Travel: Coniston, Lake District

Published on Wednesday 23 March 2011 11:41

Friday, 4pm Hop on a train to Windermere, then take a 20-minute taxi ride to Monk Coniston, a Gothic-style country house with splendid views of Coniston Water (www.nationaltrust.org.uk).

7pm Sit down to a tasty dinner, including fell-reared lamb, in the dining room filled with paintings, including a Velazquez on loan to the National Trust which leases the house to HF Holidays.

9pm Finish off with a pint of Barngates Brewery ale, on tap in the bar.

Saturday, 9am After a hearty cooked breakfast, head off for adventure. HF Holidays can arrange almost anything in the area. We choose canoeing with outdoor specialist River Deep Mountain High, (www.riverdeepmountainhigh.co.uk), a half-day session in a canoe is 39.50 but there are options for the Go Ape! highwire adventure (www.goape.co.uk), abseiling or a guided walk in the copper mines.

1pm Enjoy a light lunch back at Monk Coniston.

4pm Afternoon cream tea and a tour at Beatrix Potter's Yew Tree Farm (www.yewtree-farm.com), part of the 4,000-acre estate that the author left to the National Trust in her will.

7:30pm A delicious dinner, the highlight of which are the cheeses from Cartmel cheese shop (www.cartmelcheeses.co.uk).

2am Oh dear, is that really the time? Off to bed after friendly chat with other guests in the lounge.

Sunday, 9:30am Another series of choices once breakfast is finished. HF Holidays staff offer a guided tour of the grounds, or you can take a gentle walk to photogenic Tarn Hows, part of the estate and a site of special scientific interest.

1pm Return home, relaxed and happy.

THE FACTS

HF Holidays fully-catered Freedom Breaks start from 138 for two nights, inclusive of suggestions of what to do in the area, 0845 470 8558, www.hfholidays.co.uk

Visit First Transpennine Express for details of train times and fares, www.tpexpress.co.uk

This article was first published in The Scotsman, 2 April, 2011