The Boot Inn (Eskdale)
If you want to escape the crowds when visiting the Lake District, then head over to Eskdale Valley. This pretty vale in the western Lake District is home to a handful of hamlets and villages, including Boot – home to the Boot Inn. Here, walkers, dogs, and children receive a warm welcome.
The inn is best known for its part in the annual Boot Beer Festival, that sees three pubs in the area coming together to celebrate ale. Within walking distance of Dalegarth rail station, the terminus for the Ravenglass & Eskdale heritage railway, the pub is great place to stop for a bite to eat when exploring the area by train or even for an overnight break.
Food & Drink
If it’s real ale that you’re after, then Eskdale is the place to be. Home to the annual Boot Beer Festival, the Boot Inn, along with its neighbouring establishments, are proud to serve a changing selection of real ales with six changing ales on tap at any one time. Most are supplied by the Robinson’s brewery, but the pub does also feature ales from guest breweries, usually based in Cumbria and the north of England. The pub has won numerous accolades, including “Pub of the Season” from the local CAMRA branch. There is a reasonable wine list with a good choice available by the glass, along with the usual spirits and whiskies.
You might think that it would be easy to get a table in an inn located in a remote area within a tiny hamlet of around 20 residents. However, the inn has a far-reaching reputation for serving up delicious cuisine, so it is highly recommended to book a table in advance, even during the week. The standard menu is limited, with an emphasis on quality, not quantity. The classic British dishes that are available are therefore done very well. There is a daily specials board that includes a curry of the day and a pasta of the day. There is a limited choice for vegetarians, but the children’s menu is extensive with something for even the fussiest of eaters.
Other Features
The Boot Inn is very dog friendly, welcoming dogs in all areas, including the overnight guestrooms. There is a large beer garden, with a children’s play area at one end that includes swings and a slide. As well as the Boot Beer Festival, the inn hosts regular events throughout the year, including live music and national holiday celebrations.
Accommodation
The Boot Inn has seven rooms available on a bed and breakfast basis. The rooms are simply furnished, but elegant, and many offer views of the surrounding fells. Single, double, and twin rooms are available, and all have en-suite facilities – some with baths.
There is free Wi-Fi (but do remember this is a rural area and high speed access is unlikely), and a hospitality tray. The inn focuses on offering accommodation where one can “get away from it all” and as a result, there are no televisions in any of the rooms.