The Mains

Couples and small families find The Mains works well for a Lake District base. It sleeps three across two bedrooms—a kingsize and a single suitable for a child—with one bathroom plus a separate toilet. The ground floor holds an open-plan living and dining space with a kitchen equipped for self-catering, a TV and DVD player, and access to a lawned garden with a summerhouse and sitting-out area. Upstairs is the main bedroom and bathroom. The cottage sits in Stainton village, three miles from Ullswater and surrounded by fell country.

Walking dominates most visits here. Trails onto the Lakeland Fells start from the doorstep, and the National Park itself is close by. For evenings, the village pub lies within a mile. Essentials are covered: heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and wifi are provided, and there is parking for one car on site. A bike store is available if you bring cycles. The property does not accommodate children under five, and smoking is not permitted indoors.