Tucked away in the Eskdale valley, this cosy cottage has the best of the Lake District at its feet. Inside, the wooden beams, brick walls and homespun furnishings have a lasting effect. It’s a warming and tranquil place, with sofas for curling up on when it’s pouring rain and a baby grand piano for sing-songs after a glass or two of wine. You’ll find plenty of modern touches, too – the brand new kitchen makes cooking a doddle and the recently installed bathtub is a treat for ramblers’ aching muscles. Outside, a sprawling lawn complete with dining set is ideal for barbecues in the sunshine. And once you’ve filled up on Cumbrian sausages and sticky Grasmere gingerbread, follow the higgledy-piggledy dry stone walls through wild countryside to the enchanting Stanley Ghyll Waterfall or jump in the car and take the scenic twenty-five-minute drive to Wast Water, England’s deepest lake. Before you make your way home to collapse into ridiculously comfortable beds, stop off at The Boot Inn for a well-deserved drink – it’s only a minute from your doorstep.

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