Serenity

Serenity arrives ready to use: electricity, gas heating, bed linen, towels and wifi are all included, so you arrive to a functioning home rather than a shopping list. The kitchen has what you need to cook properly—gas cooker, microwave, fridge-freezer and washing machine—while the open-plan living space with smart TV gives you room to spread out. Three bedrooms sleep six: one with a zip-and-link super king (splittable into singles), two with twin beds each. There are two bathrooms, both with shower cubicles, one ensuite to the main bedroom.

The lodge sits on Port Haverigg, a water sports park near Millom on the Cumbrian coast, close enough to the Lake District's edges but focused on its own draws. The decking is where you'll spend time on decent days, facing out over the park. Millom itself is small and slower-paced than it once was, but has independent shops, food stores, pubs, a train station and a museum. Beaches at Haverigg and Silecroft are nearby, both offering access to the Cumbrian Coastal Way and views toward the Isle of Man. The RSPB wildlife reserve at Hodbarrow is also close. One well-behaved dog is welcome. Ground-floor access, parking for two cars on site, and no smoking inside.