Emma Bigland (right) has had a few dream jobs in her time even the one in Russia's "back end of nowhere" more of which later. Now, however, the new manager of Sizergh's recently reopened Strickland Arms pub has returned to her roots and, if early indications are anything to go by, this really is home sweet home.

You'd be forgiven for thinking 10mph fever had spread from Windermere to Sizergh, such has been the speed of traffic in the vicinity of the Strickland Arms just recently.

"Since we opened, people have been driving past very slowly, trying to see inside," smiled 38-years-old Emma Bigland. "They obviously want to know what we've done to the place."

The we' is the National Trust's new tenant Martin Ainscough, who owns a successful family-run company in Lancashire his portfolio includes a dining pub of the year' and The Wizard at Alderley Edge, another trust property and Kendal architects Hanson Walford Marston who have "masterminded" the refurbishment of the Strickland Arms with the help of Howsons electricians and plumbers and Robert Dawson the builder, all from Ingleton.

Under the watchful eyes of the National Trust and Mr Ainscough, who has made a "significant investment" in the project, they have together wrought both a clever and beautiful transformation of this historic building which has been re-rendered and re-roofed as well as having major repairs made to its distinctive chimneys.

Inside, Martin has been able to indulge his love of a good auction having amassed a veritable warehouse-load of characterful tables, chairs and other period fittings.

There's also a new bar and dining area (covering two floors), new kitchen, and new access complete with facilities for those with disabilities.

And when the sun shines next summer there will also be al fresco dining on the new terrace to the immediate front of the pub.

It will be Emma's first summer on home turf for many years; work as a freelance chef required her elsewhere.

However, she has been anxious to "come home" for some time, especially since the death of her father.

Anthony Bigland was the younger son of the Bigland family and spent most of his childhood at Bigland Hall, the family home near Newby Bridge, which was sold by his elder brother, the late Richard Bigland, in 1991.

Anthony notched up more than 30 years in the wine trade, establishing a wine broking business with his wife Anne, who now lives at Penny Bridge home for Emma too, when not on her travels.

Over coffee in the pub, Emma revealed that she once gave her car registration as her address.

"I'd clocked up 20,000 miles (travelling all over the UK and Europe) with my work. There's only so long you can do that."

In Emma's case 22 years.

Emma hated school and left at 16 on the understanding that she must get a job if she didn't want to continue her education.

Her first job took her to Florence for 12 months where she was a nanny. Emma then returned to London to perform the same services for another family before enrolling at the Cordon Bleu cookery school for six months of intensive training.

Her future was slowly taking shape, helped along by also making it on to the renowned (Prue) Leith's List'.

"I loved being with people, and I loved travelling I just couldn't afford to do it. Cooking gets you where you want to be."

And that included America (two years in San Francisco) where she had "a thoroughly wonderful time", and the aforementioned Russia.

"I worked in the back end of nowhere cooking for ten men who went fishing every day. I was either working or on standby 24 hours a day seven days a week."

The oven blew up too but even that hasn't blighted Emma's memories of that remarkable experience.

"I have been exceptionally lucky," she said. "To do the cooking, to be with the people and to go to the places."

Emma would often share her experiences with Martin Ainscough, the brother of an old school friend. Although his business is based in Lancashire, Martin also owns Longlands holiday accommodation at Cartmel and has links with several Lakeland estates, including the Hornyold-Stricklands at Sizergh Castle, which is how Martin got to hear about The Strickland Arms.

He knew just the person to run it for him.

Both Emma and Martin want the pub to be a place where someone might just pop in for a pint (Thwaites and Hesket Newmarket, by the way), as well as for a value-for-money top quality meal.

"I want the food to be the best we can provide," said Emma, whose suppliers include nearby Low Sizergh Barn; Frank Park of Bannerigg Farm, Windermere; Higginsons butchers at Grange-over-Sands (also the Bigland family butcher for many years); Lakes Speciality Foods at Staveley; and Halls of Kendal. There will also be seasonal produce from the walled garden at Longlands.

It's not a huge menu but that's a good thing.

"Everything on the menu is made from scratch. I can put my hand on my heart and say that."

A huge Jamie Oliver fan because of the way he has transformed school meals, Emma is damning of processed food.

"It's not difficult to cook a meal from start to finish," she argues. Perhaps not for Emma, but then she does come from an excellent food background her mother is a "wonderful cook", as was her mother, an amazing woman by the name of Mitza. An Austrian by birth, she married Emma's grandfather in 1935. He was killed in France only a few years later but Mitza continued to run the Bigland estate, as well as bring up her three children.

"She didn't have a huge amount of money so she learned to make the best of what she had," said Emma, who counts Mizta's recipe book among her most treasured possessions.

It's Mitza's chicken liver pate which features on the menu at the Strickland Arms, as is the recipe for potted shrimps.

Another Mitza gem venison stew thickened with gingerbread may well feature in future.

"I suppose Mitza has been a huge influence without me realising it," suggested Emma. "And my father was amazing with people."

So there's another good influence.

Martin, meanwhile, has high hopes for his latest venture; so does Emma, but perhaps for other reasons.

"Family is very important to me and this area is very important to me," she said. "Thankfully, people have been so positive, from the boys at the bar having a pint, to the people who have come in for a meal. It's all given me such a huge buzz. I am very busy, but I love it."

That's good Emma because I suspect you and the wonderful team you have put together are going to be very, very busy indeed!

l The Strickland Arms is open from noon until 11.30pm from Sunday to Wednesday and from noon to 12pm, Thursday through to Saturday. The pub, which is no smoking, can cater for small private functions - call 015395-61010. Food is served from noon-2pm and from 6pm-9pm.