Windermere is Lakeland’s glorious centrepiece, a 10.5 mile (16.9km) stretch of water that, more than any other lake, sums up why so many people love this part of Britain.

Steamers, sailing boats and motor cruisers criss-cross the water; museums, historic homes, gardens and other attractions lie within a mile or two of its shoreline. There’s a huge choice of hotels, B&Bs and other holiday accommodation close by, and cafés, pubs and restaurants to suit every pocket and palate.

To the north a cluster of fells gather around Ambleside which, along with Windermere and Bowness to the south east, form the main centres of population. On the more wooded western side it’s altogether quieter, with no settlement of any size and no continuous road along the shoreline. 

That means you can stand on the promenade at Bowness on a summer’s day and wonder where everyone’s come from, then take the ferry from Ferry Nab, just south of Bowness, to Ferry House on the other side and wonder where they’ve all gone to.