The Lake District is without a doubt one of my favorite places in the world. This corner of England is simply beautiful, and one of my favorite places to go to explore the outdoors. I try to stay in a different location every time—it makes exploring different areas and going on new hikes easier. For my birthday weekend in September, we stayed in a pub, the Kirkstone Pass Inn. This was by far one of the most unique places I’ve ever stayed! Here is my full review.

Location

The Kirkstone Pass Inn is really remote, located high up in the mountains between Ullswater and Windermere. At 1489 feet (459 meters) it’s the highest pub in the Lake District, and the third-highest pub in England! Access can be a bit daunting—the road up from Ambleside is nicknamed “the Struggle” for its steep gradient and sharp, twisting turns. That being said, staying somewhere so far away from everything was incredible. Waking up in the morning and knowing that there was no one else around (besides those staying in the pub) was so cool! It’s also the starting point for several good walks, which are (literally) at your doorstep here.

Rooms

We stayed in a beautiful double ensuite room at the Kirkstone Pass Inn. The bed was really comfortable, and we had everything we needed. We even had chocolates on our pillow when we arrived! The Kirkstone Pass Inn does also have a bunkhouse as well—if you’re wanting more of a hostel dorm experience (10-bed dorm), you can book a space there!

Best of all, we had a great view of the pass and up to Red Screes right outside our window!

Food and Drink at the Pub

We spent a lot of time at the pub—but it wasn’t very difficult, as once darkness hits there’s not much else to do around here! The Kirkstone Pass Inn is, first and foremost, an excellent pub. They’ve got a good variety of ales (for Adam), and a few ciders (for me). The downstairs is very cozy, especially when they’ve got the fire going. It’s never wild but it’s a great atmosphere.

Oh, and the food is phenomenal. We were treated to a full English for breakfast both mornings that we stayed here. It was delicious and so filling—I love having a really hearty breakfast before a big day walking in the Lakes! Adam and I also ate here for dinner one evening. We both ended up going for a curry, which was fantastic. The first time we visited (about a year or so ago) we split a meat and cheese board which was also delicious. All of the great food made our stay at the Kirkstone Pass Inn even better!

Amenities

To say how remote the pub is, the rooms are a high standard. The heating was excellent and it was so nice coming back to a warm, cozy, room after walking all day outside! There’s a TV and also tea and coffee making facilities in the room. They do have wifi, which didn’t work very well. But considering the remoteness of the pub, I was surprised they had wifi at all in the first place! As one of the staff members said about the lengthy password, “sorry about the wifi, we got hit by lightning last year.”

Staff

Our stay at the Kirkstone Pass Inn was made even better by Chris, the barman. He was so friendly and welcoming, and made us feel right at home. He was interested in what we had planned to do during the day, and all-around is just a hilarious guy. Everyone else at the pub was really nice as well, but Chris definitely went out of his way to welcome people.

Verdict: Would I Return?

Absolutely. This is one of the most unique places I’ve ever stayed! The Lake District is stunning and staying somewhere remote and scenic was a real highlight of this trip. The people were friendly, the food was fantastic, and it’s great if you want to do some walking in the area. I’d absolutely recommend it if you’re wanting to stay somewhere with character and somewhere remote!

Planning Your Trip

The Lake District is a stunning part of the world. I definitely recommend having a car to get around, although the Kirkstone Pass Inn is accessible by bus 508 that runs from Penrith to Kendal (because of course there’s a bus that comes here!). If you’re planning to arrive in the Lake District by public transportation, I’d book train tickets well in advance (I always use Trainline). The nearest airport to the Lake District is Manchester Airport, although Carlisle Airport has very recently opened with a few commercial flights. I use Skyscanner to find the best deals. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

The Kirkstone Pass Inn isn’t on any booking sites (like Booking.com), so in order to make a reservation you do need to contact them directly. They will then get in touch with you to take a deposit. You can visit their website for more information here. This was such a wonderful place to stay!

I was not compensated in any way for this stay—my opinions are always my own.

Have you ever been to the Lake District? Where do you like to stay?

You might like my other Lake District posts:

30 Incredible Places to Visit in the Lake District

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide To England’s Lake District

Hiking Scafell Pike: England’s Highest Mountain

The Lake District: Keswick And Beyond

Hiking Up Helvellyn In The Lake District

Hiking The Old Man Of Coniston In The Lake District

Review: Ellas Crag Guest House, Lake District

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