‘Enthusiastically and admirably run’ by its ‘hard-working young owners’, this Victorian house between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales stands on a wooded hillside with ‘magnificent views’ over green fields and grazing sheep to the fells beyond. Amanda Walker and Peter Jaques have done ‘a grand job’ since taking over the B&B in 2016, say Guide inspectors this year. Come in to a ‘warm welcome’ – a sideboard of ‘tempting cakes’ is just beyond. Modern photographs and older watercolours make an ‘eye-catching contrast’; the book-filled sitting room hosts a vintage corner bar. ‘Well-designed bedrooms’ are up the curving staircase. ‘Our good-sized, well-lit room at the front had a comfortable bed; an avocado-hued shower room with fluffy towels, a powerful shower and plenty of hot water. We woke to that wonderful view stretching to the North Pennines.’ A ‘praiseworthy breakfast’ is served on ‘proper tablecloths, with linen napkins’, in the ‘light, bright dining room’: ‘buttery croissants, delicious home-baked sourdough, creamy scrambled eggs’. Pick up a walking stick at the front door, afterwards, and stride straight onto the Dales High Way.