Kirkstone Pass Inn, Ambleside

Landmark roadside pub in middle of nowhere with a couple of stonebuilt rooms, open fires etc. Nice outdoor area across road if you are lucky enough to hit a fine day. Good selection of local ales and food ok.

A genuinely old pub with what appear to be genuinely old beams. There are traditional pub tables and chairs, with some benches outside for the view, though some are on the other side of the road. We called in here one evening recently when there were only two or three other customers, but two nights later it was packed. Food is good value at around £9 for main courses, though the vegetarian lasagne was a bit skimpy compared with the steak and ale pie. There are three hand pumps serving local beers, though the 3% Kirkstone Porter wasn't available on our visits. Tirril Red Screes (named after the hill from which my photo was taken), Derwent Blonde and Hesket Kirkstone Black were the beers we saw, though the Blonde went off half way through our order. Service was friendly and efficient. My notes read "ghastly Irish pipe music on the CD player (lose 2 points)", so if you like Irish pipes, you can mentally adjust the score to 8