Countryside
Both genteel and wild, there’s nothing quite like the English countryside for rural escapes with its patchwork hills, dramatic dales, ancient woodlands and winding country roads. All well and good, but what is there to do in England’s countryside exactly? Quite a lot, actually. Admire the grand interiors of a stately home before catching a play in the surrounding gardens, travel back in time with visits to ancient stone circles and crumbling castles, or step into a chocolate box of quaint villages and market towns and live like a local, trying farmhouse cheeses, cream teas and real ales along the way.
Breathtaking views and an incredible menu at Holbeck Ghyll
Plan that perfect foodie break to a gorgeous country house hotel set against a perfect Cumbrian backdrop.
Location: Windermere, Cumbria
Enjoy luxury by the lake at Storrs Hall Hotel
Perched on the edge of the famous Lake Windermere, this Grade-II-listed Georgian mansion is surrounded by 17 acres of neatly trimmed grounds – plus the obligatory folly (in this case a temple).
Location: Windermere, Cumbria
Steam into spring on board the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
Jump on board the Lake District’s oldest, longest and most scenic railway.
Location: Ravenglass, Cumbria
Spread the joy at the World’s Original Marmalade Festival
Unleash your inner Paddington Bear on a visit to the World’s Original Marmalade Festival, which will be held on the historic Dalemain estate in Penrith.
Location: Penrith, Cumbria
Rest and romance in the iconic Lake District landscape
Leathes Head Country House Hotel is the ideal spot to spend some much-needed time for two in the heart of the Lake District.
Location: Borrowdale, Cumbria
Discover the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales
A photographer’s dream, the Yorkshire Dales has many moods – from wild and windswept to quietly tranquil – each dramatically beautiful.
Location: Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire
Take a tour of Beatrix Potter's Lake District
Mountain Goat offer superb minibus tours of the Lake District – discover much-loved author Beatrix Potter’s favourite countryside on a half-day trip.
Location: Lake District, Cumbria
Pick a favourite lake from a tour of ten
Not for nothing is this tour named the ‘Ten Lakes Spectacular’ – it takes you to see some of the Lake District’s show-stopping sights in one day.
Location: Lake District, Cumbria
Take a leisurely and scenic cruise on the Lakes
The Lake District is one of the country’s most famous beauty spots, and where better to take it all in that from the lakes themselves?
Location: Lake District, Cumbria
Walk through Cumbria’s history and gardens
Be dazzled by the beauty of the Lake District’s historic houses and gardens, and gain a sense of the area’s fascinating past and present.
Location: Lake District, Cumbria
Rainy Day Activities: Visit much-loved author Beatrix Potter’s home
Uncover the life of the children’s author and illustrator as you explore the enchanting landscapes that inspired her.
Location: Near Sawrey, Hawkshead, Cumbria
Visit poet William Wordsworth's most famous home
See where the author of ‘Daffodils’ was inspired to write most of his work and take a guided tour of Dove Cottage, his home.
Location: Grasmere, Cumbria
Explore the Lake District on two wheels
The Lake District was made for cycling, with everything from challenging off-road mountain biking routes to gentle country lanes on offer.
Location: Lake District, Cumbria
Blow away the cobwebs and explore the new Ullswater Way
The Ullswater Way is a stunning 20-mile walking route around one of the Lake Districts most beautiful lakes.
Location: Ullswater, Cumbria
New Michelin stars make Cumbria foodie heaven
Sample delicious menus of quality produce at four different Michelin star restaurants.
Location: Cumbria
Stay in your very own hobbit hole in the Lake District
Escape on a budget break to the Quiet Site in Cumbria, a family-run site overlooking Ullswater in the north of the Lake District.
Location: Ullswater, Cumbria
