HOG HEAVEN
It’s the perfect spot to explore the Lake District from... if you can tear yourself away from its cosy interior. PHILIP TALLENTIRE enjoys an indulgent weekend break at the Wild Boar
THERE’S no doubt about it, the Lake District is a world-class destination. But, once you’re there, what’s the best way to appreciate its stunning scenery, scenic towns and cosy villages?
Plenty of visitors, of course, make do with simple day trips. Many others love to camp, getting closer to nature at one of the many picturesque sites that dot Lakeland, or spend a couple of nights at a bed and breakfast.
But there’s another alternative, and that’s to base yourself in a lovely hotel that offers all the creature comforts the discerning tourist requires, slap bang in the middle of the lovely Lake District.
So that’s what Yours Truly and my dearly beloved decided to do when the opportunity to stay at the wonderful Wild Boar presented itself.
Situated in the drop dead gorgeous Gilpin Valley near the tiny hamlet of Crook, roughly halfway between Kendal and Bowness-onWindermere, the four star hotel couldn’t be better placed for exploring the countryside.
Ideally situated, that is, if you can drag yourself away from the warm and welcoming bar. A roaring log fire is the first thing you notice when you walk through the front door. Once inside, you’re greeted by a bar offering locally brewed Wild Boar beers.
To be polite, I tried all of them during our stay, before settling on particularly palatable pale ale. While enjoying my extended taste test, Mrs T plonked herself in a comfy leather chair near the homely hearth and devoured a creamy cappuccino. It really was a case of living the good life.
Over the course of our weekend, to blow the cobwebs off after our indoor indulgences, we headed outside and enjoyed several along local lanes offering stunning views towards Windermere and we also made a point of exploring, get this, the Wild Boar’s very own expanse of woodland.
Walk through a gate at the back of the hotel and you are suddenly in a private and ultra-peaceful mini-Lakeland, full of native flora and fauna.
All that walking makes for a ferocious appetite and we were both eagerly-anticipating our evening meal in the hotel’s Grill & Smokehouse restaurant.
After closely studying the mouthwatering menu I plumped for a sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce. While waiting for it to be served, I munched on delicious homemade pork crackling dipped in a bramley apple sauce as well as hunks of moreish ‘artisan’ bread.
The steak was well cooked and extremely tasty and left just enough room for a delectable Irish coffee to finish the night off in style.
Full to the brim, we relaxed in the bar before wandering up to bed to sleep off our mega-meal.
Each of the 34 themed bedrooms has its own boar-related name and we were occupying the ‘Large Black Room’, which was exceedingly comfortable.
Tastefully decorated, it boasted a large en-suite bathroom that included a huge circular copper bath that demanded a lengthy soak.
We were staying for the weekend, so had two opportunities to sample the Wild Boar breakfasts and agreed that the full English was the perfect way to set ourselves up for our planned exploration of Windermere.
We drove to Bowness and took the ferry (just 50p per foot passenger), which crossed to the West shore of the lake near Far Sawrey.
From there we walked north along a delightful footpath that ran parallel to the shore until we spotted spectacular Wray Castle and decided to stop for a much-needed cup of tea and slice of cake, which we devoured at a picnic table offering stunning views of the hills in the distance.
The Lakes can occasionally feel overrun by tourists, particularly at peak times, but with only a small amount of effort and planning, you can soon find some peace and quiet.
And if, after a day decompressing from the stresses and strains of modern living, you do want some excitement, Bowness offers lots of vibrant pubs and restaurants.
We were quite content, though, to head back to the warm and welcoming Wild Boar to settle down by the fire with a nice drink and plan the next day’s adventures.
The hotel takes its name from a local folktale that Sir Richard de Gilpin killed a ferocious boar on the spot