'An excellent, small, personal place.' Home to the William Wordsworth family for more than a century, this grey stone creeper-covered house has been owned by Peter and Sue Dixon since 1981. It stands at the northern end of Rydal Water, between Grasmere and Windermere, a good location for exploring the Lakeland countryside. The oak-panelled lounge has a wood-burning fire, flowers, books, games and sofas, and there is a terrace with seating for warm days. Room and breakfast only is offered, except for five 'dinner club' weekends and for house parties (when 'the food was excellent, waiting attentive, portions well balanced'), but drinks and wines are available and there are plenty of eating places nearby. A busy road is close by, but windows are double glazed, and there is little traffic at night. In the main house, the small bedrooms have a tiny bathroom and many extras (herbal bathsalts, fresh flowers, books, etc). Breakfast includes Cumberland organic muesli, leaf tea, Cartmel valley sausages, home-made marmalade. Brockstone, the cottage up the hill, is available for self-catering (a minimum stay of three nights). (Stephen and Pauline Glover)