Bring the dog, bring the kids, revel in the gorgeous scenery and the great outdoors at this ‘lifestyle hotel’ with private shorefront on Ullswater and plenty of activities on offer. It's the old, staid Rampsbeck Hotel reinvented (out with the chintz and swags, on with the wetsuits or hiking boots!)

To find a gem in a quiet corner of the visitor-thronged Lake District is not easy, but this smart village inn in the lovely Lyth valley offers 'top-notch food', 'great service' and country-style bedrooms.

'Gardez la Foi' reads the Poulett family motto over the door of this thatched village pub, and the trio behind the Beckford group (see The Beckford Arms, Tisbury) have kept absolute faith with their winning concept here. The ambience is friendly and relaxed.

Banish images of fast-food outlets and slot machines when you break your journey at Tebay on wild and woolly Shap Fell, 60 miles from the Scottish border.

Refreshingly different from some more traditional Lake District offerings, this contemporary hotel is in a beautiful setting overlooking Grasmere.

With smartl interiors and imaginative, locally sourced, restaurant-quality food, this dog-friendly country inn on the Lowther Estate is a happy mix of pub informality and country-house comforts.

The South African Leeu Collection's Edwardian country house in wooded, landscaped grounds above Windermere is a haven of civilised living, with casual and fine dining options, woodland hot-tub suites, and views to take the breath away.

The River Teign runs through the garden of this dog-friendly country-house hotel with a wide choice of rooms, a warm and friendly ambience, good food, and great walks from the door.

A Regency beauty with spectacular views from the balconies, this stylish, dog-friendly country-house hotel has a relaxed vibe, beautifully designed bedrooms, and a fine-dining restaurant.

Guests staying at this beautifully furnished and dog friendly pub can enjoy hearty, locally sourced fare or dine at sister property Another Place where they have use of all facilities.

Meandering down to a private beach, glorious sub-tropical gardens enfold this secluded Victorian mansion.

Cosy, low-ceilinged and fire-warmed, this smartly refurbished 17th-century pub in the centre of a Lake District village has walks from the door and is just a short stroll from the Michelin-starred restaurant at Askham Hall (see entry).

In a Lyth valley village on the edge of the Lake District, Becky and Ash Dewar have transformed a 16th-century hostelry into a welcoming village pub. The beamed bar in the former 16th-century hostelry has cask ales, craft beers and cocktails made with locally produced spirits.

At the heart of Wordsworth country, this Victorian Gothic mansion in 43 acres is home to a cool, super-luxury hotel, where chef Paul Leonard draws inspiration from the Lakeland landscape to compose Michelin-starred menus using produce from the walled kitchen garden and Cumbria's abundant larder.

Part of the Daylesford Organic empire, this is a modern take on a traditional country inn – think open fires and lemon trees, craft ales and cocktails, pub classics and dishes with an Italian spin, and effortlessly stylish bedrooms.

A family and dog-friendly 18th-century inn with riverside gardens in the Vale of the White Horse, this is now part of Butcombe Boutique Hotels, which has refurbished the six bedrooms with botanical and Arts and Crafts wallpapers, king-size beds, vintage pieces and Bramley toiletries. Menus mix sharing plates, pub favourites and some more adventurous dishes.

With quirky, stylish bedrooms, spa, tennis court and outdoor pool, the Milsom family's country house in the heart of Constable country is a perfect place to relax and recharge. Guests have a choice of brasserie-style menus at nearby sister hotel Milsoms, and fine dining at the legendary Talbooth Restaurant, in a Tudor building right by the River Stour.

Michael and Johanna Wignall have reimagined a 15th-century Dales inn, creating super-stylish, uncluttered, luxury bedrooms, most in a converted barn with views over Rylstone Fell, and intimate dining spaces in which to sample Michael's technically brilliant, modern, seasonal, Michelin-starred menus.

This remote restaurant with rooms beside Loch Voil has some unexpectedly smart contemporary bedrooms with the odd wacky touch, and quirky options such as an 1850s wagon, a ferry cabin, yurts and treehouse in the grounds. In the restaurant, locally sourced and foraged or home-grown ingredients appear in sophisticated modern Scottish dishes.

Set in wooded gardens on the River Rothay, this Victorian slate-built country-house hotel and spa, just a stroll from the village, has smart contemporary bedrooms, many with a terrace or balcony, and a short but appealing menu served in the glass-walled restaurant.

In three wooded acres, this former private country house, now a charmingly traditional hotel, combines spacious accommodation, contemporary comforts, spectacular valley views and a restaurant showcasing Cumbrian produce.

In lush subtropical gardens overlooking the sandy bay, this 33--bedroom family-friendly hotel with spa, health club, outdoor swimming pool and kids' pool offers a range of rooms from singles to family suites, some with a sea view and small balcony, while locally landed fish and seafood feature on menus in the restaurant.