Country house previously owned by artist John Ruskin. Near to Lake Coniston, so, if it's a nice day, combine with a walk along the lakeshore or even up nearby fell Coniston Old Man.

www.thelakedistrict.info/2008/07/brantwood-house.html

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The only coastal town in the Lake District National Park. Delightfully quiet, off the main lakes tourist trail that combines a visit to the Lakes with a seaside holiday.
For the historians in your group, there is a Roman bath-house known as Walls Castle - one of the few remaining Roman structures in England.

Ravenglass is on the A595 which runs along the Cumbrian Coast south of Marypot and Whitehaven.

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A hidden gem, the coastal Georgian port of Whitehaven about 15 miles out of the national park.

All the perks of the lake district, without the crowds or the expense. Fantastic harbourside with great places to eat, and the maritime festival is a well worth visiting.

www.rediscoverwhitehaven.com/
www.thefestival.org.uk/

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This is the original of Holly Howe, the farm around which Swallows and Amazons was set. For some reason while your correspondents have acknowledged Beatrix Potter they have ignored the other great Lakes writer of children's books, Arthur Ransome. B&B accommodation is in the main house, and self-catering in the farm buildings - all to a high standard.

You can walk in the famous field down to the lake, where Roger (who grew up to be the asthma doctor who developed Intal) practiced his tacking.

At Windermere you can visit the Windermere Steamboats and Museum where the original Amazon, and Captain Flint's houseboat are preserved.

There are a number of pubs in Coniston village - a walk round the head of the lake - which do good evening bar meals.

Bank Ground
East of Lake Road,
Coniston,
Cumbria LA21 8AA
Tel 015394 41264
info@bankground.com
www.bankground.com
Nearest station Windermere

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Old Georgian port, nice harbour. Great museums like The Rum Story, which depicts the history of the town's links in the rum trade and slavery and The Beacon Museum. Great views from top floor of The Beacon across the Solway Firth.

30 minutes from Keswick

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Located near Borrowdale, The Honister Slate mine is a hidden treasure. It is located in one of the most beautiful and peaceful parts of the Lake District and even your drive up there will take your breath away.

When you get there, you can take trips into an amazing working slate mine. You can see giant underground caverns, old slate mining equipment and techniques and much more. During the summer you can also take a trip around the edge of the mine - a hair-raising high and narrow foot path.

The staff here are great and the experience second to none. The tamer tours are great for kids but there is plenty on offer for all ages.

The only drawback to the mine is that it can be quite hard to find. The National Trust are apparently quite reluctant to signpost this attraction - goodness knows why.

It is located on The Honister Pass in Keswick. There are more details on the website.

www.honister-slate-mine.co.uk/

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What's the unlikeliest thing you'd expect to come across in sleepy coastal Cumbria? A world-class Grand Prix track, perhaps? A herd of wild rhinoceros? How about the European headquarters of Manjushri Mahayana Buddhism?

The Conishead Priory became just that in 1976 when the New Kadampa Tradition sect took over a 19th century mansion and made it their base. As well as the formidable old buildings and picturesque grounds, squatting beneath the Lake District scenery is a huge Buddhist temple.

Guided tours are available only during the summer, though the grounds and temple are open all year round - check the website for more details, or ask at the World Peace Cafe on Cavendish Street in Ulverston.

Off the A5087 Coast Road
info@manjushri.org
www.conisheadpriory.org

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Ulverston is where Cumbria begins. Located just outside the Lake District national park it's best known as the starting point of the Cumbrian Way hike, but in its own right is also a historic market town with more than enough to keep the visitor going for a couple of days.

There's an unexpected side to Ulverston too. Not just a throwback to the Industrial Revolution, it fancies itself as a centre of the arts and holds the most festivals of any town in England; it gave birth to one of the world's most famous characters - Stan Laurel; and is the base of an international religious sect.

Trains from Manchester or Barrow-in-Furness, or take the A590 from the M6
Tourist Office Tel: 01229 587120
ulverston.tourism@southlakeland.gov.uk
www.ulverston.net

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A small island just off the coast of Barrow-in-Furness, the small island of Piel still has the remains of medieval fortifications that once protected the harbour. Admittedly, Piel is small, but it does offer a few items of interest - the remains of a red stone castle, which is fun to climb on and walk through; a nice stroll along the shore among the sea grasses and the shore birds; and a visit to the King of Piel, who runs the pub.We had a great time, in a low-key, understated kind of way.

A few boat rides from Barrow-in-Furness:
website.lineone.net/~carolscarr/

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Dwarfed by the surrounding views of Skiddaw, Helvellyn and Blencathra, Castlerigg still manages to maintain its dignity like an immobile Haley Joel Osmont against the awesome acting might of Bruce Willis. Despite its youth (just 5,000 years old on Monday), the stone circle is a place that just feels, well, wise. Get there early and ponder on the passage of people through time and you'll get an eerie feeling for the importance of this site. Get there late and you'll be jostling for photo opportunities with the Addams Family.

Just outside Keswick and along Castle Lane from the A591.

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