It is August. A week-long mini interrail is coming to an end, and I have journeyed to the Lake District in an attempt to cleanse my soul.
Having caught up with old friends, and made quite a few new and unwanted acquaintances along the way, I am now eagerly awaiting my pal’s arrival in the mysterious village of Ambleside, Cumbria, so that we can go on a culinary adventure we’ve dubbed Piemageddon. (Word has it, Ambleside is home to the UK’s premier pies).
What brought this on, you ask? Do I have an insatiable hunger for pie? Absolutely not. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had a single piece of pie in my life. But after seeing a rather graphic Instagram reel (bordering on vulgarity) of gravy being poured over shiny pastry and buttery mash, I was suddenly convinced that pie was something I needed in my life. I forwarded the reel to a friend and a plan was forged.
So, that’s how I find myself on the shore of lake Windermere, dripping with sweat from the 2-hour long walk from Cockshott Point, contemplating a fully-clothed swim (spoiler alert; swim, she did), before heading towards our accommodations.
I’m sure the soon to be wheatgasm will fuck up my low fodmap diet immensely, but I am certain a bit of bloating will beat the deranged occupant of the room directly above me in the Birmingham Comfort Inn throwing furniture around and shouting constantly from 10pm until my departure at 5 this am.
Anyway… What’s the pie hype, you ask? Well, the pie that inspired the journey came from The Great North Pie Company, and its shop is situated just far enough from the high street to not be inundated with the many, many tourists crowding the streets on this rather lovely day. The perfect location. (And it may or may not be the only eatery in town where you’re not in any danger of getting a serving of dog hair along with your meal.)
I’m not, and will never be, a ‘foodie’, so I will not even try to describe the meal as anything other than what it is; nutrition. But I will say this – the pastry alone had me uttering the word ‘tasty’ without even a hint of irony, possibly for the first time in my life. I do not normally enjoy food, never mind the process of eating, so this should be taken as a big sign of my approval.
I can wholeheartedly recommend a visit to Ambleside for the pie alone (there are a few other cafes that do excellent pies, both sweet and savoury, in the village), if you ever find yourself within hiking distance. The views are grand as well.
Bonus? A little peace and quiet away from the day to day is very good for my mental health – didn’t get my headphones out once for a full 30 hours. Only downside was the fighter jets that broke the wall of sound over the picturesque lake a total of six times within those hours.
Anyway. Whether you consider yourself a pie connoisseur or not, you might enjoy a wee getaway with a side of Cumbrian cuisine – just remember to get there early, before they run out of pies!
If you enjoy pies, you may also enjoy a good podcast. Find in the link below, a rather good episode of one of my favourites, Three Bean Salad.
Gonzo With the Wind 