Lancrigg, Grasmere, Lake District

Tucked away at the far end of a twisty, dead-end road and next to a farm, the hotel feels isolated yet is less than a mile from the bustle of pretty Grasmere and a ten-minute drive from the main A591. The valley stretches out in front while wooded fell slopes rise behind. The big attractions are poet Wordsworth's Dove Cottage and museum plus Rydal Mount, while pretty Grasmere offers shops, tea rooms and lakeside strolls.

By car: 2 hours from Manchester, 3 hours from Edinburgh and 5 hours 20 minutes from London. There is free parking on-site.

By train: trains run from Manchester Piccadilly (just over 1 hour), London Euston (3 hours) and Edinburgh (2 hours) to Oxenholme Lake District station. The hotel is a 45-minute taxi ride from the station. Book trains to Oxenholme.

Original Victorian and Edwardian features, such as large shuttered windows, plasterwork ceilings and stripped wood floors, have been used as the backdrop to a careful mix of vintage and mid-century furniture to create a welcoming but informal atmosphere. The occasional bold-coloured paintwork or piece of modern art adds a breezy modern touch.

Guests are spoilt with gardens and woodland to wander, or just admire from the terrace with its tables and benches. The sitting room shares the views and, with its log fire, books, and board games, it's a handy place for damp days or to recover from a day's walking. Maps are available, and a drying room for wet gear. The staff are down-to-earth and friendly.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Terrace
• Gardens
• Family-friendly
• Pet-friendly
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

The ten rooms have a comfortable, unpretentious style with a pleasant mix of old-school and vintage pieces - perhaps a rocking chair or old-fashioned dressing-table - and soft country-colour walls and carpets. Fuss-free with a simple vase or piece of modern art, all but one have good views.

Room types: Azalea, Easdale, Whittington, Dickens, Wordsworth, Nightingale, Darwin, Silver Howe, Wainwright

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

Meals are simple but filling, cooked with a bit of flair, to end a good day on the hills. Starters might include a baked Camembert, while mains could include favourites such as sausage and sweet potato mash, burgers, or a robust boeuf bourguignon. There are good vegetarian choices, too, plus there's a daytime café.

Poet's Cafe Bar: relaxed, pub food, local produce. Open 12-4pm and 5:30-8pm Friday to Monday. Dinner mains from £16.95