week in the Lake District intro

Paul has been pining for a proper hike in the Lakes, without me huffing behind and slowing the pace, so we planned to go for a week, he'd do his stuff and I'd check into a hotel for a couple of days to do pampering or whatever, then I'd meet him over at George IV at Eskdale,

stay the night in a four poster (booked out, only three rooms) and then head back to Windermere to spend a couple more nights at The Mortal Man, Troutbeck, for a bit of walking and fishing.

We'd decided to break the journey in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, at The Merlin, which looked quite funky from its website and was open all day for food.

As it turned out we should have headed straight to the Lakes, as it was under 4 hours driving back, and The Merlin was pretty rubbish. The staff were all spaced, even the manager left us hanging there after a protracted check-in and I had to chase her to ask her where our room was. The place which is also a pub/restaurant was busy being a Sunday, the food was OK, service was shit. Glasses piling up everywhere and I cleared our table after half an hour of sitting amongst the rubble. I'm like my Dad on that one.

Also, being a Sunday, you couldn't get food unless it was in the restaurant after 6pm. So we walked to a fabulous Thai, Chilli Banana, up the road.

The hotel I stayed in for two nights whilst Paul was off Iron Johnning, The Regent by The Lake on Windermere was pretty rubbish. Very depressing dining area so I ate out at a very good restaurant The Water's Edge I think it was called.

And then, to pick Paul up in Eskdale, I had to drive up Hard Knott Pass myself. Eikesarama!


The Mortal Man we liked very much, and it had fab food with a spectacular panoramic view from our room and the restaurant.