The White Horse, Threlkeld

The White Horse is a hiker’s paradise; fabulous food, a warm and inviting bar, basic but spotless rooms and Blencathra right on the doorstep – literally, the pub is on the lower flanks of the mountain. While many hikers will no doubt have their sights set on bagging a number of summits, there are so many varied routes up Blencathra that you could comfortably fill a weeklong stay exploring the different options and never get bored. The food is freshly prepared and is precisely what you need after a good day out on the fells; piping hot, served in good sized portions and properly tasty (seriously, you HAVE to try the black pudding and haggis croquettes with pepper sauce!).  The atmosphere is relaxed and unstuffy and the welcome is always warm and friendly. There are dormitories in the old stable blocks which offer a shared shower and toilet, a communal kitchen area, and bed linen can be provided by prior arrangement.  Parking is free and plentiful and, with good local bus services from the village, you can leave the car behind as you explore nearby Keswick. Throughout the cooler months there’s a real fire to hunker down next to and during the summer there’s plenty of outdoor seating; perfect to while away the long Cumbrian evenings as you swap hiking stories and enjoy one of the many local brews on tap as the sun sets over the nearby fells.