Just feast your eyes, and as far as country house hotels go then this one is a little gem of a place to go and hide out at for a weekend treat…or even simply an overnighter on the  journey up north.It`s called Hipping Hall country house hotel and sits on the border of Cumbria and Lancashire near Kirkby Lonsdale.Surrounded on four sides by the picture perfect scenery of the The Eden Valley, The Lake District, TheYorkshire Dales, and the Trough of Bowland its really well situated for the countryside explorer.The house dates back to the 15th century and years ago was the home of the Tathams , a family of local Blacksmiths and was ideally situated to cater for an old pack horse route from Yorkshire over to Cumbria.Now, totally renovated by Chemist turned Hotelier Andrew Wildsmith Hipping hall boasts Great Halls clad with balconies and huge beams, roaring fires, immaculate gardens , Gothic arches and 9 designer bedrooms which all balance perfectly together to create a wonderful package for the foodie destination traveller.
The restaurant headed up by Brent Hulena serves menus consisting of locally sourced food.New Zealander Brent and his ‘rustic but sophisticated’ cuisine takes the food at Hipping Hall to another level.The 28 year-old has been at the 15th Century country house hotel for three years and was promoted following the departure of Chef Michael Wilson.Brent hunts out the best Northern ingredients, sourced locally and cooks them to perfection.“I look at what’s in season, whether it’s meat, fish or vegetables, and once I’ve got the focus of the dish I concentrate on adding flavour and texture,” says Brent,“I want our guests to sit down to a plate of food and to be able to identify what the components are. Then I want them to experience flavours and textures they thought they could only dream of.

The cooking at Hipping Hall has won many awards, from the Good Hotel Guide’s Country Hotel of the Year to Lancashire Life Hotel of the Year 2007.The 2012 Good food guide rates Hipping with a 4  and this years AA guide carries a mark of 2 rosettes.
As far as pricing goes then i`m singing their praises from the treetops , £27.50 will bring the diner an Amuse buche ( home made sausage roll ) , a starter , main , dessert , a coffee with sweet treats and also a glass of well selected house wine….How good is that whilst sat in those surroundings ? Three courses turns out at £49.50 and that includes Canapes, Coffee and Petit Fours.The Tasting menu is also well priced at £65 and is backed up with a selection of matched wines at £35.

      Little treats always start off in the lounge with these tasty wee sausage rolls

One of the delicious breads on offer – Hipping hall Grain Mustard seed bread.

                             Potato , Cheese , wild woodland mushrooms.

                           Woodland Pressing of Foie Gras and local game.

                             Morcambe bay Shrimp Risotto, Cayenne Foam

                                               Pork 3 ways for sunday lunch 

                                                Pork 3 ways for sunday lunch

                              Salmon , crispy skin , Beetroot , pea shoots

                                               Local Lamb Sunday roast

         Poached Breast of Goosnargh Chicken, Peas, Broad Beans, Mashed Potato,

              Crispy Pork Belly, Apple Puree, Spinach, Black Pudding Bonbon

          Honey Comb mango Parfait, Milk Chocolate mousse , MangoLocal Plum crumble and ice cream….Classic.

                                                 Caramelised Apple tart.

                                                                   Treacle Tart

                                                                         xxx