Worth getting out of bed for...

Viewpoint

Climb up Bowfell, a mountain in the Lakeland fells with commanding views of the Pennines to the east and the Isle of Man to the west. More experienced and armed with mint cake? Conquer England’s highest peak, the rugged 978‑metre Scafell Pike, at Wasdale.

Arts and culture

Book‑lovers, head to Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage in Grasmere (www.wordsworth.org.uk), and Beatrix Potter’s farmhouse, Hill Top, in Ambleside (www.nationaltrust.org.uk). Blackwell House in Bowness‑on‑Windermere (www.blackwell.org.uk) is a beautiful Arts and Crafts building with exhibitions and a lovely tearoom. Abbot Hall in Kendal (www.abbothall.org.uk) is an attractive gallery with skilfully curated exhibitions; for buzzier cultural events, go to the nearby Brewery Arts Centre (www.breweryarts.co.uk).

Something for nothing

Head to Keswick and visit the Castlerigg Stone Circle, an inscrutable arrangement of 48 craggy stones with dramatic views over to Skiddaw, Blencathra and Lonscale Fell. For leafy adventure, follow a trail through Grizedale Forest Park and find a glade from where you can gaze out over Coniston Water, Windermere and Grizedale Valley (+44 (0)1229 860010).

Shopping

There are treasures to be had beyond the Beatrix Potter tea towels and Kendal mint cake – keep an eye out for little antiques shops. Booths (www.booths‑supermarkets.co.uk) is a small chain of delis specialising in delicious Cumbrian produce; there are outlets in Kirkby Lonsdale, Windermere and Kendal.

Daytripper

On Cumbria’s fringe, the Western Yorkshire Dales stretch south and east, and are often far less busy than the lakes themselves. Get a soothing eyeful of soft‑edged gorges in the spectacular Mallerstang dale, just south of little‑visited town Kirkby Stephen. It’s also the site of the ruined Pendragon Castle, supposedly founded by King Arthur’s father – so let your imagination go gallivanting off into the sunset with those dashing knight/distressed damsel fantasies.

Perfect picnic

With so much hamper‑compatible greenery about, it’s not hard to find an idyllic spot for reclined alfresco dining. Pre‑order a picnic for two from Lakeland Picnic (+44 (0)1539 568410) or pick up supplies from Booths in Kirkby Lonsdale (+44 (0)1524 273443) and head to the Crook O’Lune river banks near Caton; you may have to walk a bit to find a quiet stretch – the area’s beauty is renowned.

Walks

Fill your boots with a pub lunch at the Fish Hotel in the village of Buttermere (+44 (0)1768 770253) before tackling the hike up to Scale Force, the Lake District’s highest waterfall (almost 52 metres in total).

Children

The little ones can have their own Swallows and Amazons‑style adventures with sailing lessons at Coniston Boating Centre (+44 (0)1539 441366; www.lake‑district.gov.uk). Kendal Museum (www.kendalmuseum.org.uk) has plenty of child‑friendly exhibits and organises a slew of activities during school holidays.

Activities

On sunny days, there’s no nicer way to cruise Windermere’s waters than aboard the 50‑foot luxury motor yacht Mistress (+44 (0)7717 207583; www. lakedistrictboatcharter.co.uk); charter her exclusively from £495. Try rock‑climbing, abseiling or ghyll scrambling with guides from Climb365 (www.climb365. net), who set up shop in the Lake District for summer. Hot‑air balloon trips along the Lune Valley from Wray Village are spectacular (www.virginballoonflights.co.uk).

And

The Pinter-scripted scenes in The French Lieutenant’s Woman were filmed in Ruskin’s house at Brantwood, and the rural adventure in Withnail and I was filmed around the Cumbrian towns of Penrith and Shap. 'We’ve gone on holiday by mistake…'