recommendations required

Buccleuch & Queensbury Hotel, Thornhill plus plenty of good places in the N Yorks section of the GBG around Ingleton.

The Agricultural in Penrith, next to the railway station, is not a bad bet - first class Jennings beers, OK food.

Just a bit further off the M6 in Tirril there's the Queens Head, which is the brewery tap for the excellent Tirril brewery (though the brewery itself is now down the road at Brougham Hall), and does top pub grub too.

In the opposite direction there's the Highland Drove in Great Salkeld, which does classy food (not cheap, mind) and is in the new GBG. If you did choose to go there, say hello to my brother - he lives next door.

There's also the Old Crown in Hesket Newmarket - it doesn't have accommodation but it does have camping facilities and it might be worth roughing it, even in October, for the superb beers from the Hesket Newmarket brewery, which is right behind the pub.

I also like the Duke's Head in Armathwaite - it looks decidedly rough, with horrible 70s decor, but has a great atmosphere and excellent, good value home-cooked food. Not top of the list for quality of beers though.

These are the ones I can personally vouch for but there may be others.

d.

cheers for that, looks OK, will book it tmw. and report back

It's a good spot. But whatever you do, don't waste time going into Penrith looking for real ale. The one decent spot is often closed.

The Aggie? I've been there twice and it was open both times. ;)

d.

actually no - when you live in an area where there us little other than Jennings, you don't class a Jennings pub as somewhere to mention.

I meant the Lowther.

Heh. I sympathise - it's the same with Shepherd Neame round here.

d.

As I said I'd report back. Excellent is all I can say. Comfortable rooms with TV and coffee making facilities and en-suite. Well at least the one we were in was. For 35 squid per person I don't think thats unreasonable. Prices I presume will vary over the year.

Fantastic food, both the dinner and the breakfast. I could finish neither and that was not a reflection on the quality/quantity.

the ale is spectacular I personally would reccomend the "old faithful" at 4.05% it's cracking beer.

According to the stuff from the Inn there's an annual Cumbrian Beer and Sausage festival held every August with up to 16 beers.

If any of the sausages are up to the standard of the one I had for breakfast go now - well at least next year.

The ale appears well looked after and the staff seem to be well trained.

regards Les