Best walk
Grizedale Forest Park
Nr Hawkshead, Cumbria
forestry.gov.uk/grizedale
Currently undergoing a major redevelopment, Grizedale Forest hides more than 70 sculptures within its leafy confines. Created by artists in residence, the sculptures compliment their surroundings and create enough diversion to distract you from the fact that you are going on a long walk. You can even play a tune on some of them. There are many waymarked trails for all abilities to follow, which start from one mile in length, and include the 9.5 mile Silurian Way.
Best B&Bs
Banerigg Guest House
Lake Road, Grasmere, Cumbria LA22 9PW, £28 per person, 01539 435204
guesthouse-cumbria.co.uk
This home from home has visitors coming back time and again, and it's easy to see why. The breakfasts - homemade jams, local eggs and Ambleside Cumberland sausages - set guests up for a busy day. And, with a private shoreline for fishing, canoes to borrow, and an invitation to join proprietor Martin on his early morning swim across the lake, there is certainly plenty to do. Crash out in the evenings in front of the log fire in the lounge and discuss your day with fellow guests. as encouraged by Martin and Angela's decision not to provide televisions in the bedrooms.
Low House
Windermere, Cumbria LA23 3NA, around £55 per person, 01539 443156
lowhouse.co.uk
This peaceful 17th-century country home is ideal for walkers, with Ordnance Survey maps, flasks of soup and local advice handed out to guests. Trips on the lake on a 1930s sailing boat with eco-friendly electric engine are a must for anglers, swimmers and water lovers.
Best hotel
The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel
Great Langdale, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9JY, around £52 per person, 01539 437272
odg.co.uk
For more than 300 years the Old Hotel has been feeding and accommodating weary walkers, and practice has made perfect. Leave the modern world far behind, and step into the lively Public Walkers Bar to swap stories over a rewarding real ale or a dram of Scottish whisky. After a long day's walking, enjoy home-cooked food in the dining room, before retiring to your room, each with its own character. But don't expect to keep up with the goings on at home - it's a long trek up the mountain to get mobile phone reception.
Best cottages
The Lazy Fish
Brook House, Embleton, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9TN, 01768 776179
thelazyfish.co.uk
Although only a 10-minute drive from both Cockermouth and Keswick, this converted barn feels totally secluded. On arrival there's no need to go out for provisions, you'll be supplied a breakfast hamper of goodies (including champagne). After a long day on the fells, order a freshly cooked three-course meal from the local chef to eat in the private outdoor dining area, before soaking in the outdoor spa pool. There are also free mountain bikes for guests. Sleeps six.
Lakefield
Ullswater, 01539 432321
heartofthelakes.co.uk
Fancy staying in a house with an integral boathouse? Lakefield is your chance to experience the joys of lakeside life; launch your boat from the concrete slipway, windsurf right outside your front door, and fish from the shore. With beautiful mountain views, five acres of private grounds and its own beach, this house offers total relaxation. Sleeps eight. Book this and many other Lake District cottages through the Heart of the Lakes website.
Best pub
The Drunken Duck Inn
Barngates, Ambleside LA22 0NG, 01539 436347
drunkenduckinn.co.uk
Set in 60 acres of private land above Windermere, the setting of the Drunken Duck is breathtaking. The interior has an air of opulence with a solid oak floor, open fire, leather chairs and slate bar top from the local quarry. Real ale enthusiasts will be in their element, with award winning beers from Barngates Brewery, originally set up to provide the Duck with its own ales, on tap. If you're after a little more activity, there's fly fishing (in season) a minute's walk away at Duck Tarn.
Best activities
Ullswater Canoe Trail
edenriverstrust.org.uk
Ullswater's scenery is the perfect backdrop to messing about in boats. The Eden Rivers Trust has produced a new leaflet with information about where to canoe, where to stay and what facilities are available in the area. The waterproof leaflet details the Ullswater Canoe Trail with options for short trips as well as more robust one- and two-day expeditions. Try the day trip to Aira Force and back, from Glenridding.
Canyoning
adventure21.co.uk, 01257 474467, or
gohigher.co.uk, 01946 830476
Canyoning is hard-core adventure for adrenalin junkies only. Beginning with a scramble to the starting point, canyoneers then descend the gorge or canyon by any means necessary, including sliding, swimming, climbing, abseiling down waterfalls and jumping into plunge pools. The Lake District has some of the best locations for this crazy sport.
Via Ferrata, Honister Slate Mine
Honister Pass, Borrowdale, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5XN, 01768 777714
honister-slate-mine.co.uk/
Italian for "iron way", Via Ferrata is a system which has been used to traverse the Alps for over a century. A cable is permanently fixed to the rock face, climbers attach themselves to this via a harness, allowing safe scrambling up the mountain to areas not normally accessible. The sense of being exposed on the rock face, and having the freedom to reach places normally only birds can go, is hard to beat. Tours run twice daily.
