If you have a passion for breweries and are a keen walker or cycler, what better way is there to sample the local brews than by exploring the local areas and following up your rambling with a rewarding, thirst-quenching pint of Lake District beer or cider?

There are 24 beer breweries and 2 cider makers in the Lake District.

Wastewater Brewery

Westwater, which has been named Britain’s best loved view by the ITV show presented by Sir Trevor MacDonald, is home to The Great Gable Brewing Company. It takes its water from the fells, and after the brewing process, the beer is sold out of the Wasdale Head Inn in front of the brewery.

Jennings Brewery

Jennings , near Cockermouth, is one of the oldest breweries and also uses pure Lakeland water. It was originally established in 1828, and today “the real art is in the brewing itself, where the Head Brewer and his team use their years of experience and traditional brewing methods to create a range of superb Lakeland ales.” (www.jenningsbrewery.co.uk/history.htm). Friendly, guided tours of the brewery are available, and can be completed in the best possible way: by sampling the ales in the atmospheric bar The Cooperage.

Yates Brewery

Yates Brewery in Wigton is also another brewery that welcomes tours. It is the oldest established brewery in Cumbria and its continued sale in various outlets is testament to its ongoing quality and popularity. In 2008, it celebrated in 2500 brews – approximately 8 million pints of beer. (www.yatesbrewery.co.uk)

Barngates Brewery

Another brewery run at the back of a pub is Barngates Brewery at the popular Drunken Duck Inn near Ambleside, where all of the brews are named after the pets of the proprietor. (www.drunkenduckinn.co.uk)

The Lake District microbreweries have exploded onto the landscape in recent years, and each has its own personality, style and range of brews.