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!) There is a wide choice of bedrooms in the original Georgian house and contemporary annexes, ranging from standard, with no-nonsense styling, to suites, some dual aspect, some with balcony, maybe a roll-top bath. More novel are double-barrel shepherds' huts with log burner and stargazing roofs, some with kids bunks, others for two with copper roll-top bath, and a two-bedroom treehouse with decking and outdoor bath. You can eat in the fine-dining Rampsbeck Restaurant, which features dishes such as roast lamb, tomato fondu, lamb belly ragout; spiced Moroccan vegetable spring roll, aubergine purée, coriander oil; seared tuna, ratatouille, tuna fritter, sauce vièrge. There is more casual dining in the dog-friendly Living Space (bang bang cauliflower, steak and fries, market fish, burgers), and woodfired pizzas in the (literal) Glasshouse. Breakfast brings waffles, pastries, freshly squeezed juices, smoked salmon bagels, a full English. See also The Brackenrigg Inn, Cumbria.