Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shopping
Major shopping areas include the covered
Devonshire Arcade,
with its name-brand
stores and boutiques; the pedestrian-only
Angel Lane
and
Little Dockray,
with an
abundance of family-run specialty shops; and
Angel Square,
just south of Angel
Lane. And you can buy treats and sticky gifts at
The Toffee Shop
on Brunswick
Road (
&
01768/862008;
www.thetoffeeshop.co.uk), renowned for their handmade
fudge and toffees.
Cranston's
on Ullswater Road (
&
01768/868680;
www.cranstons.net) special-
izes in the Cumberland sausage, and you can buy them family size. Head farther out
of Penrith to the
Rheged Centre
(
&
01768/868000;
www.rheged.com), at the
junction of the A66/A592, a discovery center with stores selling educational children's
toys, outdoor gear, farm produce, candy, books, and locally made paper.
Entertainment & Nightlife
In Penrith itself, the
Warehouse,
Burrowgate (
&
01768/868984
), is popular with
the younger crowd for drinks and dancing. The older crowd might prefer to explore
some of the village pubs around Penrith and Ullswater where there's often food as
well as local brews. The
Beehive Inn
(
&
01768/862081;
www.thebeehivepenrith.
co.uk) is one of the best pubs for families with children; it has a large garden with a
play area for kids, and it has a good selection of real ales and pub grub. The renovated
18th-century former coaching house, the
George and Dragon
in Clifton
(
&
01768/865381;
www.georgeanddragonclifton.co.uk) is one for foodies, serving
up a range of seasonal, local produce and an impressive array of wines.
In Askham, the
Queens Head,
Lower Green (
&
01931/712225
), is a well-
estsablished Lakeland pub where you can chat to locals over a pint, while the
Pooley
Bridge Inn,
Pooley Bridge, Ullswater (
&
01768/486215;
www.pooleybridgeinn.
co.uk), is a rustic country inn, restaurant, and bar where you can eat or drink beside
an open fire in the winter months or head outdoors in the summer months. It has the
added bonus of being by Ullswater lake. At the south end of the lake, hikers make a
beeline for the
Traveller's Rest
(
&
01768/482298
) for a well-earned pint of Jen-
nings Cumberland Ale after descending from Helvellyn.
Where to Eat & Stay
Brackenrigg Inn
Since the prices at Sharrow Bay (see below) are a bit
stunning, many discerning travelers instead book into this traditional inn and
restau-
rant
overlooking Ullswater. Accommodations range from smaller, standard doubles to
more spacious superior rooms and premium ground-floor suites. There's also a con-
vivial bar with an open fire. Chefs specialize in the market-fresh food of Cumbria,
“but without all the fuss.” The succulent lamb dishes are some of the best in the area.
Watermillock (on the A592), Cumbria CA11 OJN. www.brackenrigginn.co.uk.
&
01768/486206.
Fax
01768/486945. 17 units. £80-£140. Discount for children 3-16 staying in parent's room. Rates include
breakfast. MC, V. Free parking.
Amenities:
Restaurant; bar.
In room:
TV.
George Hotel
A 300-year-old coaching inn built in the heart of town, this hotel
welcomed Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. The front looks out onto Penrith's main
street, full of small specialty shops. The guest rooms, spread over three floors, are
individually decorated with light colors and up-to-date furnishings. The owners have
upgraded all the bedrooms. The
Devonshire Restaurant
is a relaxed place to dine
with a varied menu of fish, meat, and vegetarian options.
16
