Howtown Hotel

It’s traditional with a capital T at the ‘delightfully old-fashioned’ Howtown, with dinner gong, no in-room TVs, and extremely limited Wi-Fi. Owned by the Baldry family for more than 120 years, this creeper-covered former farmhouse, in an enviable position on Ullswater, has a welcoming clutter of warming pans, Toby jugs and chintz. It is full of quirky charm, offering ‘traditional high standards with a very personal touch’. Mrs Baldry’s, no less. Large, comfortable bedrooms with no lock come with blankets, not duvets. In the bathroom is Imperial Leather soap; ‘bring your own shampoo’. At the dinner gong, it’s down to the cosy red-velvet and stained-glass bar before a four-course meal of ‘excellent but never fancy’ classic dishes such as Stilton soufflé and chateaubriand in red-wine sauce. The duck-egg-blue dining room is a treat of silver cutlery and polished-wood tables. Next morning, tea is brought to your room. ‘A perfect base for a weekend, with walks from the door and a snug base to return to.’ (Martin Bailey, and others)