The train journey to Windermere or Birthwaite as the village was called before the train arrived in 1847. They changed the name to Windermere and since then crowds of people have flocked here. Towards the end of the 19th century there was considerable development with many houses being built, some were rather grand and posh. 1 Park Road was built in 1883 as a gentleman’s residence – we’re not posh but we are a Luxury Boutique Bed and Breakfast in The lake District
The railway journey from Windermere to Oxenholme has many treasures that those hundreds and thousands of people pass by although they don’t exactly come to The Lakes for the sun and the beaches! For example, you can see Williamson’s Monument that overlooks Staveley. Built in memory of a guy who would walk up to this point each day before breakfast. Few of our guests go out before breakfast unless they have a dog to walk.
Those treasures of course are the variety of beers at various station stops off at Staveley and Kendal plus a hamlet that the trains doesn’t stop but you can see from the train called Ings but you can try to imagine the delights (The Watermill and Ings). I have to say I am not a fan of the beers brewed at the microbrewery at The Watermill as they’re mainly golden but I do go, regularly, as they serve Old Peculiar. If you don’t like dogs or children don’t go unless you go after 9-00 then it is a great pub to sit, read and enjoy you beer.
Staveley is an interesting village much sort after place to live – goodness knows why. It has got a great choir there – I conduct it – and it leads up to Kentmere Valley which is spectacular and always reminds me of Switzerland – never been – as you come out of the trees and look up the valley. Anyhow Staveley has two excellent pubs- The Eagle and Child who also serve food and The Hawkshead Brewery’s very modern Beer Hall. Hawkshead brewery in The lake District.
If you go to the Beer Hall on a Sunday evening they have live music and they serve sensible food to go with beer-tapas. Being a strong dark beer man – goes with the personality – their Hawkshead Gold is not to my taste but Brodies Prime and New Zealand Pale Ale are. Last week went to their Beer Festival- 300 beers on at any time- and had their Brodie’s Prime Export (8.5%)- now we’re talking and a fantastic beer called Full Whack (6%) from Peerless
Kendal is a small market town with one or two interesting pubs. The one to highlight is about 5 minutes walk from the station called The Castle. It’s a great local community pub with a range of beers. Given my leaning towards brown or dark beers and having lived in the deepest south for a long time – of how I miss a good pint of Fuller ESB or Adams Broadside – I went into The Castle one evening and guess what – there was Broadside
Having said all this you can always take a train journey to Windermere and come to to 1 Park Road order a home made pie and frits and have one our bottled beers from both Britain and Belgium