Joely Carey heads into the woods to discover Michelin-starred magic in the north of the Lake District National Park.

Where is it?

Whinlatter Forest is in the north-west of the Lake District National Park. It’s England’s only true mountain forest and was planted in 1919 to help mitigate a timber shortage after the first world war. Today, it’s a nature haven, and after we’d finished our 4.5-mile amble we arrived at one of the Lake District’s 13 Michelin-star restaurants, The Cottage in the Wood.

This unassuming restaurant with rooms is perched on the winding Whinlatter Pass that links villages Braithwaite and High Lorton, with incredible woodland views.

What’s the accommodation like?

Whilst the exterior of the restaurant looks like many others in this area of Cumbria, that’s where any similarity stops.

Inside this Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms is a contemporary and cool interior. Sleek sofas, cosy reading nooks and a record player with your choice of classic vinyl makes up the intimate space that invites you to chill and unwind before dinner.

The en suite bedrooms are compact, and owners Jack and Beth Bond have plans to give them the same kind of contemporary makeover they’ve delivered on the ground floor as soon as they can. For now, expect a comfortable and clean space to rest your head after a night of epicurean excellence. This is a restaurant with rooms – and as that idea suggests, the star of this show is most definitely the food.

What did you eat and drink?

The seven-course tasting menu is an absolute feat of culinary magnificence. From hand-dived scallops served with 'nduja, succulent beef tartare, the tastiest homemade tubetti pasta served with razor clams in a sea truffle and lemon sauce, and a delightful barbecue squash dish that was almost too pretty to eat… almost. The dishes are served by the some of the nicest, informed, genuine people I’ve had the pleasure to speak with.

These dishes are the brainchild of chef-owner Jack Bond, one of the contestants on the Great British Menu in 2025. At The Cottage in the Wood, he and his wife Beth have created a go-to destination for people looking to really enjoy some serious food in an environment that is a world away from the pretentious stuffiness of more old-school eateries.

The restaurant is alive with chatter and excitement as the dishes are brought to tables.

Just as the wines here are organic, sourced from small producers with serious sustainability credentials, all other ingredients are sourced from local producers and artisans, the kitchen runs on a zero-waste policy, using as much of the ingredients as they can across their lunch, dinner, drinks and breakfast menu.

The Cottage in the Wood offers a five-course lunch tasting menu and a seven-course evening menu, and the set up geared for short stays or one or two nights.

Breakfast here is a simple but delicious menu – after a night of indulgence I was happy with a bowl of seasonal fruit and yogurt, but other choices included French toast with banana, pecan and maple syrup, or an all-out Cumbrian cook-up, or pine-cured chalk-stream trout with crème fraiche, dill and treacle bread.

What is there to do?

For a change from lake walking, explore the forest either on foot, or by bike. There are numerous mountain bike trails as well as some real kid-friendly options if that floats your boat. If not, check out Forestry England’s trail guide here for ways to explore the forest on foot.

For a mooch, head to nearby Keswick – a thriving market town with enough galleries, shops and cafés to keep you busy.

You can be as busy or as chilled as you choose in the lakes as there really is something for everyone, whatever the weather.

Lasting memory?

It has to be the food at The Cottage in the Wood, which is as inventive, imaginative and skilful as I’ve been lucky enough to try – that alongside a team of people so genuinely invested in delivering magic on a plate.

Sainsbury’s magazine insider tip

Ask for a table in the conservatory if you go for lunch or a summer evening dinner – the views really are spectacular.