Low Green Farm

Getting out into the bracing open air is part of the attraction of staying here; the lakeside town of Windermere (15 minutes’ drive) is springboard to many outdoor adventures like hiking in Grizedale Forest, ghyll scrambling and canyoning. For less challenging pursuits, walk up to Cautley Spout waterfall (45 minutes) for Yorkshire Dale views, or climb up to the stone cairns in Whitbarrow National Nature Reserve (15 minutes). Keen to get out on a lake? Head out onto Coniston Water (30 minutes) for sailing lessons and canoeing. Want to hit the beach? Take a dip at Blackstone Point beach (35 minutes) on warmer days, or clamber over the dunes at the National Trust-owned Sandscale Haws National Nature Reserve (35 minutes) for a surefire way to clear any cobwebs. To learn about the local wildlife, head to the Lakes Aquarium (15 minutes) to see native fish in tanks, plus otters and tufted ducks. More exotic animals at South Lakes Safari Zoo (30 minutes) include endangered lemurs, hippos and red pandas, or you can feed rare snow leopards at the Lakeland Wildlife Oasis (20 minutes).