The Royal Oak Borrowdale

Stay at The Royal Oak in Borrowdale and the windows of your room will offer a framed scene of the charming stone buildings of Rosthwaite village or of babbling Stonethwaite beck. Either way, the backdrop beyond will be the high fells of the northern Lake District. It’s an area best described by walker, writer and champion of the area, Alfred Wainwright, who claimed: “The Lake District is the loveliest part of England, and Borrowdale is the fairest of its valleys.” We’re not going to argue with that.

Situated in the heart of this fair and lovely valley, The Royal Oak offers 24 double and triple rooms for guests, along with a self-catering apartment that sleeps 4 people and a pair of bunk barns out back that house 4–6. The hotel has been hosting visitors for at least 200 years, but you might be surprised by the contemporary comfort of its guest rooms, which were fully refurbished in 2022, when they replaced every bed in every room and every tile in the en-suite bathrooms. Crucially, for a village of stone-walled cottages and farmhouses in the nation's most-loved national park, it's been done with taste and style. Indeed, The Royal Oak was runner-up for the 2023 'Cumbria Tourism Best Small Hotel Award’.

There's a modern feel throughout and bathrooms are particularly slick, with heated towel rails, metro tiles and backlit mirrors. But the bedrooms are warmed by earthy, natural tones to compliment occasional original features – and what you’ll see outside. Crisp white bed linen, fluffy towels, toiletries and tea and coffee-making facilities are among the standard room inclusions. All this will delight anyone who stays, but it’s downstairs that identifies this as a place where walkers and dogs are as welcome as guests who simply want to relax. There's a residents-only bar, lounge and snug with patterned upholstery and feature walls which continue the contemporary comfort. These are spaces to read, play games or simply chat about the day's adventures with fellow guests. A range of local beers and carefully chosen wines sit alongside the seasonal menu of farmhouse-style dinners, with daily dishes at great-value prices. Hearty breakfasts are served here too (included in the price), and packed lunches are available to take away on your walks. Testament to their food is offering is winning the 2023 'Cumbria Life Magazine Casual Dining Experience’.

It’s the walking that most people come for, and there’s something to suit most tastes in this area, from gentle strolls along the beck to the serious hike up Scafell Pike. On land, Keswick and Grasmere are easy enough to drive to; for water, Derwentwater and Buttermere are nearby. In truth, the whole of the Lakes can be explored from here, and wherever your adventuring takes you, The Royal Oak provides what you need on your return. As Wainwright himself noted: “Long experience of the needs of fell-walkers has made Borrowdale folk adept at catering for outsize appetites and tired bodies.” The Royal Oak certainly does that – and in modern style.