Flossie Mainwaring-Taylor savours a couple of days at a foodie bolthole in the Lake District's Gilpin Valley

THE Lake District is synonymous with childhood holidays. So why, I ask, did my own parents deprive me of idyllic get-aways and subject me to the colder climes of south west Scotland?

This was something I dwelt on long and hard en route to Cumbria with my mother.

Despite that deprivation in early life, I have in more recent years become well acquainted with this beautiful, breath-taking and sometimes dramatically bleak landscape. Dominated by lakes, mountains and an almost unbelievably rich literary history, it is no wonder it has become a world-famous tourist destination.

As beautiful as it is, the Lake District is unpredictable when it comes to weather. But on a cold, wet and miserable weekend in January its offerings are plentiful.

The Wild Boar, in Crook, nestled in the Gilpin Valley between Kendal and Windermere (England’s largest natural lake), is the perfect antidote to the depths and darkness of winter. An historic inn with an intriguing past of its own, the sprawling hotel has 34 individually-styled rooms with three categories to choose from; classic, feature and luxury.

Guests are greeted with a roaring fire and equally warm reception from its attentive staff. Those who ignore signs advising you to leave luggage in the car before checking in, may find themselves dragging cases along two lengthy, narrow corridors and down two flights of stairs to be given a key for a room up a flight-and-half of stairs further from where you started.

For the first night we stayed in its Overmillbeck suite – an enormous and lavish bedroom complete, with a free-standing bath as well as a separate spacious shower room with his and her sinks.

The room is mostly white with an opulent silver theme. It is adorned with shiny curtains, canopy, pillows and throw, two velvet-to-touch armchairs and an end-of-bed chaise-longue-esque seat, plus bedside and dressing tables akin to those in the Palace of Versailles. Fairy lights draped over the bed, a chandelier and large white fabric flowers complete the look. The room is equipped with a large flat-screen TV, DVD-player, magazines, complimentary biscuits, teas and coffee (a Krups machine no less) and most importantly a giant and comfortable bed.

Due to the inn’s wifi not working properly, and our shameful inability to live without an online connection, for the second night we stayed in the similarly luxurious Large White Room with glass doors that lead onto its own balcony. We were also given a bottle of Champagne as a far-too-easy to swallow apology.

A traditional coaching inn, the original building is reputed to date from the 17th century although its current use is believed to trace back to 1849. Its restaurant has a reputation in culinary circles, probably no thanks to its on-site smokehouse and brewhouse.

Old books in alcoves, an eclectic mix of wooden furniture and exposed slate gives the expansive dining room a natural, yet homely feel. The food is excellent, and you can even watch it being made in the open kitchen.

We shared the taster slate of olives and feta cheese, hot-smoked pigs in blankets, homemade pork crackling and deep fried vegetable crisps. Unsurprisingly, the pigs in blankets were our favourite - packed full of flavour from the smokehouse a stone’s throw away.

We followed this with steaks and sides. For me, a rare melt-in-mouth fillet with to-die-for dauphinoise potatoes and a blue rib-eye with salad and coleslaw for my plus-one. For dessert we shared a happiness-inducing sticky toffee pudding in honour of its Cumbrian roots. According to Lakes folk, it is where the unbeatable dessert was born.

Nor does The Wild Boar fail to deliver at breakfast. As well as a buffet of cereals, fresh fruit and mini pastries, there is a range of a la carte options and we devoured scrambled eggs with on-site smoked salmon and hollandaise on sourdough toast.

If eating, drinking and reading by crackling fires with boars hanging ominously overhead isn’t enough to get you through a weekend, there is an abundance of options to get out.

Walks from the hotel are aplenty and details are provided by the hotel, while nearby is Kendal, Bowness and Windermere where children can learn and have fun at Beatrix Potter’s World.

A little further north is Ambleside, home to my favourite cinema, Zeffirelli’s, and then Grasmere, the resting place of William Wordsworth and home to the “original” Grasmere Gingerbread.

For the outdoorsy there is the entirety of the Lake District with quaint villages, rugged fells and more bodies of water you can shake a stick at.

Come rain, or rain, or rain or shine, you are spoilt for choice in the Lake District and with a luxurious bolthole like the Boar to call home, Cumbria really is calling.

The Wild Boar, Crook Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3NF.

W: englishlakes.co.uk; Reservations: 0333-2203-108; General enquiries: 015394-45225; E: thewildboar@englishlakes.co.uk. From £108 per room per night with breakfast, based on two adults sharing a twin/double room. Grill and Smokehouse restaurant prices: Starters from £4.50, mains from £15 and desserts from £5.50.