In short… The Hare & Hounds Inn at Bowland Bridge, in the heart of the Lake District, is a perfect B&B with a quintessential British pub, tasteful rooms, great service, and an excellent restaurant .
The surroundings… Just a short drive from the idyllic Lake Windermere, the four-room inn is just where you want to stop on a trip through the Lake District. The town (if you can call it a town) where The Hare and the Hounds sits is tiny, consisting of a few houses and handmade stone walls surrounded by rolling green hills and no sight of civilization. But it’s hardly isolated—most of the jewelbox towns of the Lake District are just a short drive away. An honorable mention to the town of Cartmel, which I visited on my way out – a perfect English countryside town with willow trees, romantic bridges, cute shops and pubs, of course! Our hosts at the Hare & Hounds pointed us to Perfect English, a little shop with a great edit.
The vibe…The Hare & Hounds does a great job of mixing all the elements you want in a perfect countryside stone pub/B&B, with all the modern aspects of a very tasteful home. Beautiful antiques are scattered throughout, and a great art selection makes it feel perfectly modern. The owners told me that it had always been a pub, and before they acquired it, it stank of cigarettes and was pretty much what one would’ve expected from a one-man pub. But now it’s super bright, inspiring and filled with beautiful corners everywhere you look.
The rooms… I stayed in the “Yan” room, which overlooked the front of the inn and was simply perfect. Regretfully we only made it for one night, but the room was very comfortable with beautiful antique touches in both furniture and art. I am always a fan of an ikat pillowcase, so I was incredibly pleased, and every other design aspect felt perfectly done and not over designed. The bathroom was a good size, while fresh milk and biscuits for tea was an added bonus.
The wellness… While the inn does not have a designated spa or wellness program, situated in the Lake District, they advised us to hike up “Gummers How,” a nearby walk, which ends in a beautiful view of Lake Windermere. There are plenty of these hikes in the area, the perfect way to stay active in such a magical part of the UK.
The food… As I sadly arrived too late for dinner, the only meal I had at the Hare & Hounds was breakfast. I had a ham hock omelet (indulgent, I know) made with locally sourced pork, and it was delicious! Their homemade granola and berry compote was a highlight as well, and their evolved pub-style menus for lunch and dinner sounded great and have incredible reviews. Judging from the breakfast, I’d say the chef definitely knows what he’s doing!
Be sure to… Go for a hike and visit the nearby towns! Cartmel was beautiful and has some incredible restaurants and shops, and being just a short drive away it’s a great daytime excursion and the perfect place to visit after a walk up Gummers How.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.