Masons Arms, Cartmel Fell, Lake District

The Masons Arms is on a steep and sharp bend on the narrow back road that leads from Kendal to the southern end of Lake Windermere, which can take first-timers unawares. The upsides are that its hillside position ensures uninterrupted views, plus there are no near neighbours. Lake Windermere is a ten-minute drive while the M6 (not a direct route) is around half an hour. Cross-lake cruise boats stop at the landing stage at the southern end of Lake Windermere (ten minutes away).

By car: around 1 hour 30 minutes from Manchester, 3 hours from Edinburgh and just under 5 hours from London. Free on-site parking.

By train: from Manchester Piccadilly (just over 1 hour), London Euston (3 hours) and Edinburgh Waverley (2 hours) to Oxenholme Lake District station. The hotel is a 25-minute taxi ride from the station. Book trains to Oxenholme Lake District.

The look inside is everything you'd expect from a former coaching inn: a huddle of low-beamed rooms with slate-flagged or stripped-wood floors, scrubbed-wood tables, sturdy wooden settles and plaid-covered armchairs, a clutter of hunting prints on the creamy plaster walls and log fires to keep everything toasty.

It is a pub, remember, so there are not a lot of bells and whistles. Having said that, all guests have their own or a shared patio at the rear, plus the main terrace at the front has stunning views over the Lyth and Winster valleys. Local walking routes are available - for dogs, too - and staff are cheery and eager to help.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• Garden
• Board games
• Pet-friendly
• Family-friendly
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

The five rooms, on two floors or with a mezzanine bedroom, have a fresh cottagey style with stripped-wood floors, creamy plaster walls, battered leather or plaid-covered armchairs and bright-coloured rugs and cushions. Nicely uncluttered, apart from local photographs, one room has a four-poster, and all have patios (private or shared). Bathrooms, with tongue-and-groove panelling, are compact.

Room types: Suite, Premium Suite, Cottage

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with toiletries, tea and coffee facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi,

This is robust pub food cooked with flair and a few tasty twists. You might kick off with the pub's popular sticky ribs or local smoked salmon with horseradish and lemon goat's cheese mousse and follow with the pie of the day or cod with Welsh rarebit. As it's a brewery-managed pub - Stockport-based Robinson's - cask ales are the brewery's own plus regularly changing guest beers.

The restaurant: relaxed atmosphere, high end pub food, locally sourced ingredients. Open all day. Mains from £12.95.