The Royal Oak
Rosthwaite, Cumbria, England
""We descended the hill to the level of the river, and proceeded to Rosthwaite, a village in the middle of the valley, a mile beyond Bowder Stone. Here is the last public house to be found on this route, and therefore we stopped to obtain the materials for a lunch, which we intended to enjoy on Sty-Head, within sight of Scawfell Pikes.
The traveller might be much worse provided, either with bed or board, than at the Royal Oak, Rosthwaite, which I venture to pronounce a snug, comfortable, and respectable house of entertainment."
So wrote Sir Edward Baines, MP and journalist, in his A Companion to the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire: In a Descriptive Account of a Family Tour, and Excursions on Horseback and on Foot. And, safe to say, if he was that enamoured of the place back in the early 1830's he would certainly wax lyrical of it today.
Recently refurbished at a cost of over £1m, the same little inn that Sir Edward stumbled upon almost two centuries ago now features over 20 guest rooms divided between the old inn and a contemporary building by the babbling beck. Of course, enthusiasts of history will no doubt prefer the former, though we cannot be certain which of the rooms William Wordsworth unexpectedly shared with a 'Scottish pedlar' in 1812. Still, it is not hard to understand what brought the great poet to this part of the world: the Borrowdale valley must surely be one of the most beautiful places in the British Isles.
The Royal Oak is ideally located for anyone seeking to explore this particularly spectacular part of the Lake District, with Buttermere and Crummock Water easily reached via the famous Honister Pass. Notable Wainwright peaks such as Great Gable, Scafell, Pillar, and Haystacks are also at hand, while the town of Keswick is just a few miles to the north.
See the Historic Hotels in Cumbria index
The traveller might be much worse provided, either with bed or board, than at the Royal Oak, Rosthwaite, which I venture to pronounce a snug, comfortable, and respectable house of entertainment."
So wrote Sir Edward Baines, MP and journalist, in his A Companion to the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire: In a Descriptive Account of a Family Tour, and Excursions on Horseback and on Foot. And, safe to say, if he was that enamoured of the place back in the early 1830's he would certainly wax lyrical of it today.
Recently refurbished at a cost of over £1m, the same little inn that Sir Edward stumbled upon almost two centuries ago now features over 20 guest rooms divided between the old inn and a contemporary building by the babbling beck. Of course, enthusiasts of history will no doubt prefer the former, though we cannot be certain which of the rooms William Wordsworth unexpectedly shared with a 'Scottish pedlar' in 1812. Still, it is not hard to understand what brought the great poet to this part of the world: the Borrowdale valley must surely be one of the most beautiful places in the British Isles.
The Royal Oak is ideally located for anyone seeking to explore this particularly spectacular part of the Lake District, with Buttermere and Crummock Water easily reached via the famous Honister Pass. Notable Wainwright peaks such as Great Gable, Scafell, Pillar, and Haystacks are also at hand, while the town of Keswick is just a few miles to the north.
See the Historic Hotels in Cumbria index
Online Booking and Reviews for The Royal Oak, Borrowdale
The Royal Oak
Rosthwaite Keswick Cumbria CA12 5XB Reviews and Booking. Please note that nightsinthepast.com plays no part in the actual review, booking or reservation process for this or any other accommodation. Costs for maintaining and developing Nights in the Past are met solely by it being the last referring site to our partners which results in a completed reservation. |
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