2 Best Restaurants in Ambleside, The Lake District

The quality of locally sourced and foraged food has been raised to a new level by this Michelin-starred restaurant, which, together with the Lake Road Kitchen, has given Ambleside unexpected status on the British gastro map. Chef Ryan Blackburn has created a menu anchored to Cumbrian traditions but at the same time mouthwateringly innovative and contemporary. Look for dishes such as scallops with pumpkin, braised daube of beef with smoked celeriac, and Cumbrian gingerbread. The restaurant has an unprepossessing setting, down steps in a dim room, but there's history in the whitewashed, rough-hewn walls: Wordsworth once worked here as "Distributer of Stamps.” A tasting menu is also available at lunch and dinner.

Matthew Colley is a charismatic chef who opened his own restaurant in 2001 to serve "retro classic" dishes to hungry Lake District walkers. He's passionate about local, artisanal produce and makes almost everything from scratch, including his own Cumbrian sausages. The early evening set menu is an exceptionally good value (three courses for £25 if you order before 7 pm); opt for the deep-fried brie, the Pollo Marsala with shallots, and whatever the special dessert of the day is. The atmosphere is warm, leaning towards lively on the weekends, and families are welcome. There's a separate children's menu.