Top 5 Pubs in the Lake District – Scenic Pints in Cumbria’s Fells

Lake District pubs are famous not just for their ales and hearty food, but for their stunning settings amid the mountains and lakes. As one guide notes, “visiting pubs in the Lake District offers a unique experience thanks to its stunning locations. Many…pubs are nestled in picturesque villages, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding fells, lakes, and valleys”. After a long walk in the fells, there’s nothing better than settling in at a cosy local inn by the fire with a pint of local ale or a refreshing cider. Below we highlight five of the best pubs in the Lake District, each famed for its atmosphere, food & drink, and panoramic mountain or lakeside views that make it a perfect rest stop in Cumbria’s fells.

Drunken Duck Inn (Ambleside)

Nestled high in the fells just outside Hawkshead, the Drunken Duck Inn is a picture-postcard pub with sweeping fell views. In fact, one reviewer calls it a “picture-postcard pub [in] the heart of the beautiful Lakeland countryside”. The Duck has a bohemian country charm – low ceilings, wood beams and flagstone floors – and several small dining rooms with large fireplaces. A flight of stone steps leads up to bedrooms with terraces overlooking the fells. Outside, a suntrap beer garden commands sweeping views toward Tarn Hows and the Coniston fells. (The Lakeland Hideaways guide notes this pub’s “gorgeous fell views,” and that it is “close to Tarn Hows, at a crossroads between Hawkshead and Coniston”.) With this backdrop, a pint of local ale here comes with truly superb mountain scenery.

The Duck is also celebrated for its brews and its food. It has a microbrewery on site and offers a regularly changing selection of cask ales. (The Michelin guide specifically notes that at the Drunken Duck “the ales are brewed on-site,” and praises the attentive service and generous cooking.) The menu is creative and hearty – reviewers rave about dishes like cherry-glazed duck, pork belly and Cumberland faggots, all paired with a local ale. In short, it’s a gastropub where traditional country ingredients get an imaginative twist. The Lakeland Hideaways write that “the food is exceptional and imaginative – try the cherry-glazed duck or pork belly and faggots, accompanied with a refreshing local ale”. They even recommend the Sunday roast here as a must-have (topped with Yorkshire puds and gravy), which is often booked out.

Pubs in the Lake District often have limited space, but the Duck makes the most of its site. Inside it feels busy but friendly, with mismatched tables and wine-barrel stools. Staff are typically welcoming and knowledgeable about the house beers. Prices are mid-range by Lake District standards – expect around £5–6 for a pint, and mains in the low £20s – but the quality (and view!) make it good value. In summer, be sure to grab a seat on the terrace – there’s almost nowhere better for an al fresco pint while soaking up the Langdale fells.

Kirkstile Inn (Loweswater)

Tucked between Loweswater and Crummock Water in the far western Lakes, the Kirkstile Inn is a classic stone-built country pub beloved by walkers. Its location is striking: it sits on a small river with the imposing Melbreak fell rising steeply behind it. As one Lake District blogger notes, Kirkstile is “located between the shores of Loweswater and Crummock Water,” with a sizeable riverside beer garden in the lee of 512m-high Melbreak. This setting makes it a perfect spot for a pint after hiking around Loweswater. In winter the pub is a cosy refuge – every room has a roaring open fire – while in summer the sunny garden fills with locals and tourists alike.

Kirkstile is also famous as the birthplace of Cumbrian Ales. In 2003, the inn set up a small brewery on the premises (Loweswater Brewery) and began brewing its own beers. Today Cumbrian Ales (formerly Loweswater Brewery) is larger and based in Hawkshead, but the Kirkstile still serves those original brews. In fact, it famously produces the award-winning “Loweswater Gold” ale, which won Champion Gold Ale of Britain in 2011. Pints here are often a special draw for ale enthusiasts. Beyond its own brewery roots, the pub stocks a handful of well-kept local cask ales alongside popular craft beers and ciders.

The food at Kirkstile is comforting and traditional. Think golden beer-battered fish & chips, steak & ale pie, or lamb hotpot. (Vegetarian options like nut roasts or veggie burgers are usually available too.) One regular praises the Sunday roast – especially the Yorkshire puddings – calling it the “kind of hearty, comforting meal” that this pub is known for. Portions are generous, and the ingredients are locally sourced where possible. Service is friendly and chatty, reflecting the pub’s community feel: Kirkstile is very much a locals’ haunt as well as a walker’s stop. It can get busy on summer weekends, so plan accordingly, but the wait is almost always worth it.

In short, the Kirkstile Inn offers old-world Lakeland charm (“rustic” stone interior, flowering window boxes outside, old pub games on the walls) combined with well-kept beers and filling pub fare. With its riverbank garden and views of towering fells, it easily makes our list of best pubs in the Lake District. It’s a pub where you can linger over pint long after the sun goes down, warmed by firelight and the remoteness of the western fells.

The Britannia Inn (Elterwater, Great Langdale)

At the foot of the Langdale Pikes, the Britannia Inn (Elterwater) is a tiny 17th-century pub bursting with character. It sits right on the village green of Elterwater, in the dramatic Great Langdale valley. (Many guides emphasise its setting “on the edge of the dramatic Langdale Valley” – it even has a small stream and fells at its back door.) Inside, low beams and nooks by the fire create a cosy atmosphere on chilly days. In summer, many visitors head straight for the large slate patio and lawns outside. With picnic tables overlooked by grazing sheep on the nearby fellside, the garden provides an unbeatable viewpoint of the Langdale valley. One blogger notes that Britannia’s “large outside patio” and cosy interior make it a welcome place to rest after walking in the valley.

Like many Lake District pubs, the Britannia takes pride in local ales. It has its own small Langdale Brewing Company on site – in fact, the pub’s owners built a borehole that taps pure spring water from beneath the Inn for brewing. This high-quality source water yields very clean-tasting ales, including the popular Langdale Brewing “Elterwater Gold” and “Bowfell Blonde”. In addition to their own brews, the bar pours a few guest ales from around Cumbria and a range of bottled beers and ciders. (The Lakeland blogger points out that Britannia “serves local ales from a number of local breweries, including the Langdale Brewing Company”.) If you prefer wine or a soft drink, the Britannia’s friendly bar team also stocks a modest wine list and non-alcoholic options.

Food at the Britannia is classic gastropub fare with a Lake District twist. Regular favourites include fish & chips (with very fresh battered fish), Cumberland sausage & mash, and gammon with eggs. The menu changes seasonally – in winter you might see a hearty lamb hotpot or a steak-and-ale pie, while summer menus often feature salads with local cheeses and meats. As with the drinks, ingredients are sourced locally when possible. Indeed, one secret ingredient is that the pub’s own spring water (from its borehole) even goes into the cooking. Service here is generally warm and unpretentious – bartenders will happily recommend the house ale, and kitchen staff will cheerfully accommodate dietary requests (e.g. gluten-free or vegan options). Prices are reasonable for the area (roughly £5 for a pint, mains around £12–15).

Overall, the Britannia Inn is a quintessential Lake District walking pub: traditional and welcoming, with outstanding valley views from every corner. After summiting Bowfell or hiking around Stickle Tarn, it’s hard to resist settling in with one of their crisp blonde ales and a plate of hot chips on that terrace. Whether you come for the scenery, the brewery’s special water, or simply for a great pint in Langdale, the Britannia won’t disappoint.

Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel (Great Langdale)

Not far down the same Langdale road, the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel (often just called the “Old Dungeon Ghyll” or “ODG”) is a legendary mountaineers’ pub in the heart of the Lakes. Sitting at the northern end of Great Langdale, it is surrounded by some of England’s most famous peaks – the Langdale Pikes – and is famed for its old-time atmosphere. Stepping inside feels like entering a mountain climbing museum: the walls are decorated with historic photos and gear from generations of Lakeland climbers. Real log fires burn in stone hearths, and the chatter of hikers in Gore-Tex mingles with the clink of pints. In summer, visitors spill outside to enjoy panoramic views of Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark (the Langdale Pikes), which loom close by. Indeed, one reviewer notes that from the beer garden you can soak in “views over iconic Langdale Pikes” with your drink.

The Old Dungeon Ghyll prides itself on its beers and hospitality. As a freehouse, it offers a mix of classic lagers, guest craft beers, and local cask ales. The pub selects real ales from nearby breweries (such as Hawkshead Brewery or Coniston Brewery), so there’s often a pint of something uniquely Cumbrian on tap. For non-drinkers, the spacious bar stocks a solid whisky and wine list. The food menu leans pub-tradition: popular items are homemade burgers (often topped with quirky extras like fried egg or stilton) and shepherd’s pie. They also brew one of their own ales in-house (“Sally Birkett,” a pale ale), which regulars enjoy. Although somewhat touristy, many say the pub manages to keep an authentic feel: staff are down-to-earth and eager to chat about the valley or recommend a new beer.

Do keep in mind that the ODG is very popular with climbers and day-trippers. Peak times (weekends, summer afternoons) can be packed, with a real buzz in the bar. But even then, the scene is convivial. Locals and visitors trade route tales by the fire. (On some weeknights, there’s even live folk or “mountain music” played in the bar.) The hotel upstairs provides rooms, but you do not need to stay to enjoy the bar – dogs are welcome downstairs, adding to the friendly vibe. As one fan puts it, this pub has a “palpable history” – you can practically feel the legacy of legendary climbers in the air. In short, the Old Dungeon Ghyll is a must-visit for any walker. It may not offer a quiet rural retreat, but it more than makes up for that with raw character and a front-row seat to Lakeland mountain views.

The Dog & Gun (Keswick)

Venturing into the northern Lakes, Keswick’s Dog & Gun pub is a lively town pub that’s become something of a local institution. Set on Lake Road just a few minutes’ walk from Derwentwater, it’s easy to reach by car or on foot. Inside is a classic Victorian pub interior – dark wood panelling, stained-glass windows, and a long bar – yet it always feels welcoming rather than imposing. Unlike some rural retreats, the Dog & Gun has a bustling, friendly vibe of a neighbourhood boozer. Expect families, anglers, and commuters alongside weary walkers. (One brewer even calls it “a great local pub in the heart of the community”.) There’s a large beer garden out back where dogs and children can run, and some waterfront benches out front from which you can see Cat Bells across the lake.

Despite being part of the Greene King group, the Dog & Gun prides itself on offering local beers and pub classics. Its beers on tap always include a mix of Greene King’s own ales and guest real ales from Keswick Brewing Company or Coniston Brewery. (The pub’s managers actively rotate new ales, so there’s often something different to try.) A must-order here is their famous Homemade Hungarian Goulash – a thick, spicy beef stew that’s been a staple for decades. This hearty dish is frequently praised by patrons as the perfect post-hike dinner. If goulash isn’t your thing, the menu still has the usual pub comfort food: stout-battered haddock & chips, beef pie, sausage & mash, and burgers with a choice of toppings. Vegetarian options (bean chilli, veggie burger) round out the menu. Portion sizes are generous and prices reasonable (pints around £4–5, mains in the teens).

The service at the Dog & Gun is noted for being warm and relaxed. Bartenders will cheerfully split pints to let you try different beers, and they’re happy to share the pub’s history (the Dog & Gun has been open here for over 200 years). It’s also dog-friendly – not surprising given its name – so you’ll often see well-behaved hounds snuggled by their owners at a fireside table. On sports nights big games are occasionally shown on TV, but for the most part the pub’s atmosphere is conversational and down-to-earth. By the bar, you’ll hear locals catching up on news, children chatting in hushed voices, and the clatter of mugs on wooden trays. All the while, Keswick’s mountains and Derwentwater are just a short stroll away, reminding everyone of the beautiful Lake District setting.

In sum, the Dog & Gun is the kind of Lake District pub that feels like home away from home. It may lack the fellside isolation of some country pubs, but it offers exactly what many hikers crave at day’s end: a friendly pint and honest food among fellow walkers and locals. With its cosy interior, rowdy garden, and famed goulash, it’s clear why the Dog & Gun has earned a loyal following and made our top-five list.

Overall, these five pubs showcase the best of what Lake District pubs have to offer: spectacular scenery, good ale, and a warm welcome. Whether you’re winding down after climbing Scafell or simply soaking up the mountains by the lake, each of these inns serves as a fine destination in its own right. Remember that crowds and opening hours can vary by season, so it’s wise to check ahead (or arrive early) at popular spots. But no matter when or where you visit, you’ll find that a pint in the Lake District tastes even better when it comes with a view of Cumbria’s fells.