There’s a reason poets such as Wordsworth, Ruskin and Coleridge waxed lyrical about nature, and it’s lying in this corner of northwest England. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Lake District is a jewel in the crown of the British Isles, with dreamy landscapes the order of the day.

Sheer ridges lead up to rugged mountaintops and sloping hills that lead down to dense forests and glistening lakes. And of course, with all this natural beauty comes incredible outdoor adventures. Whether it’s hiking, kayaking, mountain biking or fell running, the Lake District is a playground for the adventurous.

At the end of a day in the mountains, there’s nothing better than coming back to a cosy local pub and settling down in a bright beer garden in the summer, or by a crackling fire in the winter, for some of the best beers and hearty food in the country.