eating out « It'll Be Reet

Hi All

Since last we met back in January I have stopped being a train commuter and have adopted the bus as my get-me-to-work mode of transport.

I live in an area blessed with fantabulous bus routes and my current commute travels along one such: the X6 from Kendal to Barrow. Trouble is when I am on my way to work I am unable to disembark and explore. Time for a change. This afternoon I rode the bus for fun leaving it at one of those stops that look so inviting when I pass through in the early hours. Today it was time to visit Low and High Newton.

What a great start. Despite there being no discernible bus stop I was dropped right at the door of Yew Tree Barn, Low Newton. I have always been curious as to the contents of this reclamation emporium and once I knew it had a cafe there was (of course) no stopping me.

From the outset I was blown away. But before I could explore the hoards of goodies held within and without I had to stoke up my calories. I could see I would need a lot of energy to cover this Tardis of reclaimed wonderfulness. And when I say calories I mean calories ….. (at the risk of being one of those people that show you what I am having for lunch …. erm …. here is my lunch)

An all day veggie breakfast cannot be ignored! and yes that is a certain well-known brand of brown sauce poking its head into my otherwise tasteful photo ensemble. My Northern roots are showing again. Bless ’em.

Harry’s Cafe – sited at the heart of Yew Tree Barn – is well worth a visit. Not only is the food homemade, delicious and locally sourced but I knew I was onto a winner when I got my pot of tea and was asked to let them know if I needed more hot water. Music to the ears of any ardent tea drinker. Now into the Barn.

This place is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Every nook and cranny (and there are many of these) is packed with … with …. just about everything! Here is a mere snippet of what I found inside

and out

The sometimes strange juxtaposition of antiques added to the wonder of the place. You just don’t know what you’ll find next. In addition to the old there is also the new. Yew Tree Barn boasts several artisans: a blacksmith,

a wool crafter, a book binder and conservator and a furniture maker. The Barn also sells a large selection of crafts and goods many of which have been produced in Cumbria. Needless to say I am going to keep my eyes open for exhibitions and workshops that Yew Tree Barn run too!

This place is such good fun, a local shop with knobs on. (I had to get that gag in somewhere).

Time (nor the X6) waits for no one. So off I tottered – that was SOME breakfast/lunch – to cover the miles (yards) between Low Newton and High Newton. By the by it seemed to me that High Newton is lower than Low Newton…. Passing the goats and sheep I see every weekday I couldn’t resist a (rather wobbly) snap or three,

Dear reader I’ll have you know that I did this at some personal risk. Being very careful to always ask before taking pictures of people’s property I forgot to extend the same courtesy to the rather beautiful doberman who was determined to protect her goats from any passing paparazzi. She was not pleased and I was glad of the gate separating us. I would have taken her picture too however she was doing her job so splendidly I thought it expedient to leave before she figured out how to get over the fence.

I strode on valiantly – trying not to think of the damage a gleaming set of canine gnashers could do to my more than ample posterior – and was rewarded by being able to amble around the little village of High Newton. With its peaceful streets lined with an historical mish mash of quaint housing

and best of all The Crown a traditional seventeenth century coaching inn which tantalizingly peeks out from a little way off the main street. At last I could walk right up to this pretty pub and carry on inside I was greeted by the friendliest young man who was obviously as proud as punch of the pub and enthused about the beer garden where he could pick freshly grown mint to dress the cocktails. A super welcome. Shame I didn’t have long to rest and sample the menu. The buses here abouts run like clockwork and I had to tear myself away from the lovely Crown and rejoin the X6 for the short journey home.