1 The Old Coach House, Ambleside

Lying at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, Ambleside with its numerous shops makes a superb base for touring the central Lakes, with Grasmere and the Langdale Valley just a short drive away. There is plenty to do here – cruises, boat trips, and watersports on Lake Windermere itself and the lakeside at Waterhead with parkland offering lovely views down the lake and a short stretch of beach. A walk in the other direction, following Stock Ghyll through woodland, will bring you to the entrancing waterfall of Stock Ghyll Force. Along with the Lake and the great walking on offer, Ambleside is also famous for its annual rushbearing ceremony and the diminutive 17th century “Bridge House” – one of the most photographed buildings in the Lake District and now the National Trust Information Centre. Ambleside has plenty of restaurants and pubs to suit all tastes from great fish & chips to its two Michelin Star restaurants and all tastes in between are catered for.