On Water Hill

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. Home truths: *The fourth bedroom has a single bed with pull-out single mattress underneath and a full-size baby cot *Stair gate and a high chair can be provided upon request – please bring your own cot linen *Bicycles can be hired from West Lakes Adventure, a twenty-minute walk from the home *Your host will provide you with cark parking details prior to arrival *The cottage has two bedrooms and a bathroom on the ground floor *If you’ll be arriving by train, Lancaster is the nearest train station – from Lancaster, you will need to take a train to Ravenglass and then a train to Dalegarth Station, or arrange for a taxi from Ravenglass to the cottage *Ask your host about booking special extras including, a hamper, champagne, chocolates and flowers