Tr avel report BOWNESS

overlooking the lake below.

It takes mere minutes to get from the Belsfield’s back door to the pier, where you can pick up a boat or hop on a water cruise. Given its picturesque position, you expect pretty views, but from the window of our hotel room we could see far out across the lake – even when lying in bed. One morning we even woke up to discover a rainbow sitting over the water.

A little further into the village you’ll find the Beatrix Potter attraction – an interactive museum, which is ideal for kids and adults alike.

The room itself was beautifully decorated – of course, with a wide range of Laura Ashley furniture, most of which could be bought from one of the many catalogues that just so happened to be dotted around.

It was split into a living space, a bedroom and a bathroom, each being equally impressive.

The living space boasted a large Samsung TV (as did the bedroom) as well as a sitting area and a fantastic drinks station, complete with a coffee pod machine and a jar of rhubarb and custard sweets.

Both the bedroom and lounge area had stunning views out on to the lake and were airy and bright, thanks to the natural light the large windows allowed in. THE Belsfield has two eateries on-site, the fine-dining restaurant along with the more casual brasserie.

The brasserie’s more relaxed nature certainly isn’t reflected in the quality of food. We ate here on our first night, and went for a three-course meal option.

A starter of ham hock, beautifully presented and served with a pea puree and crispy bacon garnish, tasted fantastic.

For the main course I opted for the intriguing duck and chilli sausages – which formed the centrepiece of the most up-market