The Plough, Cumbria

Overview

Set mid-way between the Lakes and the Dales, The Plough at Lupton has country-house style bedrooms, delicious seasonal fare and gives guests a very big welcome. This rustic inn mixes informality with excellent service and the six bedrooms have a contemporary, stylish country feel. The open, expansive interior also boasts cosy spaces, with open fires and stoves to keep guests warm on wintry evenings.

Mentioned in the Waitrose Good Food Guide and the Good Hotel Guide, the kitchen focuses on regional, modern flavours that see classic combinations presented with flair. There's a lot going on at the Plough, with wine and cheese evenings, cookery master-classes, regular steak nights and two-course curry specials on a Wednesday.

The area is rich with pretty villages and glorious walks spanning two national parks; with either the Lake District or the Yorkshire Dales to choose from, head up Farleton Knott with its footpaths and bike trails, and take in the magnificent view. Don't forget to ask the kitchen to make you a personal packed lunch!

Rooms from

Doubles and suites: £110

Good to know

Amex not accepted, Visa / Mastercard / Maestro all accepted
Alfresco dining
Disabled access
Parking available
£15 dog stay charge

Dog-friendly
Canines are welcome in the bar and there are dog-friendly bedrooms available.

Outdoor adventures
With the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales on the doorstep, there's plenty to keep avid walkers entertained.

Family favourite
Children are welcome at the inn and there are family-friendly adjoining rooms available.

Rooms

Rooms are decorated in soothing pastel colours, many with their original beams on show, creating a sense of country charm and contemporary lustre. Homely touches such as smart bedspreads and cushions on the generously sized beds add a genuine feeling of warmth to each room. There are a number of suite upstairs, with separate sitting rooms or sitting areas, and one has an adjoining twin room making it ideal for families.

The bathrooms are spacious, contemporary and kitted out to the max. Suits include under-floor heating roll-top baths and monsoon showers. Towels and bathrobes maintain the luxe feel, and posh toiletries come from the Cumbrian company, Bath House.

Restaurant & bar

Chef Matt Adamson delivers punchy flavours in feel-good dishes, ranging from laid-back pub food to delectable, modern British cooking. Complementing the Plough's credentials as a proper pub, lunch offers hot sandwiches, ploughman's or fisherman's boards aimed for sharing. The dinner menu proves a little more refined, championing local supply lines and plenty of excellent meat and game.

Fresh fish deliveries are courtesy of Neve Fleetwood, who have been operating out of the Lancashire port for decades. You can sit wherever takes your fancy, from the bar to the new look dining area with French doors opening onto the garden, or grab a table in one of the several sheltered spaces outside.

As this Cumbrian pub borders Lancashire and Yorkshire, there's a range of cast ales to ensure all sorts of styles and local variations. It doesn't get much more local than something from the Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery just down the road. Wines come from Kendal merchant Frank Stainton, who has been immersed in the wine trade for decades, with the list containing plenty of options by the glass.

Things to do

There's amazing local walking in these parts, but history and culture lovers are spoilt for choice too. 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.

Designated by English heritage as a rare Grade II listed building, Leighton Hall near Carnforth is another great spot for history buffs. The stunning building was rebuilt in the Adam style in the mid-18th century. There's much to see here, including the magnificent Hall itself, attractive gardens and parkland.

More like a cleverly designed visitor attraction than a vital route serving communities in the wilds of Cumbria and North Yorkshire, the Settle-Carlisle Railway offers a constant backdrop of fells and moorland. Make a day of it and jump off at any number of stops en route.

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.