The Plough Inn – Lupton – Travel Lowdown

Over the years, I’ve visited countless hotels and inns and it’s a real pleasure to discover somewhere which scores top marks on all fronts. Well, I found one of those rarities in the shape of The Plough Inn at Lupton, situated on the A65 between the small market town of Kirkby Lonsdale and Kendal.

It’s an inn which has much going for it. First, its location: just minutes from the M6’s Jct 36 means it’s an ideal stopover for anyone travelling further north. Plus, it’s sufficiently close to the Yorkshire Dales, to the east, and Lake District, west, for using it as a base to explore these beautiful corners of England. But, please don’t ignore the wonderful scenery right on its doorstep. From the restaurant and some of the rooms, you’ll look out towards Farleton Knott, an ancient landmark once used as a beacon hill to warn of potential invaders. Now, it’s a popular spot for walkers, mountain bikers and anyone who just loves spectacular views.

Visiting The Plough with my wife and two children, aged five and eleven, was an enjoyable experience and one I hope to repeat at some point. We were made to feel welcome from the moment we arrived and that genuine warmth was present throughout our stay.

Eating out with young children can sometimes be a little stressful, especially if there is nothing they like on the menu or a dish is cooked with, unexpectedly, a sauce they weren’t expecting. But I couldn’t have asked for a better occason in the spacious, carefully-designed restaurant with its attractive beamed ceiling. The inn was rescued by Punch Bowl Inns in 2009 and a 12-month renovation project has turned the restaurant into a flowing, open space with a blend of cosy sofas and dining tables; it’s easy to see why this place has won, among other awards, the Lancashire Magazine’s “Inn of the Year Award 2011”.

The staff were flexible, appreciating that everyone has their own likes and dislikes when it comes to food, and were happy to adjust dishes, if necessary.

Being vegetarian, we were pleased to find a sufficient choice of dishes and liked The Plough’s approach to dining whereby rather than sticking to a rigid starter, main course and pudding, you have the flexibility of odering a selection of “small plates”, designed to share from the middle of the table. My main course (pea and fresh mint risotto with parmesan) was delicious as was my wife’s fish, new potatoes and minted pea dish. The children were well catered for, too, selecting dishes from the kids’ menu. Portions are very generous and the food superbly presented; you certainly get your money’s worth – what more can you ask for?

In fact, we were just embarking on a two-week tour around the UK, staying at various hotels, and the food at The Plough was head and shoulders above the rest. Oh, and make sure you leave sufficient room for the homemade rhubarb crumble with vanilla custard!

The sense of space evident in the restaurant extends upstairs. Rather than cram in as many bedrooms as possible, the owners have kept it to five luxury suites, although a sixth is on its way. We stayed in the Bellingham (all rooms are named after previous local landowners), a family-friendly suite offering a separate oak-floored sitting area. The distressed French farmhouse style furniture, warm colours and huge bathroom gave the room its unique identity.