Fence Gate Lodge & Inn Review: A Guide’s Base Camp at Pendle Hill

When mapping out a hiking expedition through the rugged, folklore-heavy landscapes of Lancashire, your choice of accommodation dictates the quality of your recovery.

You need a base camp that offers seamless access to the high ridges, values the logistics of traveling with dogs, and provides a serious, high-calorie culinary operation to refuel your body at the end of the day.

The Fence Gate Lodge & Inn provides exactly that configuration. Split across two beautifully restored sites within the historic village of Fence, this property bridges traditional country inn hospitality with high-end, structured luxury.

During a recent trekking sweep through the shadow of Pendle Hill, I checked in to evaluate how the property performs regarding real-world comfort, hiking utility, and gastronomic standards.

Here is my first-person singular field report.

First Impressions and Quirky Heritage Design

Arriving at the Lodge, the initial human element sets an immaculate standard.

The front-of-house reception team delivers a genuine, warm Lancashire welcome that completely skips the cold, transactional script of corporate hotel chains.

As an outdoor writer who tracks design details, walking through the corridors and public spaces here is highly engaging.

The interior design avoids standard off-the-shelf hotel furniture, opting instead for a rustic, deeply personalized heritage theme.

The standout feature is found right in the main reception lounge: the upholstery on the armchairs and seating is crafted out of the owner’s own retired tweed suits.

It is a brilliant, highly sustainable piece of visual storytelling that adds an immediate layer of character and dry, quirky charm to the property’s public hub.

The Accommodations: Space, Suites, and Canine Comfort

The rooms and suites at the Lodge are individually configured, layout-heavy, and gloriously furnished.

The king-sized beds are structurally massive, fitted with premium, supportive mattresses that ensure a total physical reset after hours spent hammering miles on the fells.

The bathrooms function as private thermal sanctuaries, featuring standalone deep-soaking slipper tubs and large, high-pressure walk-in showers that are perfect for soothing tired leg muscles.

For solo travellers navigating the UK trails with their companions, the property’s pet-friendly execution is elite.

Rather than relegating dog owners to thin, basic rooms, the luxury suites are fully integrated for pets—complete with specialized canine bedding layouts and custom food bowls.

It is a seamless setup that reduces trail stress entirely.

The Brasserie: A Serious Gastronomic Refuel

Dinner requires a brief walk down the lane to the Fence Gate Inn, a historic pub structure that has been elevated into a powerhouse regional steakhouse and brasserie.

The kitchen team draws inspiration from classic British estate dishes, infusing them with precise international flavors.

The Starters

My evening began with the King Scallops & Chorizo Filo Basket.

The scallops were seared to absolute perfection, maintaining a delicate, buttery texture that paired beautifully with the smoky spice of the chorizo and a highly innovative, vibrant green pea and lovage purée.

The Mains

While the menu features an expansive line of prime dry-aged steaks and fresh Atlantic seafood, the game selection caught my attention. I ordered the Roasted Venison Loin, sourced directly from the historic Fasque Castle Estate.

The execution was top-drawer. The venison was exceptionally lean, tender, and robust, served alongside a rich, expertly reduced jus.

For depth of flavour, I also sampled the Duo of Gressingham Duck, which delivered an incredible contrast between crisp, rendering skin and rich, succulent meat.

The Desserts

To close out the session, the kitchen offers massive, high-contrast sweet options.

I ordered two completely different profiles: a crisp, refreshing Chocolate Orange Cheesecake and the monumental Salted Caramel & Fudge Monty.

The latter is a colossal sundae packed with rich caramel ice cream, thick whipped cream, chunks of artisan fudge, crushed meringue, shortbread biscuits, and doused in a hot, rich toffee sauce.

It is a spectacular, high-calorie treat that completely rewards a long day out on the ridges.

The Legendary Sausage Breakfast

The property holds a massive, long-standing regional reputation for its specialized sausage making, and the next morning’s breakfast service proved exactly why.

The Full English Breakfast is a masterclass in local sourcing. The star of the plate is undeniably the custom-recipe sausages—perfectly seasoned, tightly packed, and boasting an incredible snap to the casing.

Combined with local black pudding, fresh eggs, and thick-cut bacon, it provides a flawless, heavy-duty fuel injection that sets you up perfectly for a full day of navigation.

Strategic Trail Connectivity: Exploring the Locality

Using Fence Gate as your geographical node places you within striking distance of some of the finest historic paths and walking loops in Northern England:

The Pendle Hill Trails: The iconic, brooding mass of Pendle Hill rises right outside your window. You can trace the steep western tracks from Barley to conquer the 557-metre summit, immersing your mind in the grim, fascinating history of the 1612 Pendle Witch Trials.

The Tolkien Trail: Positioned just a short drive away in the Ribble Valley, this classic 6.5-mile circular route carries you through the grounds of Stonyhurst College, tracing the exact river landscapes that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s descriptions of Middle-earth.

The Industrial Embankments: For a flatter, historic canal wander, head down to nearby Burnley to explore the Weavers’ Triangle and walk the famous straight mile of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal embankment.

Fence Gate Lodge & Inn successfully eliminates the compromise between high-end luxury and raw, outdoor utility.

It honors its local heritage through unique design quirks, respects the realities of traveling with dogs, and backs it all up with an unshakeable, top-tier culinary operation.

For any serious trekker exploring Lancashire’s historic borders, it represents an unbeatable base camp.

Planning your own Lancashire fells expedition? The Lodge provides an exceptionally comfortable, dog-friendly launchpad right at the foot of the fells.