A family-owned Cumbrian pub set within the village of Skelton does what British pubs do best: hearty fare, well-pulled pints, and a terrifically cosy atmosphere. But unlike the village pub institutions, this one is a five-year holder of a well-deserved Michelin Star. Seasonal ingredients dictate the menu, though their assortment of pies – whether a traditional steak and local ale, or Torpenhow cheddar, leek, and potato – stealsl the show. The whole Dover sole, soaked in spinach and caper butter, is another standout. Don’t skip dessert; the puddings are the real treat.

Part gallery, cinema, café and creative hub, Rheged is our go-to for browsing contemporary British art and craft, catching an independent film, joining a hands-on workshop or simply settling in with a coffee and a book. Its ever-changing programme makes it an easy stop when you fancy a little culture between the fells.

Another of James Turrell's masterpieces, Cat Cairn is built upon a rocky outcrop overlooking Kielder Water. Whilst you can call in to the skyspace at any time of day, the enchanting light display begins an hour before sunset. 

With its three deep glacial coves and two sharp-topped ridges, Helvellyn might be one for the English records: it’s the third-highest peak in England and the Lake District. It was also one of the first fells to become popular with walkers and explorers, counting poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth among its early visitors.