Old Kings Head Hotel is within the heart of the ancient market town of Broughton-in-Furness, close to the picturesque Parish church - as were all inns of “Merrie England” in Tudor times. Originally called “Kirkhowes” (meaning Church House), the Hotel was built in Church Town – one of several close but separate hamlets that today form the town.  It has served as a coaching house through the centuries and is still providing travellers today with the means to maintain body and spirit. Perhaps the mode of transport has changed since horse-drawn carriages brought travellers to this beautiful part of the Lake District but our hospitality and warm welcome have endured.

Broughton-in-Furness sits in a fold of the hills at the gateway to the Duddon Valley and the lakes and fells of southern Lakeland.  The fine Duddon Estuary opens up to the Irish Sea just a few miles from the town, the margins flanked by expansive, sandy beaches.

Inland the ground rises to north and west as the dramatic crags of the Coniston and Yewdale Fells and the Langdale Pikes shepherd the road through to Ambleside. Head up the western fringe of the Lake District, with open fells to one side and glittering sea to the other, to reach awesome Wasdale, home of England’s highest peak, Sca Fell Pike and a truly inspiring landscape.

The uniqueness of this landscape (nowhere else in Lakeland can the fells be seen to rise from the sea), the unspoilt towns and villages and the quite roads and passes go to make this hidden corner a real jewel of the Lake District.

Here in Broughton-in-Furness we’re not just a sleepy tourist trap. The town is a vibrant centre of activity, entertainment and commerce.  Visitors and locals alike take advantage of the numerous opportunities to enjoy life that are readily on offer. The town hosts regular beer and jazz festivals, an annual Charter Fair, numerous fetes and galas, a large annual show with everything from bouncy castles to show jumping, and live music, drama and entertainment at many of the town’s venues.

Within the town we have a number of small, independent shops, a bank, cafes, pubs, restaurants and several centres at which outdoor activities can be arranged. The cattle market still takes place every Tuesday and regular buses shuttle travellers throughout the district.

The ancient nature of the area can be seen in the relics of the past which pepper the landscape.  The standing stones of Swinside Stone Circle (or Sunken Kirk) and Giants Graves are testimony to a lengthy occupation, stretching back to prehistory. In mediaeval times a busy woollen industry brought trade and prosperity, managed by the Cistercian Monks of Furness Abbey. This was followed by iron working, and the birth of Millom the “Iron Town” which boomed and bust in less than a century.  All that marks the passing of the iron works now is the vast sea wall around the nature reserve at Hodbarrow point and watersports centre at Haverigg.  One wonderful exception is the preserved and restored Iron Blast Furnace at Duddon Bridge just a mile or so from the Old Kings Head Hotel.

All through the twists and turns of the area’s history, rural life has continued at it’s own pace.  A patchwork of small farms drapes the undulating landscape through which tracks and paths lead to hidden hamlets, oversized churches and reward the inquisitive traveller with stunning views and a glimpse of times past.

Numerous activities can be easily arranged, from pony trekking to golf.  To find out more about the area, events and attractions the following links may prove useful:

Broughton-in-Furness Website

Lake District Tourist Board