A weekend in Keswick

Two days, two great stretches of water, and a pace that leaves room for a proper sit-down lunch. This Keswick break opens away from town, on the shores of Ullswater, before easing into an afternoon of quieter curiosity at Dacre Castle. It's the kind of day that rewards unhurried pottering rather than clock-watching.

Day two brings you closer to home, with Derwentwater laid out below the fells and Lord's Island waiting out on the water to round things off. Lunch at the Dog and Gun sits neatly in the middle, a welcome pause between morning views and afternoon wandering. Nothing here demands an early alarm or a long drive, which is rather the point: two days shaped around good water, good walking and the sort of lunch you linger over. Pack layers, sturdy boots and a flask, and let the lake do the heavy lifting.