‘Always a favourite’ of Guide friends in the north, Richard Rose’s 300-year-old pub-with-rooms is in ‘one of the prettiest villages in south Lakeland’. It is promoted to a full entry this year. ‘Lots of atmosphere, particularly in the front room with the wood-burning stove.’ Bedrooms are ‘comfortable and very reasonably priced’. Their names recall past vicars of St Mary’s church next door. All bedrooms have a Roberts radio, flat-screen TV, heated limestone bathroom floor, freestanding roll-top bath (two baths in the case of Noble, which occupies the entire top storey, under the eaves). Cooper has a four-poster bed built from reclaimed elm. The kitchen team, led by Oliver Mather and Stuart Green, uses local, seasonal produce to pack a punch with such dishes as Cumbrian lamb rump, puy lentil, spring vegetables, alongside the classic Punch Bowl dishes of Cheese Souffle and Stornaway Black Pudding; and, from a separate veggie menu, caramelised carrot fondants, orange and cardamom sauce, baby leeks, sautéed potatoes. ‘He also does a mean rare roast beef with all the trimmings.’ Guests may ask to be woken with tea or coffee. (Stephanie Thompson and Keith Sutton, 
David Peel)