Jamie and Jenna Shail’s manor house hotel dates to 1823, but its tastefully refreshed style and ambitious cooking place it squarely in the 21st century. Individually decorated bedrooms, including a newly refurbished suite, are equipped with bathrobes, a coffee machine and Fairtrade tea; the best rooms have a balcony overlooking the landscaped gardens, the wooded grounds and the fells beyond. In the fine-dining restaurant, chef Daniel McGeorge’s dishes are ‘a class act’; the laid-back lounge has simpler fare. Guests have complimentary use of a local health club in town. Easy lake walks and hilly hikes are within reach – especially ideal for doggy companions, who are made very welcome inside the hotel and out.