BEAUTY SPOTS

One of Britain’s most impressively sited stone circles, ringed by its own circle of fells (english-heritage. co.uk).

Sail in Edwardian splendour on sinuous, serene Ullswater, dominated to south and east by fells sloping up into the Helvellyn range. (ullswatersteamers.co.uk). The most glowering and awesome of the lakes – the deepest (at 250ft), ringed at its head by three monstrous fells: Great Gable, Scafell and Scafell Pike.

Forged by the Romans, these two passes are among the steepest (one in three at the most extreme) and scenic in Britain. Look out for the Hardknott Roman Fort (englishheritage.co.uk).

The most beautiful of Lakeland valleys, running south from Keswick to Seatoller on the course of the River Derwent. Look out for a geological freak called the Bowder Stone.

Infinite possibilities but, invidiously, here are two: the circuit of Buttermere (gentle); the ascent of England’s highest peak, Scafell Pike (serious).

The tiny cottage home of William Wordsworth in lovely Grasmere, where he immortalised the Lakes in his sublime poetry (wordsworth. org.uk). (nationaltrust. org.uk) Children (and their fathers) will love the “Ratty” line, a narrow-gauge railway that runs for seven miles (11km) to Eskdale (ravenglass-railway. co.uk).

Beatrix Potter’s atmospheric farmhouse home, a monument to the woman without whom the Lakes as we know them would not exist (nationaltrust. org.uk).