Bill's Travel

Friday, August 08, 2008

B and B near Lorton, Cockermouth, Lake District

We spent a couple of nights at The Old Homestead at Byresteads an old farm house converted to a Bed and Breakfast in Cumbria. It is between Cockermouth and Lorton, at a farm with views over fields with sheep and goats. We stayed in their largest room with a four poster bed. It was spacious and comfortable, and the whole place very tastefully decorated. A sympathetic modernization of very old farm buildings, with exposed natural beams and modern natural wood floors.

The proprietors Zen and Jayne were friendly and helpful with advice on where to walk and to see red squirrels. While veganism was new to them (bring your own soya milk) the vegetarian breakfast was very nice.

We didn't want the traditional scruffy room in a tatty old house B and B, and this is certainly the luxury end of the market.

It turns out that at the moment the best place to see red squirrels is at the Osprey Viewing Point near Bassenthwaite, that is the lower view point at Dodd Wood. We saw the ospreys too.

For dinner, if you are vegetarian, I presume the Quince and Medlar is very good, as it was fully booked (and we forgot to book in advance). We went too the Tarantella instead. While not explicitly catering for vegans they were happy to adapt to this and other specific requests and we enjoyed it.

On another evening, after a long walk, if you are hungry and want to eat early try happy hour at the The Royal Bengal Indian & Bangladeshi Restaurant near the main car park. We had starter, main course and desert for under £10. The food, surroundings and service were very good.

Links