Hidden Gems of the Lakes: Howtown Hotel

There are lots of hidden gems in the Lake District. For those of you who plan to come and visit the area, we’ve got plenty of places to recommend. On Sunday I went to the Howtown Hotel for lunch; it is a total blast from the past. It really is funny how some things never change…and Howtown Hotel is one of them! Forget the 21st century; set back from the shores of Lake Ullswater, Howtown Hotel is also set back in time. It has been a licensed farmhouse for centuries and property of the Baldry family for 112 years. Jacqui met her husband when she came here on holiday, and soon after her husband died, their son David joined the family enterprise when he was 21, which included the 400 acre farm. The dinner gong is struck dead on 1pm, and everyone is ushered into the restaurant for lunch. We are greeted by friendly serving staff, dressed in old fashioned black dresses and white aprons. The room is fantastic; the fireplace is stunning and everything oozes with character.

There are no menus here - each waitress has memorised the options, which for starters involved fruit juice or Howtown Special Soup. We went for the soup, which was a homemade bone broth and very delicious - just like granny would have made.

The mains were sirloin of roast beef; Lakeland lamb or salmon mayonnaise (vegetarians are not catered for). I chose the beef and my partner had the lamb. The whole meal was to die for, with melt-in-the-mouth, beef dripping yorkies, and very crispy and fluffy roast potatoes; a real delight. Pudding was sherry trifle, cheese, sponge pudding, or chocolate ice cream and fruit salad (all homemade). I had the sherry trifle, and it was lovely. It was extremely potent and put a glow on my cheeks.  Afterwards, coffee can be enjoyed in one of the many lounges that look over the lake and fells. The reason I loved Howtown Hotel so much is because there is nowhere else quite like it; the food is so tasty and set in a fabulous location. You can also take the picturesque walk round Hallin Fell - it takes about an hour and the views are worth it.