The Barn

First-time Cumbria visitors will no doubt want to tick off several of the area’s big sights, and that’s pretty straightforward from The Barn. Start with Coniston Water (15 minutes’ drive) for scenic lakeside walks and dabbling in watersports, then travel a few minutes further to hike to the top of the Old Man of Coniston. Beyond that, Beatrix Potter’s old haunt Hill Top (35 minutes) is a popular place to visit, as is Sca Fell (45 minutes) – the second-highest mountain in England, no less. The market town of Ulverston (25 minutes) is another place to add to the list, whether you’re stopping by at the Laurel and Hardy museum or stepping out on the 70-mile Cumbria Way. Sprinkle a bit of heritage into your scenic outings by heading to Swinside Stone Circle; if wildlife’s more your thing then there’s plenty of birdwatching to be done at RSPB Hodbarrow nature reserve (both about 20 minutes away). More family-friendly visits might include Cumbrian Heavy Horses (15 minutes) and the shiny vehicles of the Lakeland Motor Museum (half an hour).