Pub of the Year

Westmorland Branch Pub of the Year 2008

OLD DUNGEON GHYLL

Langdale Valley

Westmorland Branch has voted for the ODG at Dungeon Ghyll to be our Pub of the Year 2008.

Back in 1989, in what may well have been the first national POTY awards the ODG was our Branch winner and went on to become one of the National finalists.  Since then this iconic  pub, known the world over by climbers and hikers, has somehow, (and I’m not sure how), missed out on the Award.  At last this has quite justifiably now been put right and in winning the Westmorland Award we hope that the ODG can progress through to the Cumbria Branches POTY and who knows get once more into the final reckoning for National recognition. 

The pub was taken over some 24  years ago by Landlord Neil & Jane Walmsley who have steadfastly maintained it as a wonderful example of a traditional walker and climbers’ pub, where boots make little impression on the flagstone floor and there is plenty of space to cast off wet rucksacks. 

There is a great range of well kept real ales and cider and for those who need warming up both inside and out there is normally always a good fire going to dry out clothes and lots of warming soup and other good pub grub to replace energy after a hard day’s fell walking.

Neil Walmsley, Landlord of the ODG  and Ivor Chittenden Bar Manager receive the Award from David Currington, Branch Chairman of Westmorland CAMRA.

The quality and interesting range of beers is due in no small measure to the ODG’s Bar Manager (and one of our long serving and active CAMRA Branch members), Ivor Chittenden. Ivor has been at the Pub for many years and he  and all the very helpful bar staff make for a good atmosphere in the bar.

The ODG, which was originally a farm as well as an Inn, has been a home and resting place to fell walkers for some 300 years.  Originally called Middlefell Inn it was extended a number of times and the Climbers’ Bar was added to the Hotel in 1949 being a conversion of the  ’shippon’ or cow shed.

In those early days all the climbing clubs in the country came to the ODG for their club dinners and the Hotel soon became well known to many of the then famous names in climbing such as, Mike Westmacott, Sir John Hunt, & Alf Gregory. 

Later the Climbers’ Bar was frequently frequented by the younger up-and-coming climbers such as Dennis Davis, Joe Brown, Don Whillians, Ian MacNaught-Davis  and Chris Bonnington.

So, in the coming months, whether you are fell walking, climbing, cycling or just out for a beautiful drive make sure that you call in at the Old Dudgeon Ghyll  and see for yourself