I

t’s not just chickens that benefit from being free-range. Having the freedom to roam just where you want on a walking holiday is how it should be. And yes, your meat will taste sweeter.

Located on a hilltop overlooking the Howgill Fells, Shacklabank Farm has rugged crags, green fell tops, waterfalls, and ancient woodlands all on its doorstep. The farm’s owners, the O’Neill family, are proud to show off the rich beauty and history that surrounds them by planning walking routes tailored to your needs.

If you like legends then head to the dramatic Mallerstang Edge and Wild Boar Fell where you’ll see the ruins of Pendragon Castle where Uther Pendragon (King Arthur’s dad) died. Or if you’d rather lose yourself in a book then the bibliophile’s paradise of Sedbergh is just a short walk away.

From the farm you can tackle The Dales Way and the Westmorland Heritage walk or alternatively spend a summer’s afternoon strolling barefoot across hay fields before taking a refreshing dip in the River Lune – it’s entirely up to you.

And with a breakfast of freshly-laid eggs taken in the garden with views over the Yorkshire Dales to cream tea and homemade cakes in the afternoon, the O’Neills deliver the ultimate in rural hospitality to complete the experience.