Gill, who trained and worked as a Home Economics teacher for seventeen years, is a real foodie and enjoys cooking healthy and delicious homemade food. She demonstrates both respect and passion for her ingredients obtaining them from trusted sources, preferably local and often organic.

She is happy to cater for any special dietary requirements and can offer gluten free, lactose free, low sugar, low fat and can even calculate WW points if necessary!!

Breakfast is candle lit, leisurely and cooked to order from an extensive menu and can include local Cumberland sausage, Keswick dry cured bacon, free range eggs (from the village when available), vine tomatoes and mushrooms. Smoked salmon, from the fishing village of Craster where Gill still has family connections, is also available served with softly scrambled eggs or beautifully fresh poached eggs on a lightly toasted muffin.

In the afternoon, each day tea from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, tea is served with homemade cake or scones using flour from the local mill at Little Salkeld.

Dinner is served by candle light in the intimate 16th century dining room around one table with a dinner party atmosphere. Gill and David join their guests for pre-dinner drinks, in either the drawing room, study or out on the terrace in summer months, usually at 7.30pm with dinner served at 8pm.

Dinner comprises three courses of seasonal produce followed by fair trade organic coffee with local handmade truffles, served on simple white crockery with crystal glasses, designer cutlery and linen napkins. The courses are hopefully interesting and varied and are designed around guests' preferences and dietary needs.

The Old Rectory is licensed and wine is David's passion; they offer a list of twenty seven fine wines, many of which have come from vineyards that they have visited. Prices range from £12 for house wine to £34 for Pol Roger champagne.

PLEASE NOTE: Dinner is available on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings (minimum 4 guests) and as dinner is freshly prepared on a daily basis it needs to be ordered in advance.

We also now offer locally sourced platters of either cheeses from our local artisan cheese producer at Thornby Moor, fish including delicately smoked Craster salmon and Silloth shrimps or meats from the renowned Woodalls of Waberthwaite. All are garnished and served with either warm bread or organic oatcakes along with homemade chutneys or tartare sauce.

These are ideal for those arriving late or for guests who prefer a lighter option with a glass of wine (or three!) and don't want to drive to one of the local pubs, bistros or restaurants. The platters are priced at £13.50 and can be enjoyed on one of the terraces, in the study with a roaring log fire or in the privacy of your room.

Platters also need to be ordered in advance so that we can make them as fresh as possible.

Please contact us for further information or to make a booking.