Top Things to do in the Lake District

Up bright and early, head into Keswick (a ten-minute drive from the cottages) for breakfast at Little Chamonix Café (1). Serving Cumbrian bacon, local eggs, and sausages sourced from just up the road, it puts the Lakes’ best produce right on your plate. From Keswick, walk the easy, well-signposted trail down to the shore of Derwentwater (2) – a vast waterway dotted with tiny islands, flanked by the lush hills of the Borrowdale Fells. Stop awhile and take it all in: these tranquil waters are yours to discover today. Derwentwater Marina offers kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards for hire (prices include wetsuits and spraytops) – as well as lessons with expert instructors. For something a little less energetic, Keswick Launch Co offers a hop-on-hop-off cruise, calling at jetties where you’ll find easy ambles galore. Feeling peckish? Lakeside Café Restaurant (3) serves hearty fare in a pretty waterside setting – and is part of the excellent Theatre by the Lake. That’s tonight’s plans sorted.

From lakeside strolls to challenging uphill scrambles, the local area has walking routes for every ability – and some trails even depart from your doorstep. Like the path to the top of Skiddaw (4), a magnificent hulk of a mountain, whose emerald slopes reach 930m high. The summit is a six-hour round-trip: if that doesn’t steal your breath away, the views over Keswick, Derwentwater and Buttermere will. Keep an eye out for ospreys, too: these incredible birds of prey fly all the way from Africa to nest nearby (5). But you don’t need to be super-fit to enjoy the Lakes’ spectacular scenery. For easier jaunts, check out Ullswater Walk (a 8km track with 635m of elevation gain, 6), or Coniston Walk (a flat 5.3km ramble along old bridleways, 7). For wheelchair users, the visually impaired, and families with pushchairs, the fantastic Miles Without Stiles (lakedistrict.gov.uk) lists the area’s most accessible walking routes. Whichever trail you choose, you’ve definitely earned dinner at Ravenstone Manor (8) – a two-minute drive from the cottages.

Sunny morning? Pack a picnic breakfast and drive to Bassenthwaite Lake (9), whose secluded shingle beaches never see more than a few adventurous souls – even in the height of summer. For a wild dip, it can’t be beaten: as a shallow lake (21m at its deepest), Bassenthwaite’s waters are much milder than its neighbours. Mirehouse (10), a historic manor, sits on the south shore – its grounds and gardens overlooking the water. As well as woodland playgrounds and a mini maze for tots, it has a forest obstacle course for 12-16 year-olds. The kids will also love Lake District Wildlife Park (11): you can walk with alpacas, meet the meerkats, feed the lemurs – and even try your hand at flying a hawk. For a more decadent afternoon, book a tasting tour of the Lakes Distillery (12), and toast your holiday with award-winning whisky and gin. The Bistro serves a superb supper menu, too.

With a few extra days, you could climb a couple more of the Lake District’s mighty mountains – such as the 450m-high Catbells (13), with its well-marked trail and bird’s-eye valley vistas. For post-hike refreshments (or simply a picturesque pint), head to The Swinside Inn (14): you can see the summit from its beer garden. For some, Catbells is merely a warm-up for Scafell Pike (15) – England’s loftiest peak, topping out at 978m. It’s a seven-hour roundtrip to the top, so make sure you’ve packed your Kendal Mint Cake: this mountaineers’ staple was invented in nearby Kendal (16), over 100 years ago. Westmorland Green Slate, another of the Lake District’s unique exports, has been extracted from these valleys for centuries – and Honister Pass (17) provides a fascinating insight into the once-perilous mining process. You can venture deep into the caverns and tunnels on an easy guided tour, or tackle the underground rock-climbing wall: all excellent rainy-day fun. Outside, more white-knuckle adventures await: a high-wire bridge strung 600m above the valley floor, and two spectacular via ferrata climbs. If that sounds too much like hard work, venture to Windermere (18) instead – for gentle lake cruises, a tour of the National Trust’s magnificent Wray Castle, and a sticky wedge of authentic Grasmere gingerbread. Kids in tow? Don’t miss The World of Beatrix Potter (19): they’ll love exploring Peter Rabbit’s garden, visiting Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’s kitchen, and meeting Mr Jeremy Fisher on his lily-pad boat.