Gorgeous setting? Check. Friendly staff? Check. Flawless food? Check. Ritson's Bar at Wasdale Head Inn offers everything you could wish for and more. Unless you wish for a glamorous, polished restaurant, in which case, stop being silly and eat here instead – it’s perfect!

After a surprisingly sunny November walk around the valley, my fiancé and I treated ourselves to tea at our favourite pub in Cumbria – if not the world – and were greeted by the usual glow of the wood-burning fire and smell of home.

From the moment you walk in, the bar staff welcome you like you’re old friends, and they never complain if you get in their way while cuddling one of the many dogs snuffling around the floor, hoovering up dropped chips and dog biscuits.

The menu is full of classic pub food – because if it’s not broken, why fix it? From hefty burgers and lasagne, to ‘light bites’ of soup and sandwiches, the pub offers it all.

Although I didn’t opt for a starter this time, I guarantee the tempura prawns are wonderful and light, as is any soup the pub offers.

Naturally, Daniel ordered the steak burger, while I went for the tuna mayo jacket potato with a side of chips – something I always do, and always regret doing, because the portions are so brilliant that I can never, ever finish them.

And as always, we enjoyed every bite.

The burgers are huge and reasonably priced, ideal for filling the bellies of walkers who have spent the day scaling Scafell Pike or Great Gable, and the side of chips offered with them are golden and – of course – delicious.

The jacket potatoes are no different, and even though I was absolutely stuffed, I was still sad to finish my meal. But luckily I had my mountain of chips to work through, so my sadness was short-lived.

As the meals were so hearty we couldn’t even bear to look at a pudding, never mind eat one, but I can promise from past experiences that the sticky toffee pudding is lovely.

If you aren’t a pudding person but do like a homemade offering, Ritson's Bar has a selection of cakes, biscuits, and other not-too-sweet treats available at the bar for great prices (unless you end up buying all of them, which you might do because once again, they’re so tasty).

And if none of what I’ve listed is to your taste, the team also have a range of specials, made up of warming meals fit for the bitter autumnal evenings such as cottage pie.

In the summer months, the biggest hot dog you’ve ever seen was listed on the specials board, proving they have the ideal offering for each and every season.

While I know nothing about beer, I of course have to mention their selection, which I've heard - and witnessed - are the perfect warming drinks after a long wintery walk.

Yes, Ritson's Bar is in the middle of nowhere, with no phone signal and more sheep than it’s possible to count, but that’s what makes it perfect. You’ll never feel more like you’re in a fairytale than when you step into the pub’s warmth, away from the distractions of busy day-to-day life, and slump on to one of its wooden benches.

And while the views from the top of Scafell Pike are stunning, and the sense of achievement is immense, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the neat, cream-coloured building nestled amongst the scenery and knowing you’re about to eat one of the best pub-meals on earth in the most magical setting possible.

I don’t think it’ll come as a surprise that I give Ritson's Bar 5 out of 5 stars. And if I could give it an extra star for each dog, sheep and chicken I’ve said hello to there, it would be a much, much higher rating – something I’d be more than happy with.

EMMA WALKER