Formerly the home Beatrix Potter, Ees Wyke is now a popular hotel with a dining room open to the public, in the middle of some of the finest scenery the Lake District has to offer. A recent change of ownership has sought to keep things broadly as they were and this includes the five changing course menu. An opening course of smoked salmon and prawns, or cream of watercress soup, could be followed by a terrine of game with a rich Cumberland sauce or a poached egg sitting on a bed of spinach. Main courses are straight forward with little elaboration, and none the worse for that. A saute of scampi and scallops in a dry vermouth sauce or a fillet of pork en croute filled with smoked cheese and apple follow the same creative pattern before completing the meal with a pudding and cheese courses. Many still prefer the five course presentation, which offers a wider range of experiences and interest, and it seems to be more prevalent the further north you go. Must be something to do with the weather. The wine list meets the challenge of the table well and French and Australian house wines start are at £11.50.

No children under 10 years.