Tower Bank Arms

When author Beatrix Potter died in 1943 she left her old home, called Hill Top, to the National Trust. Standing on the quieter, west side of Lake Windermere, its neighbour is this 17th-century Lakeland pub, which the Trust also owns, although it is run independently. Once known as The Blue Pig and later The Albion, it has been the Tower Bank Arms for over a century and Potter illustrated it perfectly in her Tale of Jemima Puddleduck, although history appears not to record whether she ever slipped in for a swift half during a break from sketching! The literary connection brings out the Peter Rabbit fan club in force, particularly in summer, so the delightfully unspoilt rustic charm of this little treasure may be easier to appreciate out of season. In the low-beamed, slate-floored main bar, where there's an open log fire, fresh flowers and ticking grandfather clock, local brews on handpump from Cumbrian Legendary, Hawkshead and Barngates breweries. The full lunch and dinner menus are available thoughout all areas for both lunch and dinner. Hearty country food makes good use of local produce, whether snack, such as a freshly cut Lakeland ham sandwich, or main dish, such as Cumbrian beef and ale stew with herby dumplings; Woodall's Cumberland sausage, mash and rich onion gravy; baked fillet of salmon with a herb crust; or puff pastry vegetable Wellington with Eden Chieftain cheese. Daily specials could feature locally reared rib-eye steak, and 'surf and turf'. Desserts include the firmly traditional, sticky toffee pudding with custard; bread-and-butter pudding with vanilla ice cream; and local cheeses on a slate. From the garden you can see the village of Near Sawrey and a panorama of farms, fells and fields.