During the first lockdown, we booked a stay at a beautiful hotel/restaurant in the Lakes, Askham Hall for the Autumn. We were assuming that travel would be allowed then, and luckily for us, the visit fell in the few months we were still allowed to do things.
We’ve been to Askham Hall before, for a one night stay on our way to a party with friends and so knew what a stunning old house it was, and how great the food was, but we didn’t get to explore the areas, so when Jim found a 3-night offer, we jumped at it. I mean, just look how gorgeous the main building is! We stayed in ‘The Old Dressing Room‘ which is actually one of those windows you can see surrounded by ivy up there!
The stay included a meal at the pub Askham Hall owns in the village, The Queens Head, and a meal at the Michelin Star Allium restaurant in the main house.
One afternoon, on the advice of Jim’s dad, we climbed to the top top of Hallins Fell for some views over Ullswater – What I didn’t realise was that it was so very steep that every 8 steps I’d stop and complain my lungs were trying to burst out of my chest. Then claim I was only stopped to take a photo. Then moan about the steepness for another while. Stop. Complain. Photo. Repeat. All the way to the top. It was the shortest, most painful walk I’ve ever done. How Jim didn’t push me off the top when we got up there is beyond me.
But I have to say the views were something special.
We also took a trip to see Aira Force, a pretty amazing waterfall on the edge of Ulswater. I thought it was going to be a bit of an adventure to find it, but it was a National Trust route, so whilst it was easy to find, it was also busy – and due to Covid, there was a one way system in place.
Because we’d had a wet autumn the waterfall was in full effect – and was a truely thundering experience to see, but, despite being there in the week during term time (the schools were back at that point too) it was reallt busy with loads of big groups of families and it would have been nice to have not been surrounded by covidiots who couldn’t follow simple one way instructions.
And then there was our food. The meal at The Queens Head and the meal at Allium. And the honesty bar at the hotel.
Whilst we haven’t been to the Queens Head before, we have eaten at Allium before and it was delicious then, and just as delicious this time. Well. I thought it was. But I think there was too much beetroot in this menu for Jim’s liking!
