The last time I went to the Lake District was during the foot and mouth crisis in 2001, so I decided it was time to revisit the ares. I booked myself and my mum into the AA four-star Beech Hill Hotel at Bowness-on-Windermere, which boasts stunning views over Lake Windermere.
The circa-1900 stone-built rural property has 57 rooms, many with views overlooking the lake, ranging from the classic single to the Wordsworth Suite, all of which can be booked either on a bed and breakfast basis or dinner, bed and breakfast. Dinner can be booked in the hotels's Burlington restaurant, which is open to non residents and has held AA rosettes for the last 20 years.