The Kirkstile Inn (Loweswater)
Tucked away in a quiet corner of the Lakes, the Kirkstile Inn has been looking after weary travellers for around 400 years. The inn sits between the lakes of Crummock Water and Loweswater, two lakes that, in spite of their outstanding natural beauty, attract far less visitors than other lakes in the area.
The inn is the original home of Cumbrian Legendary Ales, a brewery that is now located near Hawkshead but still brews the fabulous Loweswater Gold ale, which is readily available on tap in the bar. Today, the inn’s links to the brewery are celebrated with an annual beer festival. Inside this traditional inn, you will find cosy interiors with real fires, excellent food, and a warm welcome.
Food & Drink
As mentioned above, the inn was birthplace of brewery Cumbrian Legendary Ales. Whilst the brewery has now moved to larger premises, the devotion to real ale remains. The Kirkstile Inn has six hand pumps, with four regular ales all brewed by Cumbrian Legendary Ales.
The remaining two pumps offer a changing selection, almost exclusively sourced from Cumbrian based breweries. Although ale is clearly the star of the show here, the inn does have a reasonably priced and fairly respectable wine list, as well as a fine choice of whiskies and other spirits.
Food Menu
The Kirkstile Inn has a good reputation for serving good, wholesome food without the fussiness. There is a team of six chefs working in the kitchen using the very best of local and seasonal produce wherever possible. Between noon and 2pm there is a lunch time menu with a range of sandwiches and substantial main dishes available. Between 2pm and 4.30pm the kitchen is still open for snacks, soups, and sandwiches only, ideal for walkers who are passing through and in need of sustenance.
The evening menu is served between 6pm and 9pm and has a good mixture of classic pub dishes, such as steak and ale pie, and more imaginative dishes, such as wild mushroom and quinoa patties. There are daily specials that always include local beef and chicken. Dessert is a decadent affair with a delectable choice of tempting puddings, including local favourite sticky toffee pudding. Booking is highly recommended, especially during peak tourist seasons.
Other Features
The Kirkstile Inn welcomes dogs, but only in the bar area, and not during the evening food service. The pub also has a beer garden that is surrounded by fells, offering wonderful views and even hosts a beer festival each April, with around 20 different ales to try.
Accommodation
The Kirkstile Inn has 11 guestrooms offering a range of accommodation layouts. In the main inn building, there are seven rooms above the bar offering a mixture of doubles, twins, and one four poster. On the ground floor of the inn, there is one premier room with its own separate access, wet room, and seating area. In a separate annex, there is a family room with a separate sitting room, and a self contained family suite with a double room, twin room, and bathroom. Baby listening devices can be provided.
All rooms have en-suite facilities. The accommodation is simply furnished, creating a cottage like style. There are no televisions in the seven rooms in the main inn, but the family rooms are equipped with them. The Wi-Fi doesn’t extend to all the rooms thanks to the thick stone walls and mobile signal is sparse, making this a place to escape from modern life.