Lake District’s Most Haunted Hotel?

IAN Dutton is a Lakes hotelier who thought he’d seen it all – until he took over the Queens Head, a 14-room 17th century coaching inn in picturesque Troutbeck. If a little haunting adds to your holiday experience, this is the hotel for you.

There have been numerous accounts of haunted experiences from guests staying in Room One, the most traditional. One guest in particular claimed that someone repeatedly pulled the covers off her during the night. Staff members have also heard unexplained footsteps in the night and strange sightings, particularly of a woman cleaning the hallways.

The owner explains: "The Queen's Head is more than 300 years old, so we knew that an interesting tapestry of history was likely. Personally, I don't believe in the supernatural, but I cannot deny the strange goings-on reported by guests and staff."

Dutton worked as head chef under John Tovey at The Miller Howe Hotel before opening The Miller Howe Cafe in Grasmere nine years ago. With his wife Annette, they acquired The Queens Head five years ago, and took over The Village Inn in Bowness on Windermere in 2011.

Spooks aside, the inn offers exposed beams, roaring log fires ad acclaimed food, while and many of the bedrooms boast four-poster beds. Still the question is: are you brave enough to stay the night at The Queen's Head?