A getaway for all seasons

It is a holiday destination for all seasons. Cumbria – England's Lake District – has been drawing tourists for hundreds of years, from painters and poets inspired by its majestic mountains to intrepid climbers wanting to scale their heights. It is no wonder the region is seeking World Heritage status this year.

The December floods were a blow to its tourist industry, roads and bridges damaged and holiday parks under water.

However, a remarkable community effect meant that it wasn't long before visitors were returning. And it is easy to see why – the scenery is just stunning and the welcome warm even if temperatures may not always be.

In fact we visited on one of the very few true winter weekends earlier this year when turning off the M6 motorway at Kendal was like stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia.

Once you are on the M6 from the Midlands it is only a couple of hours before you at the Southern Lakes making Cumbria ideally placed for a short break from the county. Our base was the historic Wild Boar Inn at Crook, a village just a couple of miles from Windermere.

Part of the English Lakes Group it is a charming pub with a roaring fire.

But it also has its own brewery, a fabulous restaurant with its speciality the smoked meats, fish and cheese created in its own smokehouse and 33 lovely hotel rooms, some reserved for dog owners.

For me its 'piece de resistance' is that 72 acre, private woodland complete with trails, crags, sculptured benches, green gym equipment, loads for children to do and even its own lake or Tarn.

It's such a magical place we got up early to walk up to its highest point to watch the sunrise.

Then it was back inside for a wonderful breakfast including, homemade granola, full English for Melvyn, Eggs Benedict with home-smoked salmon for me.

There is so much to do in the Lake District for all ages, for the outdoor adrenaline junkies, those who just want to admire the views and of course families.

You can cycle, walk, climb, swim in the lakes and if the weather is not the best there are plenty of towns and villages to explore, shops, pubs and cafes in which to take shelter and museums and historic houses to tour.

There are wildlife attractions, aquariums, boat trips – the list is endless. We took on the Old Man of Coniston, until the snowfall grew thicker and thicker and we decided to be sensible and head back down to the village with its Ruskin Museum.

Then how wonderful to call into the sister hotel of the Wild Boar Inn, Low Wood Bay, and enjoy the free use of its leisure club.

Low Wood also has a watersports centre with guests of English Lakes Hotels enjoying a discounted rate.

A swim, sauna and the outdoor hot tub were just the ticket after a tough walk and we returned to the Wild Boar for a sumptuous dinner.

Such was the magic of the Wild Boar Inn woodland it was another early start on the Sunday for a snowy run through the wonderland.

I quite expected to see some of the creatures from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe joining us.

After breakfast, thanks to the recommendation from the helpful receptionist, we decided on a walk around the small but beautifully formed Rydal Water.

We could see why the lake was the inspiration for so much of Wordsworth's poetry. The walk up to Rydal Cave was beautiful enough, but the cave itself was simply awesome.

A former quarry, the walls of the enormous cave still bear the marks of the quarrymen's tools.

All too soon it was time to point the car towards the M6 and head home again.

A two-day short break had seemed like a true holiday and I am looking forward to returning in a different season for a dip in one of those wonderful lakes.

Fact file

The Wild Boar, Crook Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3NF

Website www.englishlakes.co.uk

Reservations: 08458 504 604

Telephone: 015394 45225

Tariff: From £102 per room per night, based on two adults sharing a twin / double room and are inclusive of bed and full English breakfast.

For more information on the Lake District visit: http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/