Lake District

The Lake District isn't one thing - it's a sprawling 912 square miles of lakes, mountains and fell-side villages that occupy their own corner of northwest England. Most people base themselves near Ambleside and tackle it lake by lake: Windermere if you want boats and beaches, Coniston Water for a quieter walk along the shore, Ullswater if you're after proper fell scenery without the crowds.

What you actually do depends entirely on your mood. Walkers come for the fells - Catbells, Helvellyn, Scafell Pike - which range from afternoon potters to all-day slogs. Families with young kids gravitate toward the water, renting boats or just mucking about on the pebbles. There's no entrance fee to the landscape itself, though car parks cost a few quid and boat launches add up quickly.

Really, allow at least three days to feel like you've seen something. A week is better. The place can feel rammed in summer school holidays - spring or autumn are proper lovely. Fisherground Campsite, just under six miles away, gives you a solid base without the twee Ambleside guesthouse premium.

You'll need to drive between lakes. Public transport exists but it's slow. The weather turns on a sixpence - come prepared for rain even when the forecast says otherwise. Is it worth the trip? Absolutely, though the Lake District trades partly on its own mythology. The hiking and water are genuinely excellent, but manage your expectations about solitude.