Broughton-in-Furness as a name will not mean much to most people.
It is a small but lively market town on the fringes of the Duddon Valley in the Western Lake District, which deserves a second look.
Surrounded by mountain fells reaching down to the sea on the northern edge of Morecambe Bay, it has a cobbled market square with a number of pubs in the vicinity.
The town has not succumbed to the multi-national domination of supermarkets, instead there are small independent traders making a positive addition to the country feel of the place. I love to see fresh vegetables displayed in old style boxes on pavement displays like the greengrocers directly opposite the Black Cock Inn.
This pub is itself a 16th century inn with all the features you would expect in a building of this age. Quirky, with low oak beams, a roaring fire greeted my hiking friends and I as we stepped into the place and back in time.
The row of real ale pumps gladdened my heart and we were soon sampling the wares.
The Inn has five en-suite rooms on the first floor, accessed by a curving and somewhat narrow staircase, which could be difficult for less able guests.
Concessions to the modern age include free Wi-Fi, Freeview tv channels and nicely decorated, comfortable bedrooms.
The overall feel of the place is rustic and we felt at home (says something about our respective ages, I suppose).
Live music is a feature of this small pub, especially on Saturday nights.
Apparently there is a small beer garden for those lighter and warmer evenings, though I have to say that the pull of the fire and the real ales meant that we did not discover this feature for ourselves.
Food is locally sourced where possible and is presented in home cooking style, wholesome and filling. The hearty breakfast was very good and set us up for a long hike the next day.
New carpets were being fitting to the ground floor area at the time of our stay, to make the visitor experience even better for future guests.
There are many attractions locally, to make this area worth a visit in the quieter part of the Lake District and one which I would heartily recommend for adults and children alike is the South Lakes Wildlife Park just down the coast. A well kept and exciting park where many of the tamer animals are allowed to wander and mix freely whilst visitors can also take to aerial walkways. A great day out.
With prices from £35 p0. for bed and breakfast, this place won't break the bank for a comfortable stay, so take a look at www.blackcockinncumbria.co.uk whilst for Sat-Navvers, it will be found at LA20 6HQ.
