Kirkstile Inn

Kirkstile Inn is a classic Lake District pub near Cockermouth, serving food and drinks with a proper welcome for well-behaved dogs inside.

You'll find them in the bar at lunchtime and all day Sunday, so the whole group can settle in together without anyone stuck shivering outside. The pub opens daily from 10am to 10pm, with food served lunchtimes and evenings Monday to Saturday and all afternoon on Sunday. It's the kind of place that makes sense after a long walk, with hearty meals and a relaxed atmosphere that doesn't mind a damp coat or two.

Kirkstile Inn sits in excellent walking country near Loweswater and the western fells, so it's particularly useful if you're exploring the quieter end of the Lakes and need a reliable midday stop or post-ramble refuel where nobody has to take turns minding the dog on the pavement.