Portinscale Walk, Cumbria

Rob, Brock and I did a walk from Portinscale near Keswick in the Lake District. We headed from outside The Chalet Tearooms towards Ullock and then along the Newlands Beck until we got to the bridge, where we retraced our steps. You can go on up to the pub and back along the road to Portinscale, but we preferred to walk by the water on such a hot day.

 Heading along a country lane just beyond Ullock; distant mountain views

  

Hawthorn bushes just coming into blossom

 

 

Brock takes a quick rest on a bench overlooking Newlands Beck

 A sheep farm

 

This is the point at which we turned round - sheep guarding a bridge!

 Rob's photo of water in the Newlands Beck - very David Hockney

 Here I am standing in the Newlands Beck - not much water in it

We ate lunch afterwards at The Chalet Tearooms. They allow dogs inside and out. Since it was a hot day and there was a space on the shaded verandah, we sat there. The building is nice, with large windows and lots of wood. The menu has breakfast items until 11 am, lunches such as soup, sandwiches, salads etc. There are cakes and scones for morning and afternoon coffees/teas.

We both had jacket potatoes with cheese and beans, plus coffees, a mineral water and an apple juice. The bill came to £21.50. There was lots of food on the plate - pretty good - the beans could have been hotter. The salads included two items containing gluten, which I had forgotten to ask them to leave off my plate. There was a strange mixture of little gems and roasted squash with a bitter/sour/hot flavour. The lettuce had gone brown from the heat, and neither of us liked the taste. There was beetroot cous cous, half a pointed pepper stuffed with another type of grain and the usual lettuce, cucumber and tomato. The coffees were very good. I would eat there again as it is convenient for the walk.

Portinscale and Keswick Trip

Rob, Brock and I had a walk from Portinscale, via Ullock, along Newlands Beck, past the Swinside Inn and Hawse End and back towards Portinscale past Lingholm and Nichol End. The walk is about 4.5 miles long, over fairly flat and even ground. You can find the same walk in the Footprint guide: Walks Around Keswick, Number 13.

Before we set out, we had coffee and a cake at The Chalet Tearoom and Restaurant in Portinscale. We both enjoyed what we had and might go back for a lunch or dinner another time.

[Click on any photo to see a larger version. You can just make out people on the mountain ridge shown in the third photo!]

We drove into Keswick afterwards for lunch at The Lakeland Peddlar, only to find that it had gone (three weeks ago, the waitress told us), and a new restaurant, Maxwells, was in its place. Since they allowed dogs, we decided to give it a go.

I had the mezze platter £8.45 (including, hummus, feta pate, tsatskiki, olives etc with gluten free bread option)

Rob had the Ploughman's £8.50.

As you can see there was plenty to eat. I found the dips and felafels on mine a little bland - more garlic, lemon juice, herbs or spice required, I think, but it was great to be able to have gluten free bread, and the coleslaw and curried potatoes were nice. Rob's Ploughman's came with loads of cheese, salad, onion relish (again a little bland), and balsamic vinegar pickled onions, which were tasty.

Other menu items included soup, sandwiches, tapas and seafood options.

I prefer The Abrahams Tea Room in George Fisher, however, this has the advantage of allowing dogs, which is useful during the warmer weather.

Portinscale & Swindale Walk, Lake District

Rob, Brock and I went on a walk in the Lake District on Tuesday. The walk is number 13 in the Footprint 'Walks Around Keswick' guide. ISBN 9781871149579.

It was a beautiful day and we started out from the small village of Portinscale, near Keswick. After a few false starts (a few things have changed since the guide was written!) we found the start of the walk. It goes through meadows and past Swinside hill.

Brock looking forward to a refreshing paddle in the beck.

You pass the small hamlet of Ullock then head towards Newlands Beck, a clear and refreshing stream.

We stopped for lunch at the Swinside Inn (around the 2 mile mark of the walk). Dogs are allowed inside. It was such a nice day that we sat at one of the tables outside. Rob had a ploughman's lunch and I had a jacket potato with cheese and beans. With two (very weak) coffees and two soft drinks, the bill came to over £24. Rather pricey, but that's the Lake District for you.

Coconut-scented gorse blossoms.

We headed back to Portinscale, where we had parked the car opposite a cafe (possibly a better place to eat.) A very attractive walk and, without any hills, it makes it a simple and relaxing stroll.