Few Few places in England are as green or as pleasant as the Lake District. "The fleeting hour of life of those who love the hills is quickly spent, but the hills are eternal," wrote fellwalker Alfred Wainwright. "Always there will be the lonely ridge, the dancing beck, the silent forest; always there will be the exhilaration of the summits. These are for the seeking, and those who seek and find… will be blessed both in mind and body."

Indeed, this northwestern realm has inspired centuries of painters, poets, wayfarers and thinkers. Beatrix Potter dreamed up Peter Rabbit from Hill Top farmhouse; Wordsworth swooned over dancing daffodils in Grasmere; John Ruskin developed the ideals of environmentalism and equality between the tarns.

Designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2017, today the Lake District National Park remains one of the country's favourite places for natural immersion. Soaring mountains such as Scafell Pike - England's highest - are mirrored in glassy lakes. Fells are scored by valleys decorated with dense woodland. Stone-clad market towns and chocolate-box villages have become hubs for ramblers, watersport enthusiasts and independent creatives.

It's estimated that almost 16 million people succumb to the lure of the Lakes each year - most of them in summer. But in truth, it's a place that sings throughout the seasons, whether you're admiring wildflowers in spring, village-hopping in autumn or defrosting by a pub fire after a winter's walk. Accommodation choices are plentiful, whether you're seeking an off-grid log cabin, five-star spa or simply want to pitch a tent. Meanwhile, Cumbria's culinary scene runs the gamut from 19th-century gingerbread to Michelin-starred field-to-fork fare.

A comprehensive guide to the Lakes would be as sprawling as its wild landscape. Instead, we've consulted locals, hiked high passes fuelled by Kendal mint cake and rewarded ourselves with pints at cosy inns to cherry-pick the best - and often under-the-radar - places to stay and play.