The Lake District National Park is the largest national park in the UK, with the highest mountain Scafell Pike, and 12 lakes.

The lake Windermere and Coniston water are the closest, where you can sail, hire motor-boats, take steamers or simply just walk on the lakes shores.

There are plenty of attractions nearby: South Lakes Animal Zoo, the Lakeside Aquarium, Go-Ape adventure in Grizedale Forest and Haverthwaite steam railway, to name but a few.

For art and culture, the Abbot Hall art gallery in Kendal, John Ruskin's house at Brantwood, Coniston & the Beatrix Potter Galleries are all well worth a visit.