy mussels, and apple crumble soufflé, gingerbread sauce and ice cream. There are also lunchtime sandwiches and roast sirloin of beef with all the trimmings on Sundays.

To quaff, you won't be disappointed with the real ales on tap - all from local Yorkshire of Cumbrian breweries. The raft of gins and whiskies on the back bar includes gin from the Lakes Distillery near Cockermouth, as well as a range of pre-dinner cocktails.

Things to do

With stunning views across the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, the Howgill Fells are a fabulous area to explore by foot. Spread across Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire, the fells are a walker's paradise - although surprisingly quiet - so you'll have the big skies and undulating hills all to yourself. Or, why not tackle the Dales Way - which runs for 80 miles from Ilkley in West Yorkshire to Bowness-on-Windermere in Cumbria, following riverside paths and passing through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

One real local highlight is the Settle to Carlisle Railway, an iconic line which takes riders through jaw dropping scenery in the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbrian Fells. The railway itself has plenty of Victorian architecture, remote station buildings and huge stone viaducts - but it's still part of the UK rail network.