The Blacksmiths Arms ★★★★

"Went for a meal booked a table for 7.45 ( was offered 8pm) arrived got a few drinks at the bar sat down given menus read them pick the food waiter arrived to take our order at 7.59 for us to be told no starter cause the kitchen closed at 8 I was a little shocked he then went on to say you can have a starter but it will come with your main so at 8.10 mains arrived then starter a few minutes later the price things are now a days would it of been that bad for the kitchen staff just to of waited a few minute till we had eaten out starter the delivered our mains (the kitchen staff were still there at 9 when we left) felt very rushed and unwelcome"

Farlam Hall Hotel & Restaurant ★★★★

"Having stayed at this hotel a number of years ago under previous owners we were delighted with the renovated public areas and rooms. Fresh welcoming and tastefully decorated. The staff were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The highlight was the food it was exceptional, in quality flavour and presentation. Definitely value for money, a chef with a real passion for food, which is not the case at the moment where some Michelin restaurants put profit before quality. Will definitely return and highly recommend Farlam Hall."

The Howard Arms ★★★

"We called at the Howard Arms about 6 weeks ago for coffee and cake one morning which was lovely, so we decided on our most recent visit that a Sunday lunch there would be good, how wrong we were. We were shown to our table which I felt I was in the way with people constantly walking behind me, I ordered a beef Sunday dinner and my husband a burger, the food arrived and we started to eat, I had to ask for a steak knife as the beef was so tough and quite fatty, I couldn’t even cut it with the new knife, I even had to disgard some from my mouth to a napkin, the roast potatoes were tough like they had either been warmed back up or been stood a while, my OH’s burger was just ok. As I wanted to leave and didn’t want to make a fuss as we have just recently had a bereavement I went to pay, the man behind the bar asked if I had enjoyed, so I said no I hadn’t and that the meat was tough as old boots, he laughed and said yeah but I bet you haven’t left any when I said I had, he didn't seem concerned that we hadn't enjoyed and just said that he would pass our feedback on. We visit the area every 6 weeks or so, needless to say we won’t be going back again."

Blenkinsopp Castle Inn ★★★★

"Lovely food, definitely pre-book. We had a call to ask ahead of our arrival which was appreciated. The food, drinks and ambience with other travellers made the stay. Without that it would have been 3 stars. The main negative was the poor bathroom, shower was very much a trickle, the tap was so powerful it was very noisy. Could do with sealant replacing and wooden floor next to an open shower was always going to lead to water damage!"

String of Horses ★★★★

11 The Forge ★★★★

High Rigg Shepherd's Delight ★★★★★

Hadrian's View ★★★★