Drunken Duck Inn, Barngates

Another revisit. This time to our old favourite, the Drunken Duck between Windermere and Coniston. Oh how we’ve missed you. After a typical glorious Yorkshire summer, over here in the west the weather looks pretty changeable (they mean rainy…Ed). We’re staying in Room 11, set apart from the main building up a steepish stair but with great views from the full-height first floor window.

During the Great Lockdown few things have changed, through the brewery behind the pub has closed temporarily (we hope) but the service, food and general bonhomie remain just as good as always. Ah…it remains that perfect blend of comfort and quality (just like Bettys…Ed).

The rain held off so we walked a few miles (11.17k to be exact, 99 staircases according to the new Fitbit Versa 2) and tried to count all the outdoor shops in Ambleside – 1,527 we think. Dinner at The Duck for three nights sees us eat quite a long way through the short but tasty menu. Wednesday sees us return home, but not before lunch at Kysty – about which more later. The food at the Duck is always good, with a spectacular chicken liver parfait making a guest appearance, to supplement the other 5 starters, 5 mains and 3 puds.

Tuesday saw the Lake District at its wettest. Torrential. Biblical. Raining cats, dogs, sheep, goats – you name it. Roads flooded. A day which saw us (as usual) in the outdoor shops trying on walking shoes and quilted jackets. No change there. Any visit to the Lakes should factor in to the budget a large amount for wet weather ‘retail therapy’. We compensated with a visit to the new Windermere jetty museum. Good café, great exhibits and a simply glorious building by Carmody Groarke Architects – see also their ‘shed’ covering Hill House in Helensburgh. It’s shortlisted as one of six for the 2021 Stirling Prize, so fingers crossed.

A very wet Drunken Duck at Barngates