Lake District

William Wordsworth lived in Dove Cottage from 1799 to 1808, a prolific and happy time for the poet. — Fodor's

John Ruskin was one of the great polymaths of the Victorian age, dabbling in everything from philosophy and art criticism to the aesthetics of lace-making. — The Telegraph

Craft brewing has had a big renaissance in the Lakes, but until now, you had to head north of the border for the harder stuff. — The Telegraph

This 16km-long lake, equally popular with sailors and water skiers, is pleasantly surrounded by woods and hills. — Michelin Guide

Castlerigg with its 38 megaliths situated on grassy land near Keswick is older (5 000 years old) than the legendary Stonehenge. — Michelin Guide

Children's author and illustrator Beatrix Potter (1866–1943), most famous for her Peter Rabbit stories, called this place home. — Fodor's

A descendant of Wordsworth now owns the property, which displays numerous portraits, furniture, and family possessions. — Frommer's

The lake came to prominence in the 1930s when Arthur Ransome made it the setting for Swallows and Amazons, one of a series of novels about a group of children and their adventures. — Fodor's

Designed at the turn of the last century by the architect Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott, this elegant house is one of England’s finest surviving examples of Arts and Crafts architecture. — The Telegraph

It receives far fewer visitors than either Dove Cottage or Rydal Mount, but Wordsworth’s boyhood home in Cockermouth provides a fascinating insight into the poet’s formative years. — The Telegraph

Real-ale aficionados will be familiar with the Jennings name – it has been brewing beers since 1874 and its pints are pulled at pubs all over the Lake District. — Lonely Planet

Coniston's little museum explores the village's history, touching on copper mining, Arthur Ransome and the Campbell story. — Lonely Planet

It’s now owned by the National Trust, and its lakeshore paths are ideal for a leisurely afternoon stroll. — The Telegraph

Focusing on natural history and archaeology, this grand, old-fashioned museum details splendidly the flora and fauna of the Lake District. — Fodor's

The most famous exhibits are a centuries-old mummified cat and the celebrated Musical Stones of Skiddaw, a truly weird instrument made from hornsfel rock that was once played for Queen Victoria. — Lonely Planet

On the quayside at the southern end of Windermere, this excellent aquarium has wildlife and waterside exhibits. — Fodor's

Home of the Hasell family since 1679, Dalemain began with a 12th-century peel tower built to protect the occupants from raiding Scots, and is now a delightful hodgepodge of architectural styles. — Fodor's

The region's finest art gallery, Abbot Hall occupies a Palladian-style Georgian mansion built in 1759. — Fodor's

The evocative remains of this 15th-century redbrick castle stand high above a steep, now-dry moat. — Fodor's