When Jamie and Jenna Shail bought this Regency black-and-white manor house in 2016, they set out to make the interiors as beautiful as the Lakeland surroundings. The style is contemporary country house with a hint of a private member’s club: log fires, parquet flooring, a relaxed vibe. Trusted readers praise the ‘very good, prompt and friendly’ service. The cheapest bedroom, dog-friendly ground-floor Kirkstone, has a private terrace. Superior rooms have fell views from a balcony. There are eight suites in the sympathetically designed Pavilion, some with private courtyard garden, one fully accessible, one with private garden and hot tub. Thoughtful touches include a mini-fridge, coffee maker and Bath House toiletries. Most rooms have a bath and monsoon shower. In the restaurant, Aaron Lawrence (former sous chef at the Michelin-starred Samling) uses locally sourced ingredients in ‘delicious and beautifully presented’ dishes such as beef fillet, glazed short rib, rösti, carrot, sauce bordelaise; caramelised onion tart, confit garlic, almond and thyme sauce. There is an all-day menu for more casual dining. Fuel up with the full Cumbrian breakfast for a walk to High Sweden Bridge. 'The whole stay was a delight.' (Stephen and Pauline Glover)