Perched atop Magic Hill (yes, really) and swathed by sprawling forest, The Cottage In The Wood offers a quaintly enchanting fine dining experience for its guests.
Intimate surroundings paired with friendly service and course after course of artistic Michelin-starred morsels create a welcoming atmosphere that’ll have you scouring the diary for your next special occasion dinner. Editor Sophie Ritchie opens the seven-course menu at this restaurant with rooms to share more…
The Venue
The Cottage In The Wood looks exactly like its name declares – a white bricked building outlined with black bordered windows sitting atop Magic Hill.
Located adjacent to the sprawling Whinlakker Forest, a mountain biker’s dream, it sits neatly tucked into the side of the hill looking like someone’s idyllic mountain home. Perched towards the top of an 1,000m ascent, the steep drive reminds me of how relieved I am that my original plan to ‘bike pack’ here for the night fell through.
Originally a 17th century coaching inn (that doesn’t surprise me, anyone would need a rest after making it up that climb), it was originally transformed by former owners Kath and Liam into a restaurant with rooms in 2002.
Flash forward to 2025 and it’s now proudly helmed by new owners Jack and Beth Bond, a husband and wife team with a passion for sustainability. They purchased the property last summer after originally working at the restaurant as General Manager and Head Chef and now, after scooping award after award, its intimate fine dining experience has gourmands of all ages booking a table and devouring chef-owner creations for themselves.
The Dining
I can immediately see why it’s so popular – the team at The Cottage in The Wood make fine dining feel fun in the intimate dining room, where simple wooden chairs and tables become the stage for a night of edible entertainment. Different servers (including several exciting appearances from Head Chef Jack himself) bring out each course, explaining them one by one as they divulge details on the individual ingredients and inspirations behind each mouthful.
The menus change on a regular basis depending on seasonality, but for our early November evening it’s a pescatarian showcase of autumn in full swing. Starting off with Shiitake Broth, this is followed by Trout Croustade, fluffy Goat Milk Potato Bread, then folded waves of Pumpkin, Wild Raspberry, Almond.
The delectable lineup includes one of my favourites – monkfish – presented as a buttery golden pool of speckled Monkfish, Leek, Cafe de Paris, followed by a trio of Turbot with Maitake, Marjoram. I’m full to the brim but there’s always room for dessert, isn’t there – and foodies at Cottage in The Wood are treated to not one but two.
My favourite, the Apple, Calvados, Marigold is a clever pile of razor thin sugary shards, topped off with lashings of custard. It’s gorgeously light – an ideal finish to such a rich feast that showcases Bond’s innovative interpretations on classic dishes.
I’m not a frequent devourer of tasting menus but in my experience, it’s rare for restaurants to offer more bread, no matter how delicious – I love that the hearty potato bread generously graces our table for a second time with its dangerously cloud-like texture.
The Room
We stay in a Cottage Room, a handful of five which are found in the original building. Although the space was cozy, decked out with a quaint brass bed, simple tea and coffee facilities and light oak furnishings, the lack of space meant it did feel quite cramped at times with two people. This, coupled with a friend who rolls around in her sleep, left the double bed feeling as if there was about as much space as there had been in my belt after finishing our extensive seven-course feast.
Not even premium local Bath House toiletries and comfy pillows could make up for my dear friend’s heavy breathing and my daggered side eye in the early hours of the morning. With a noted sign to avoid opening the windows in case of midgies, a helpful addition in the form of a room fan could have really helped to cool the space down.
Despite the lack of beauty sleep, breakfast the following morning provided a delicious start for a day of exploring – hearty plates of eggs, buttery slices of crusty bread and frothy coffee – served sunny side up with picturesque views over Skiddaw, one of England’s highest mountains.
The Wordrobe Verdict
When it comes to the dining experience, The Cottage in The Wood’s Michelin-starred cuisine is *chefs kiss* flawless. When it comes to a luxurious night’s sleep however, I must admit there’s still some room for improvement – room being the operative word.
To truly experience The Cottage In The Wood at its best, I would recommend either opting for the larger rooms or booking for the outstanding food and staying in nearby Keswick instead for a fine dining experience that’ll leave you salivating for months to come.
Make it happen
Where: The Cottage in the Wood, Magic Hill, Whinlatter Forest, Braithwaite, Near Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5TW
How: Find out more and make a booking via thecottageinthewood.co.uk
Wallet: Evening tasting menus start from £120pp.
Words by Sophie Ritchie, editor
Image credit unless otherwise specified: Rob Whitrow Photography.
